Recycling copper from waste copper wire using an applied voltage

We have found a very easy, low-cost, highly-efficient technique for recycling copper (Cu) materials from polymer-coated waste Cu wire (WCW) by applying voltages using an induction-heating furnace. Voltages ranging from 562–969 V were applied to find the optimum conditions for removing the polymer coating from WCW to obtain pure Cu material. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, and optical imaging were used to determine the required removal temperature of the polymer and its removal mechanism. FTIR analysis confirmed that the polymer coating on the WCW was polyester. Moreover, we successfully removed the polyester coating from the WCW by applying a voltage of 969 V.

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