Metallic alloys are common elements in the manufacturing industry. These materials include steel, aluminum, and nickel, as well as copper and other metals. They’re used for a multitude of products throughout the manufacturing process. From automotive to robotics, these types of alloys are found in many different industries.
Despite their wide-ranging uses, extracting and processing metallic alloys can be complicated and expensive. This article will explore how these processes work.
The Extraction Process
Metallic alloys can be extracted from various sources. The most common way to extract these metals is through mining. Minerals are removed through various processes, which includes crushing, grinding, or leaching.
Different types of ores require different extraction processes. This is the first step in the process because it separates the metal from its ore.
Once the ore is purified, it’s then heated to remove any impurities and broken down into the desired metallic alloy form. This purification process involves adding fluxes or other ingredients to dissolve any remaining impurities in the metal.
Purification and Decanting
The first step of extracting and processing metallic alloys is purification. The impurities are removed by adding sulphuric acid to the metal. This leaves the pure metal exposed, which is then decanted into another container for further processing.
This process not only removes any impure elements, but it also leaves the pure element in liquid form so it can be easily recycled.
Drying and Cooling
The first step in the extraction process is drying and cooling. This is because different metals have different boiling points. For example, iron boils at 3,890 degrees Fahrenheit while copper boils at just 1,980 degrees Fahrenheit. The difference in boiling points means metal can’t be processed together during this stage because the hotter materials will melt the cooler ones.
To address this problem, metals are dried or cooled before they’re mixed together. This process can take up to three days depending on the size of the dryer needed for each type of metal.
After drying and cooling, the extracted metals are then mixed together and spun into a wheel to create alloy sheets that are then cut down to sizes for industrial use.
Rolling and Processed
Metallic alloys are typically extracted from a natural resource, such as a mine or an ore. The metallic ore is then processed to produce the desired metals for manufacturing. These processes vary depending on the metal type and desired end product. For some types of metal, like aluminum, the extraction process begins with mining.
Conclusion
The metal industry is a huge industry that is only growing. And the process of extracting and processing metal for industrial use is just as large, with many steps that have to be taken to get the desired metal. From extraction to purification and everything in the middle, the process of getting metal for industrial use is worth understanding to get the best results.