Effect of Flux on Recovery of Aluminum During Molten Metal Treatment of Aluminum Can Scrap

This study investigates the effect of flux type and mixing ratio on efficiency in aluminum can scrap recycling using induction furnace. The removal of surface coating layer of aluminum can scrap was possible through heat treatment at about 500 °C for about 30 min. The temperature for the melting process was set to be slightly above the melting temperature of the aluminium can scrap. The molten metal treatment was performed with different types of flux and mixing ratio. As a result, The optimum efficiency of Al recovery ratio was revealed when the process was performed with at least 3 wt.% of the flux (Salt and MgCl2 mixture of ratio 70:30) at 750 °C. The mechanical property of the recovered Al alloy showed that the tensile strength is about 249 MPa and elongation is about 14 %. This result was found to be similar to the mechanical property of the virgin Al 5083 alloy.