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Copper Wire Scrap

Copper Wire Scrap for High-Purity Metal Recycling and Recovery

Copper Wire Scrap consists of recyclable copper wire materials with high copper content and excellent recovery value. It is widely recognized as a premium raw material for copper recycling, smelting, and secondary metal production.

Widely used by recyclers, smelters, foundries, and metal processing facilities requiring high-purity copper recovery and consistent material quality.

Product Features

Factory Direct High-Purity Copper Wire Scrap for Secondary Smelting, Ingot Casting & Wire Rod Processing

Copper wire scrap (high-purity Millberry copper scrap, bare bright copper wire, ISRI Berry grade scrap, No.1 heavy copper scrap wire, recycled electrical copper conductors, and copper wire bales) serves as the primary high-grade recycled feedstock for secondary copper refineries, continuous casting copper rod mills, brass foundries, and chemical copper sulfate manufacturers. Sourced from decommissioned power distribution cables, industrial wiring harnesses, telecommunication lines, and transformer windings, copper wire scrap delivers uncompromised conductivity and thermal performance while significantly reducing energy consumption compared to primary copper ore smelting.

At XQJ Metal, we supply carefully sorted, stripped, and baled copper wire scrap conforming strictly to Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries (ISRI) international specifications. Our inventory features high copper content ranging from 99.5% to 99.95% min purity, free from iron attachments, excessive oxidation, heavy oil insulation, or harmful metallic impurities. We offer custom processing options including automatic wire stripping, hydraulic baling (200kg to 500kg per bale), loose coil bundles, and containerized export freight for global metallurgical plants.

Copper Wire Scrap Classification & ISRI Technical Specification Matrix

ISRI Specification Code Industry Grade & Name Minimum Copper Purity (%) Wire Diameter & Physical Characteristics
ISRI Code: Berry No.1 Bare Bright Copper Wire Scrap (Millberry) ≥ 99.90% to 99.95% Clean, uncoated, unalloyed copper wire, gauge 16 B&S (1.29mm) and thicker; zero insulation, oil, or oxidation
ISRI Code: Barley No.1 Heavy Copper Wire Scrap ≥ 99.00% to 99.50% Clean, unalloyed copper scrap including busbars, clean tubing, and heavy wire; free of solder and brittle burnt wire
ISRI Code: Birch No.2 Copper Wire Scrap ≥ 94.00% to 96.00% Unalloyed copper scrap wire containing minor tarnish, thin enamel insulation, or minor soldering; max 1% total impurity
ISRI Code: Druid Insulated Copper Wire Scrap (ICW) 40% to 80% recovery grade Unstripped insulated power cables, automotive wiring harnesses, and CATV cords ready for granulating plants

Copper Wire Scrap vs. Low-Grade Secondary Raw Materials: Smelting Efficiency

Comparing high-grade unalloyed copper wire scrap against lower grade mixed scrap highlights critical processing benefits for foundry metallurgists:

  • Ultra-High Thermal & Electrical Recovery: Premium Millberry grade copper wire scrap (ISRI Berry) achieves near 100% metal yield in reverberatory furnaces, minimizing slag formation and reducing refining flux requirements.
  • Lower Energy Consumption in Furnaces: Processing clean copper wire scrap requires up to 85% less electrical energy and natural gas compared to refining primary copper concentrates from raw copper ore mining.
  • Controlled Chemical Impurities: Low levels of lead (Pb), zinc (Zn), iron (Fe), and tin (Sn) ensure seamless continuous casting without clogging submerged nozzles or causing hot-shortness during wire drawing.

Core Industrial Advantages & Processing Standards

Secondary smelting facilities, electrical cable manufacturers, and alloy foundries choose our copper wire scrap due to several key quality features:

  • Strict Mechanical & Manual Sorting: Wire scrap undergoes multi-stage magnetic separation, eddy current sorting, and manual inspection to remove plastic insulation fragments, steel armor wire, and brass connectors.
  • High Density Hydraulic Baling: Compressed into high-density 300kg–500kg rectangular bales for optimal furnace charge bucket loading, reducing melt oxidation loss and improving melting speed.
  • Free of Hazardous Contaminants: Free from polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), heavy grease, mud, radioactive isotopes, and corrosive chemical residues.
  • Consistent Chemical Homogeneity: Every shipped lot is sampled and verified using handheld XRF analyzers to guarantee consistent element assay readings.

