Distribution Behaviour of Metals in Copper Alloy Under Super-Gravity Field

In the present study, the influences of super-gravity field with different cooling rates on the distribution behaviour and the morphology of metallic elements of Cu alloy were investigated. The Cu alloy was obtained from waste printed circuit boards by super-gravity separation, and it contained precious and common metals. The different solubilities of metallic elements in liquid and solid phases lead to component segregation during solidification of alloys. The results showed that super- gravity technology can enrich and distribute metallic elements in the Cu alloy according to different densities, and low cooling rate was favourable for the precipitation and enrichment of metals in the Cu alloy. When the cooling rate was 2 degrees C/min, Fe was enriched in the top of the Cu alloy, while Pb and Sn were enriched in the bottom of the alloy. The precious metals were combined with Pb and Sn, and they were enriched with segregation of Pb and Sn.