2016Yearbook_Flipbook

2016

THE I SR I SCRAP YEARBOOK

Nickel and Stainless Steel

According to the U.S. Geological Survey, nickel is a transition element that exhibits a mixture of nonferrous and ferrous metal properties. In metal circles, it’s much less common for

Nickel, hi-temp, and stainless steel scrap comes in a variety of forms including wrought solids, clips, and turnings that are covered under ISRI specs from Aroma to Zurik. The process of recycling stainless scrap can include numerous steps, including sorting, baling, shearing, media separation, and melting. According to USGS, about 102,000 tons of nickel was recovered from purchased scrap in 2015, while 1.34 million metric tons of home and purchased stainless steel scrap were consumed in the U.S. last year.

nickel to be examined on its own than as an element of corrosion- resistant alloys such as austenitic stainless steel. And no wonder, 18-8 varieties of stainless steel

The U.S. Nickel Industry

(named for their 18 percent chromium and 8 percent nickel content) account for large quantities of nickel consumption and also serve as an important scrap source for nickel. USGS figures show that 45 percent of the primary nickel consumed in the U.S. in 2015 went into stainless and alloy steel production, followed by nonferrous alloys and superalloys (43 percent), electroplating (7 percent), and other uses (5 percent).

NICKEL RECOVERED FROM SCRAP (MT)

TOTAL NICKEL USAGE (MT)

STAINLESS SCRAP EXPORTS (MT)

YEAR 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015

88,800 92,400 88,800 102,000 101,900

213,000 218,000 200,000 239,000 226,000

646,000 623,000 643,000 548,000 520,000

37

INSTITUTE OF SCRAP RECYCLING INDUSTRIES, INC.