Primary Smelting, Foundry & Manufacturing Applications

Our high-purity copper wire scrap supplies critical raw material streams across diverse global metallurgical sectors:

  • Continuous Casting Copper Wire Rod Production: Directly charged into shaft melting furnaces for producing 8mm ETP (Electrolytic Tough Pitch) copper rod used in electrical cable manufacturing.
  • Brass & Bronze Foundry Alloy Ingot Casting: Used as the base copper ingredient for formulating high-tensile brass, phosphor bronze, and gunmetal foundry ingots.
  • Copper Cathode & Anode Plate Refining: Melted into copper anode plates for electro-refining into high-purity Grade A copper cathodes (99.99%).
  • Chemical & Powder Metallurgy: Dissolved for producing high-grade copper sulfate crystals, electro-deposited copper powders, and agricultural fungicides.

Quality Control, Chemical Assay & Ocean Export Packaging

To ensure total chemical purity compliance and seamless customs clearing, XQJ Metal enforces strict Quality Assurance (QA) protocols on every copper wire scrap export shipment:

  • 100% Optical Emission & XRF Testing: Full element chemical analysis (Cu, Fe, Pb, Zn, Ni, Sn, P, S) backed by official Mill Assay Certificates and SGS / CCIC third-party inspection reports.
  • Weight & Moisture Verification: Weighbridge certified gross/tare weight checks ensuring net weight accuracy within strict limits.
  • Seaworthy Container Shipping: Packed into tight hydraulic bales, strapped with heavy-duty steel bands, bundled on solid wooden pallets, or stuffed directly as loose heavy bales into moisture-proof 20ft dry containers (up to 25 metric tons net payload).

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What is the exact difference between No.1 Bare Bright (Berry) and No.1 Heavy Copper (Barley) scrap?

A: Berry (Bare Bright) consists strictly of uncoated, unalloyed bare copper wire with no surface tarnish or oil, exceeding 99.9% purity. Barley includes clean copper wire, busbars, and tubing that may have minor surface oxidation or tarnish but remains free of solder or insulation coatings.

Q2: Can XQJ Metal provide CCIC or SGS pre-shipment inspection certificates for copper wire scrap containers?

A: Yes, we regularly coordinate third-party CCIC, SGS, or Bureau Veritas (BV) inspection testing for purity verification, weight check, and non-radiation certification prior to container sealing.

To request latest FOB/CIF spot price quotes, chemical assay reports, or sample bales for copper wire scrap, Contact Our Secondary Metals Trading Team today.

Specifications

Item

Specification

Alloy

5083

Temper

O / H111 / H112 / H32

Thickness

0.5 – 6.0 mm

Width

20 – 2600 mm

Surface Finish

Mill Finish

Standard

ASTM B209 / EN 573 / GB/T 3880

Specifications

Item

Specification

Material Type

Copper Wire Scrap

Copper Content

Available Upon Request

Supply Condition

Sorted / Unsorted

Scrap Grade

Millberry / Bare Bright / Mixed Wire

Packaging

Bulk / Bundle / Custom

Application Areas

Our materials support a wide range of construction and infrastructure projects

Frequently Asked Questions

Any Question?

You can ask anything you want to know Feedback

Bare bright copper wire scrap consists of clean, uncoated, unalloyed copper wire with a high copper content, while mixed copper wire scrap may contain insulated wires, coatings, or other impurities. The material grade should be selected according to the recycling process and quality requirements.

The quality of copper wire scrap directly influences its recovery efficiency and market value. Cleaner material with higher copper content and fewer contaminants generally requires less processing and provides a higher recycling yield.

The value of copper wire scrap is typically determined by copper purity, contamination level, wire type, moisture content, processing condition, and current market demand. Proper sorting and preparation can help maximize recycling value.

1 Why is 5083 aluminum coil used in marine environments?

It offers excellent resistance to seawater corrosion and maintains strength in humid and salt-rich conditions.

Copper Wire Scrap

No. Strength is achieved through strain hardening rather than heat treatment.

Yes. It provides excellent weldability for structural fabrication.

Yes, it is commonly applied in tanks and pressure equipment.

Yes. It provides higher strength compared with most non-heat-treated aluminum alloys.

Yes. Thickness, width and temper can be adjusted based on project demand.

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