Tungsten carbide is roughly twice the stiffness of steel and density, making it fall somewhere between lead and fold. Tungsten carbide comes in over a dozen different grades, too, which can all be used in the tungsten carbide recycling industry and then reused for a number of applications in additional industries.
One of the more popular forms of tungsten carbide is its sludge form, swarf.
Here is how the tungsten carbide sludge recycling process works.
Determining the Tungsten Content
Perhaps the most important step in any tungsten recycling job is determining the actual tungsten content. That’s why it’s essential to take your tungsten carbide sludge to a trusted organization that can provide an accurate analysis of your product.
Unfortunately, it’s virtually impossible to determine the tungsten content and quality of the carbide sludge without sending it to an experienced laboratory that can properly analyze it. Even using tools designed for the very purpose of determining tungsten content, like a niton gun, it will likely be inaccurate when compared to a lab’s results.
Keep in mind, however, that a respectable tungsten scrap company will purchase any amount of tungsten sludge, whether it’s extremely moist or extremely dry, only a small percentage of tungsten or nearly all tungsten, if it contains any tungsten carbide, it can be sold and recycled.
Although you still have to have your tungsten sludge analyzed by a professional, you can at least give yourself an idea of the carbide quality by how much the sludge actually weighs. Sludge, by definition, is very thick and heavy, so the heavier your product is, the higher your chance of having more quality tungsten carbide. If you have around 20 to over 50 pounds of sludge per gallon, you should be in good shape to earn a lot.
After you’ve determined the quality and content percentage of your tungsten carbide, all the excess oil, coolant, and unnecessary particles will be removed from your sludge, analyzed one more time, and then you can expect to receive a payment check.
If you want to learn more about the process of recycling tungsten carbide sludge, or any other aspects of the tungsten industry, contact Tungco today.