CRI Recycles Cobalt Alloys
Cobalt is a high-strength essential raw material that is used in cemented carbide, tools, and fasteners, batteries, magnetic and anticorrosive materials. Cobalt is known for its high-temperature strength, corrosion and wear resistance. Although we think of the color cobalt being a very rich, dark blue hue, it’s actually more of grey steel. This particular color has been around since the 16th century and can be found in paints, jewelry, and glass.
Many manufactured products produce scrap metal that contains cobalt alloys. These scraps can be recycled in the Phoenix, Arizona area by Consolidated Resources Inc. It’s very important to recycle Cobalt Alloys.
“In 2011, the US Department of Energy declared cobalt a critical metal, one of 15 such metals deemed to be indispensable but in a risky supply situation in the near future for the production of clean energy.
Because of the uncertainty surrounding the supply of primary cobalt from Central Africa, it is more and more imperative to improve the recycling of cobalt from its various uses.”
— The Recycling of Cobalt from Alloy Scrap, Spent Batteries or Catalysts and Metallurgical Residues
Cobalt Alloy in Jewelry
Cobalt, commonly found in alloys, can be found in inexpensive costume or stainless steel jewelry. A lot of jewelry manufactured overseas can go for incredibly low prices and because of this, most likely will contain high levels of cobalt. It’s good to know what your jewelry is made out of and where it comes from as it’s getting more common for allergies and rashes to develop from this type of metal.
Make-up with Cobalt Alloy?
A really unexpected source of alloys is make-up. Cobalt can be found in inexpensive eye shadows, glitters, and face paints. There unfortunately is no FDA safety standard on cobalt and other heavy metals within face paints. The ingredients, under federal law actually does not require the ingredients to be listed out on these products. Just like your costume jewelry, it’s also important to do a little research before painting your face for Halloween or putting on makeup for the day.
Automobiles and Cobalt Alloy
On a larger scale, cobalt is applied widely across certain industries including aerospace and automobiles.
Batteries, which include cobalt, are used in electric vehicles and require mining, or resource extraction like many modern consumer products you see on the market today. Many companies are trying to transition into electric automobiles, and are working on a more sustainable supply chain. This includes one in which there is appropriate environmental protection and workforce safety concern.
Tesla’s current model batteries are less than 5% of cobalt, and they are developing their own batteries that will be 100% cobalt-free. Other companies have jumped on this bandwagon, such as GM, who cut down the amount of cobalt used in batteries by 70%.
Cobalt Alloys in Electronic Appliances
Cobalt is found within many electronic appliances including machinery manufacturing and the chemical industry. Portable consumer electronics such as cell phones, tablets, and laptops are powered by lithium-ion batteries which currently use the largest amount of cobalt on the market.
Cobalt Alloy & Batteries
The estimated largest increase in consumption of battery-used cobalt is lithium-ion batteries used in electric vehicles. The great news is however, electric batteries do not even need the cobalt added to work. Different types of batteries out there can be made with lithium-iron-phosphate or nickel-iron-aluminum. This is a slow but steady progression away from cobalt altogether.
Consolidated Resources Inc. is Phoenix’s Industrial Scrap Metal Recycling Specialist
Not only do we have the expertise and experience to recycle cobalt alloys, but we also accept all ferrous and non-ferrous metals including stainless steel, copper, brass, aluminum, iron & steel, titanium, nickel alloys, and tungsten carbide. If you’re in the Phoenix-Metro area and your business produces scrap metal, give us a call and find out what orange and blue can do for you!
Learn more about Cobalt Alloys
What’s Cobalt Alloy and What Are the Cobalt Alloy Properties?
https://learningcenter.sourceintelligence.com/products-contain-cobalt/
https://fresh-energy.org/whats-up-with-the-cobalt-used-in-ev-batteries/
