acid stripping

[izit]

Hi and sorry if this is the wrong place to post, Ive searched to see if its possible to strip the insulation from copper cable using Acid (Hydrochloric???)but cant find any thing. any ideas ?

[parrothead]

You probably can't find anything on it because it is a bad idea.

[devo]

And it wouldn't work even if you decided to ignore good advice.

[izit]

Ok, thanks guys, the options are mechanical stripping or dont bother then! we've got a regular supply of copper cabling (mixed all sorts inc armored) approx 300-400kg un stripped per month from an electrical contractor on a 50/50 profit split, I would guess I would get approx half that weight in copper from it if stripped, the problem is the time to strip it is probably better spent out finding other scrap, Im sure this topic has been worn out already on here! Thanks for the quick replys

[Mechanic688]

You might look into one of these as there is a couple of guys that have them and getting good reviews. Especially if you have an ongoing supply of wire, the first load done would pay for it. Read back thru our tools section and you should come across a few posts about the strippers.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/DRILL-OPERAT...item3a72dd2143

[EcoSafe]

tryed chemical stripping with another product. DO NOT DO IT. IT IS DANGEROUS AND WAY TOO EXPENSIVE.

[PistoneScrapProcessing]

Please try it naked and let me know how it works out!!! I am dying to know.

[gustavus]

Hi and sorry if this is the wrong place to post, Ive searched to see if its possible to strip the insulation from copper cable using Acid (Hydrochloric???)but cant find any thing. any ideas ?

Try useing methyl ethyl ketone, be sure to read the MSDS as this chemical is both explosive and bad for your health but make a great solvent for removing plastic.

You could run the MEK inside a closed reaction vessel filled with an inert gas to prevent an explosion, then distill the solvent off to relaim it for another stripping. Inside your reaction vessel you would be left with the color pigments and ploymers used in making the original plastic.

Or you oculd halt the process when your MEK becomes reasonably saturated you could package and label it to sell as PVC solvent.

The automotive industry already uses a similar process to reclaim waste plastics from molded mouldings and uplostery.

Since my original research on this, I beleive they have come up with ways to remove the pigments leaving the polymers free od any color fro use in making new plastics. If the pigments are left behind you end up with gray.