Process For Recycling Light Metal Parts

Abstract

A process for recycling light metal parts with gas inclusions or non-metallic particles. In order to convert different waste products into high class products in a process-technically simple manner, without requiring cleaning/purifying of the used materials, that from at least one light metal part with gas inclusions and at least one light metal part with largely dense, non-metallic particles, a gas containing metal melt is produced and a metal melt is allowed to solidify at an under-pressure for at least sometime under formation of a light metal foam body.

1 - 20 . (canceled) 
   
   
       21 . A process for producing metal foamed bodies from scrap metal parts comprising the steps of:
 (1) melting scrap metal parts to form a metal melt;   (2) applying a vacuum of 10 to 400 mbar to the metal melt; and   (3) solidifying the metal melt under the applied vacuum to produce a foamed metal body.   
   
   
       22 . A process according to  claim 21 , wherein the vacuum is between 50 to 200 mbar. 
   
   
       23 . A process according to  claim 21 , including feeding a gas to the metal melt under vacuum. 
   
   
       24 . A process according to  claim 21 , wherein heating the metal melt to a temperature in the range of 5° C. above to 5° C. below the solidification temperature of the metal in the melt prior to applying the vacuum. 
   
   
       25 . A process according to  claim 21 , wherein the scrap metal parts are selected from the group consisting of metal parts with gas inclusions, metal parts with non-metallic particles, and mixtures thereof. 
   
   
       26 . A process according to  claim 25 , wherein the metal parts have non-metallic particle content of between 2 to 10% by vol. 
   
   
       27 . A process according to  claim 21 , wherein the metal parts have non-metallic particles of a size of less than 200 μm. 
   
   
       28 . A process according to  claim 21 , wherein the metal parts are made of the same metal or the same metal alloy. 
   
   
       29 . A process according to  claim 21 , wherein a die casting scrap part with gas inclusions is used as the metal part. 
   
   
       30 . A process according to  claim 29 , wherein the die casting scrap part is made of magnesium or a magnesium alloy. 
   
   
       31 . A process according to  claim 25 , wherein the non-metallic particles are oxide particles. 
   
   
       32 . A process according to  claim 31 , wherein the non-metallic particles have an average size of less than 200 μm. 
   
   
       33 . A process according to  claim 21 , including, before applying vacuum, the metal melt is transferred into a container having the shape of the light metal foam body to be produced.