Re-Melting of Magnesium Chips

Compact and loose magnesium chips, were processed by means of re-melting. The re-melting has been successfully performed without the addition of flux between temperatures of 580 °C and 600 °C. At this temperature range, the exothermic reaction of magnesium with the oxygen present in the surrounding atmosphere was avoided. Results show that more than 95 % of the magnesium chips were able to be recovered as metal. At higher temperatures, the ignition of magnesium takes place and as a result, additional dross at the surface occurs. Experiments were performed at different scales to obtain production parameters for the recycling process. Larger particle size of magnesium chips were able to be faster remelted than the smaller ones. In the case of added lime for oil removal, the yield of recovered magnesium was lower due to the reaction towards magnesium foam. The ability of re-melting at low temperatures without the need for flux demonstrates the possibility of recovering virtually all of the metal from the chips.