MASS BALANCE APPROACH TO FORMULATE A380.0 ELECTRICAL CONDUIT FITTINGS FROM RECYCLED ALUMINUM ALLOY SCRAPS

Abstract

This paper describes calculations using the mass balance method on aluminum alloy scraps, including soft drink cans, aluminum engine components, low alloy aluminum materials, and aluminum computer disks, to formulate A380.0 casting alloy. All recycled aluminum alloys from the same source were considered to be identical. Six approaches of mixing by weight percent, with the aid of an X-ray fluorescence technique, were successfully completed. A380.0 electrical conduit fittings were produced using the die casting technique. Mechanical tests including compression, impact, tensile, and suspended load indicated that die cast recycled aluminum alloy conduit fittings under classification 4 (heavy load condition) satisfied the requirements as stated in BSEN 50086-1: 1993.

Keywords:

• A380.0 alloy
• Aluminum alloys
• Compression test
• Conduit fitting
• Conserving natural resources
• Die casting
• Energy saving
• Formulation
• Impact test
• Mass balance
• Metal pollution
• Recycling of aluminum
• Suspended load test
• Tensile test
• XRF analysis

5.0 ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

The authors acknowledge the research grant provided by University Science Malaysia, Penang, which resulted in this article. The authors would also like to thank Mr. Chee Seng Khoon, NMC managing director, for allowing the use of factory facilities.