Potential for Handheld Analyzers to Address Emerging Positive Material Identification (PMI) Challenges

Abstract

Positive material identification (PMI) is a challenge in the metals secondary industry that remains persistent as products are designed with increasing complexity. Strategies in the automotive industry to improve fuel efficiency include development of lightweight wrought aluminum and magnesium alloys to replace heavier steel components in vehicles. These alloys have tight compositional requirements and the traditional equipment for sorting and identifying this scrap (i.e. a magnet, file, and/or grinding wheel) is inadequate. Handheld analyzers that utilize X-ray fluorescence and spectroscopy technology may offer technological assistance that is helpful for PMI. This work tests the performance of these units under the challenging conditions present in yards (contaminated, unpolished, comingled scraps). As the costs of these units have decreased substantially over time, results have shown there are more opportunities for quicker return on investment under a variety of scenarios; yard volume, incoming grades, and diversity of suppliers have the largest impact on pay-off.