A soft landing. (Welcome ...).The previous decade has been a wild one for nonferrous non·fer·rous adj. 1. Not composed of or containing iron. 2. Of or relating to metals other than iron. nonferrous Adjective 1. metals recyclers, with changes coming from all directions. A sustained, healthy economy in the U.S. was the hallmark of the 1990s, although many in the metals industry did not always benefit from the investment money being poured into high-tech firms. But the healthy economy meant a lot of new buildings and homes were constructed, vehicle production figures hit record numbers, and electronic gadgets in the computer and telecommunications sectors were being manufactured in record numbers. All of these industries used nonferrous metals products, meaning there was seldom any lack of demand for nonferrous scrap throughout the boom economy years. That is not to say that recyclers always benefited from high prices and wide margins when dealing in nonferrous scrap. A number of factors have kept Comex copper and LME See London Metal Exchange. LME See London Metal Exchange (LME). aluminum prices fluctuating during the past 10 years. Shipping patterns have changed also, for red metals in particular. Concerns over emissions and worker safety at scrap-melting copper refineries saw that industry virtually disappear from the U.S. map. While brass mills and some other copper-consuming plants continue to operate, the unmistakable flow of huge amounts of copper to China and other overseas destinations has greatly changed the nature of scrap copper dealing. Two of the features in this year's Nonferrous Scrap Supplement take a look at what might be in store during the next 10 years for two of the most prominent nonferrous metals: aluminum and copper. Alcan Inc. Executive Vice President Brian Sturgill offers comments on the opportunities and challenges faced within his industry, while researcher Emil W. Milker takes a look at how emerging technology trends may affect end markets for copper. On the lighter side, we take a look at stainless steel stainless steel: see steel. stainless steel Any of a family of alloy steels usually containing 10–30% chromium. The presence of chromium, together with low carbon content, gives remarkable resistance to corrosion and heat. and whether this hybrid material should be considered a ferrous ferrous (fĕr`əs), iron in the +2 valence state. Containing or having to do with iron. The difference between ferrous and ferric is the number of valence electrons they contain (ferrous contains two and ferric contains three), which or a nonferrous metal. It contains plenty of iron, so clearly it should be considered ferrous, right? But in the recycling recycling, the process of recovering and reusing waste products—from household use, manufacturing, agriculture, and business—and thereby reducing their burden on the environment. industry, its price is most closely pegged to the nickel alloyed Noun 1. nickel alloy - an alloy whose main constituent is nickel nickel-base alloy alloy, metal - a mixture containing two or more metallic elements or metallic and nonmetallic elements usually fused together or dissolving into each other when molten; "brass within, and it is seldom lumped together with carbon steel in scrap yards scrap yard n → depósito de chatarra; (for cars) → cementerio de coches scrap yard n → parc m à ferrailles; ( . Find out what several industry observers think in our feature, "The Great Debate?" starting on page S14. |
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