Why Alloy Scrap Is Processed
A melter making a nickel or cobalt alloy works to a tight chemistry. One wrong piece can bring in an element the heat cannot carry: tungsten into a grade that has none, copper or lead into an aerospace alloy, iron into a low-iron grade. That is why alloy scrap is bought by grade, and why the work between collection and furnace is mostly about certainty and cleanliness rather than size reduction.
The same lot is worth more after processing for three reasons: the grade is proven, contamination is removed, and the material is in a form the furnace can take. See tramp elements in remelting for the chemistry behind this.
How Mipra Steel Handles a Lot
- Identification. Each enquiry and lot is described by its recognised designation and UNS number where one exists, not by a loose trade name.
- Evidence. We ask for the grade evidence available, such as XRF or OES readings, mill certificates, heat numbers or laboratory reports, and review it against the published composition for the grade.
- Independent testing. Where the chemistry has to be confirmed beyond the documents, analysis or inspection is carried out by an independent laboratory or inspection agency, as agreed between buyer and seller.
- Terms in writing. Grade, quantity, Incoterm, documents and a dated offer are agreed before a lot moves.
- Dispatch. Lots are inspected and weighed, and leave with the invoice, packing list, certificate of origin and the documents the destination requires.
Material is not described by a designation the available evidence does not support. More detail is on our quality page. Preparation such as cutting or cleaning a particular lot is agreed enquiry by enquiry.
How Alloy Scrap Is Prepared for Melting
The steps below describe common practice across the alloy scrap and revert trade. Not every lot needs every step, and which ones apply depends on the form and on what the melter will accept.
| Step | What it involves | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Sorting and grading | Separating material by alloy grade and by form (solids, turnings, castings, wire) | A melter can only use a lot it can trust to one chemistry |
| Testing | Handheld XRF on solids; spark OES or laboratory analysis (ICP, combustion) for carbon and light elements | XRF cannot resolve every element; see XRF, OES or a lab? |
| Sizing | Shearing, saw or torch cutting of large pieces to the size the furnace or buyer specifies | Oversize pieces cannot be charged |
| Crushing turnings | Long, tangled turnings are crushed into short chips | Short chips pack densely and clean more evenly |
| Degreasing and drying | Washing coolant and oil off turnings and solids, then drying | Oil and water bring carbon, hydrogen and fume into the melt |
| Surface cleaning | Shot blasting or chemical cleaning; for turbine blades, removal of coatings and ceramic residue | Coatings and ceramics are contaminants for a vacuum melt |
| Densifying | Briquetting or baling of thin gauge and chips | Raises charge density and reduces losses |
| Packing and certification | Packing by grade with weights, analyses and lot records | Lets the buyer trace and accept the lot |
What Each Form Usually Needs
| Form | Usual preparation |
|---|---|
| Solids (plate, bar, pipe, forgings) | Grade check piece by piece; cutting to size; removal of attachments of other alloys |
| Turnings and chips | Single-grade collection; crushing, degreasing and drying; sampling for analysis |
| Castings and foundry revert | Grade check; removal of ceramic shell and core residue |
| Ex-service turbine blades | Grade and engine records; removal of coatings, braze and attached parts |
| Wire and strip | Grade check; removal of spools and packaging |
For the value gap between forms, see solids vs turnings; for blades, superalloy revert recycling.
What a Seller Can Do Before Dispatch
- Keep each grade and form in its own container from the moment it is generated.
- Keep turnings dry and free of tool inserts, steel and other alloys.
- Keep certificates, heat numbers and readings with the material.
- Photograph markings and send them with the enquiry.
Step-by-step preparation advice is on the sell your scrap page.
Scrap processing FAQ
What does a scrap processor do?
A scrap processor turns mixed or unverified scrap into graded lots a melter can use: identifying and testing the material, segregating it by grade and form, preparing it where needed (cutting, cleaning, crushing and drying turnings) and packing it with documents.
Is Mipra Steel a scrap processor?
Mipra Steel is a scrap processor, trader, importer and exporter. We describe lots by grade and UNS number, review the readings and certificates behind them, arrange independent testing where the grade needs confirming, and inspect, weigh and document lots at dispatch.
Why are turnings crushed and degreased?
Long turnings pack poorly and carry coolant and oil. Crushing makes short chips; degreasing and drying remove oil and water that would add carbon and hydrogen to the melt.
Can mixed alloy scrap be sold?
Yes, but at the value of the least useful grade in it. Sorting and testing first usually returns more than the cost of doing it.
How is the grade of a scrap lot proven?
By analyser readings (XRF or spark OES), laboratory analysis for carbon and light elements, and certificates or heat numbers that trace the material to its specification.
Sources and Review
Figures are quoted as published in these sources; any value we could not confirm has been left out.
- Mipra Steel quality approach and sell-your-scrap pages: identification, evidence, segregation, sampling and dispatch practice.
- Critical Minerals News, Superalloy revert processors: top 10 in the world (2026): description of revert processing, including sorting by grade, cleaning, XRF and OES verification, coating removal and densification.
- Mipra Steel knowledge articles: XRF vs OES vs lab, solids vs turnings, tramp elements and superalloy revert recycling.
Published by Mipra Steel, Khetwadi, Mumbai · Last updated