Along with other common building materials like timber and concrete, a variety of metals can usually be found on construction sites. Whether you’re a construction company with left over building materials, or a home owner looking to get rid of site waste, metal recycling is a great way to dispose of excess construction metal. In this blog, we take you through some of the most common metals found on construction sites, why they make excellent building materials, and how to scrap them for cash.
Carbon Steel
Carbon steel is an alloy made from a mixture of carbon and iron, renowned for its strength and rigidity. Carbon steel is often used for the beams in structural framework, as well as having industrial uses in plates for highway construction and rectangular tubing for bridges. Because of its durability, it is often used as to make rebars and hollow structural sections.
Aluminium
Aluminium is favoured by the construction industry as it is corrosion resistant, ductile, and highly conductive. These properties also make it resistant to harsh weather conditions, which is why it’s perfect to use as a framework for windows and doors, as wiring, and for outdoor street lights and signage. Aluminium is often processed into sheet metal form, along with tubes and castings, giving it applications in roofing and walling, HVAC ducts, and handles.
Stainless Steel
Stainless steel has been used in construction for over a century, and is a feature material in some of the most famous architectural structures in the world, including the Chrysler Building and the Empire State Building in New York, and La Pyramid De Louvre in Paris. Stainless steel is an alloy made up of iron, at least 10.5% chromium (the higher the level of chromium, the more corrosion proof), and varying levels of carbon, silicon and manganese. Sometimes elements such as nickel and molybdenum are also added. Stainless steel is corrosion and stain resistant and is strong, durable, ductile, and easily welded, making it the perfect material for roofing, structural frames, handrails and balustrading, architectural cladding and drainage.
Copper
Copper is another common construction material, mostly used for piping/plumbing and electrical wiring. Copper is a ductile, malleable metal that is easily welded/soldered and is also corrosion resistant. Rigid copper tubing is ideal for piping, while soft copper is often used to make refrigerant lines in HVAC systems and heat pumps.
Carbon steel, aluminium, stainless steel and copper are incredibly valuable to the construction industry, and have been used in many iconic structures around the world. If you find yourself with an excess amount of any of these materials, take them to your local scrap metal buyer in Melbourne. Not only will you be helping the environment through recycling, you’ll also earn some cash for scrap.
