Recycling Metals for Top Industry Uses
Part 3 of 3 in the Leading Edge Recycling Series
High-tech industries, from aerospace and defense to energy, medical, and electronics, demand impeccable precision, performance, durability, and process excellence in the materials they use. There is also increasing demand for sustainability through recycling metals after use and/or using recycled materials in new ways. There are pros and cons to recycling metals for use in high-tech products.
Recycling metals can:
- Reduce the environmental footprint of mining and processing virgin materials
- Conserve natural resources
- Decrease greenhouse gas emissions
- Reduce the need for new mining operations and related energy consumption
However, there are also several challenges to using recycled refractory materials in certain industries. We’ll review where recycling metals for use in advanced applications works, and where it should never be considered.
Recycling Metals for Use in Advanced Applications
The best use for recycled refractory metals is in high-performance industrial applications where their unique properties, such as high-temperature resistance, corrosion resistance, and mechanical strength, are critical. Some of the most effective and common applications in which recycling metals instead of sourcing new material works include:
Aerospace and Defense Components
Recycling metals like Tungsten, Molybdenum, and Rhenium can be a viable strategy for use in components for jet engines, rocket nozzles, turbine blades, and missile systems. A&D Industry
Cutting Tools and Industrial Machinery
Tungsten carbide, derived from recycled tungsten, is widely used in manufacturing cutting tools, drills, and heavy machinery in mining, construction, and metalworking industries. These tools require the hardness and durability that Tungsten provides. Tungsten
Electronics and Capacitors
Tantalum, recycled from electronics waste, is essential in producing capacitors and high-performance electronic components used in mobile phones, computers, medical devices, and other consumer electronics. Recycling metals like Tantalum helps address supply chain concerns. Tantalum
Energy Sector
Recycling metals like Molybdenum and Tungsten is common for use in non-nuclear energy production, including components for power plants and renewable energy systems. Energy Industry
Medical Devices
Tungsten and Tantalum, often recycled from industrial sources, are found in medical applications such as radiation shielding in imaging equipment and components for surgical tools and implants. Their biocompatibility makes them ideal for critical healthcare technologies.
Recycling Metals for Use in Superalloys
Superalloys successfully leverage the opportunities in recycling metals like Molybdenum, Tungsten, or Rhenium for applications requiring high strength and resistance to extreme conditions, such as gas turbines, power plants, and chemical processing equipment. Molybdenum
Where Recycling Metals is a No-Go
Despite the general benefits of recycling metals, they’re just not suitable for some applications where extreme purity and specific material properties are essential or where contamination could pose significant risks. Here are a few examples:
Nuclear Reactor Components
Material purity and consistency ensure safety and performance in nuclear reactors, particularly in core components such as fuel rods, control rods, and structural supports. Even trace contaminants in recycled metals could affect the integrity, durability, or neutron absorption characteristics, potentially leading to failures or compromising reactor safety. In such cases, virgin metals are best to ensure precise material specifications.
Semiconductors and Microelectronics
While recycled Tantalum can be used in capacitors, it doesn’t usually meet the stringent purity standards for applications requiring ultra-pure materials, such as semiconductors, microelectronics, and other precision electronics. The presence of any impurities in these high-tech components can lead to electrical failure, reduced efficiency, or performance degradation. Recycling metals is not advised for these applications.
Aerospace and Defense Components with Critical Safety Standards
In certain aerospace and defense applications where extreme precision and reliability are paramount—such as in spacecraft, hypersonic vehicles, or highly sensitive military equipment—any risk of impurity or inconsistency in the material could be unacceptable. Recycling metals for these applications might not meet mission-critical systems’ ultra-high safety and performance standards.
Medical Implants
While refractory metals like Tantalum and Tungsten are sometimes used in medical devices, implants inside the human body require purity and biocompatibility. Recycled metals could contain contaminants or impurities and cause adverse reactions or reduce the longevity of the implant. Virgin materials are generally preferred over recycling metals in these sensitive applications to ensure safety and long-term durability.
High-Precision Scientific Equipment and Recycling Metals
Any material impurities could interfere with the accuracy and performance of high-precision scientific instruments, especially those used in particle accelerators, optical systems, or advanced measurement devices. Recycling metals may not provide the consistency needed for these exacting applications.
The Bottom Line on Recycling Metals for Industry Applications
Recycling metals can be well worth the effort in many applications, especially when environmental sustainability, energy efficiency, and cost savings are a priority for suppliers and end users. However, in applications where purity and material consistency are critical, the challenges of metal recycling may limit their use. As technology and processes improve, the advantages of recycling these valuable metals will make this an increasingly important part of the materials supply chain across industries.
Contact us to discuss which industry applications are viable targets for recycled materials or request a quote to cut right to the chase. Sign up to receive our monthly newsletter, and join the conversation on LinkedIn.
This article is the third in a three-part series to be followed by the release of a downloadable PDF version of the full series.
