alloy analysis options

Originally Posted by MetalPhil

Hills, thanks you, but I meant more like, how do you tell if it's 304 vs 316 vs 316L? Whether it's inconel? Or do you never have the need?

By the way, austenitic stainless steels have a high amount of austenite which makes them mostly non-magnetic. And they are worth a lot!

I don't really have the need. The yards in my area aren't that specialized.

Take hard drive bodies for instance. They're said to be 6061 or 6063 ? I only know of one yard in the city that makes that distinction. Everyone else buys as cast.

The backing plates on hard drive magnets might be duralloy -or- hastings metal ? No market for it that i know of.

Electrical steel is said to be worth more but it just goes in with regular steel here. I have seen pallet loads of salvaged electrical steel posted for sale on the international market.

I suspect that these finer distinctions between the different alloys happen somewhere up the supply chain.

To be honest ... it would be way too complicated for the scrappers in my area to wrap their heads around. Even ewaste is a problem for them. The vast majority don't even own a computer. They're pretty down to earth guys. Keep It Simple Sam.