ScrapBull
Brass Radiators
Non-Ferrous Brass

Brass Radiators

Grade: VariousMedium-High Tier

Automotive brass radiators, mixed brass and copper

Market Price EstimateUpdated Daily
$2,250/ MT
+95 (4.4%)vs yesterday
Verified specifications & market data

Chemical Composition

Elemental breakdown by percentage weight.

Standard composition limits
Values represent maximum allowed percentage unless otherwise noted.

Physical Properties

Material form, density, and contamination specifications.

Mixed brass-copper radiator scrap from automotive recycling; complete radiator assemblies or separated components; moderate processing complexity; established recycling infrastructure

Acceptable Inclusions
  • Residual coolant fluid (will drain/dissipate)
  • Light machine oil or hydraulic residue
  • Dust, dirt, debris (external)
  • Mineral scale and deposits (internal)
  • Light oxidation and patina
  • Minor bent/damaged fins
  • Light solder/brazing residue
  • Plastic end-caps or minor non-metallic components
  • Lead <1.5% (automotive tolerance)
Prohibited Materials
  • Copper content <70% (must be radiator brass range)
  • Aluminum radiator (different recycling stream)
  • Heavy corrosion/structural loss >5% material
  • Core damage/leaking affecting composition
  • Stainless steel radiator tubes (wrong material)
  • Hazardous fluid contamination (mercury, PCB)
  • Asbestos insulation or gaskets
  • PCB components attached
  • Radioactive materials
  • Mixed metal uncertainty (composition unclear)

Quality Assurance

Testing protocols, sampling methods, and acceptance criteria.

Sampling Protocol
frequencyRandom stratified sampling from multiple shipment positions
maximumQuantity50-80 samples per shipment
minimumQuantity1-2 tonnes or 15-30 individual radiator units
percentage10-15% of lot
stratificationSample across radiator types; diverse sizes; different vehicle types
Acceptance Limits
all Criteria Must PassMaterial must be brass/copper radiator; composition blended spec confirmed; hazmat cleared
copper ContentCu 70-85% blended
fin Tube CompositionBrass fins + copper tubes confirmed; separability assessed
fluid StatusAcceptable coolant/oil residue; hazardous fluid
hazmat StatusAsbestos ; Mercury ; ; Lead <1.5%
iron LimitFe <1.0%
lead LimitPb <1.5%
material IdentityConfirmed brass/copper radiator
structural IntegrityRadiator core intact; no major damage/leaks
tin LimitSn <0.8%
zinc ContentZn 10-25%
Weight Tolerance
measurementVerified by certified scale; weight certificate required for lots >2 tonnes
variance±5% from purchase order weight

Required Test Methods

Visual Inspection

Method 1
Purpose
  • Confirm brass/copper radiator (NOT aluminum)
  • verify radiator condition
  • assess structural integrity
  • detect hazmat indicators
Acceptance Criteria
  • Brass-colored fins and copper-colored tubes apparent (NOT aluminum silver appearance)
  • structural integrity reasonable
  • no obvious hazmat warning signs
Procedure
  • 100% visual scan
  • confirm material type (brass/copper vs. aluminum)
  • assess radiator condition
  • identify damaged units
  • note fluid residue levels

Material Type Identification

CRITICAL
Method 2
Purpose
  • distinguish brass/copper radiator from aluminum radiator (different recycling stream)
Acceptance Criteria
  • Brass/copper radiator confirmed (NOT aluminum)
  • material type clear

Fin/Tube Composition Assessment

Method 3
Purpose
  • Verify brass fins and copper tubes
  • assess component separation feasibility
Acceptance Criteria
  • Brass fins identifiable (yellowish)
  • copper tubes identifiable (reddish)
  • separable or already separated
Procedure
  • Visual inspection of fin/tube construction
  • assess brazed/soldered joint condition
  • determine separation difficulty

Coolant/Fluid Assessment

Method 4
Purpose
  • Evaluate residual coolant/fluid
  • assess drying status
  • identify hazardous fluid
Acceptance Criteria
  • Drained or minimal residue acceptable
  • no hazardous fluid (mercury, PCB) detected

Age/Era Assessment

CRITICAL
Method 5
Purpose
  • assess asbestos and lead paint risk if pre-1978/1980 vehicle
Acceptance Criteria
  • Radiator era documented
  • asbestos risk assessed
  • lead assessment completed
Procedure
  • Visual age indicators (design, construction)
  • historical source documentation
  • expert assessment if pre-1980

Structural Integrity Check

Method 6
Purpose
  • Assess radiator core condition
  • identify major damage/leaks
  • evaluate processing feasibility
Acceptance Criteria
  • Radiator core intact
  • minor damage acceptable
  • no major leaks/structural compromise
Procedure
  • Visual inspection
  • gentle pressure test (confirm no active leaks)
  • damage documentation

XRF Spectrometry

Method 7
Purpose
  • Verify Cu 70-85% blended
  • confirm Zn 10-25%
  • assess contamination (Pb, Fe, Sn)
Acceptance Criteria
  • Cu 70-85%, Zn 10-25% (radiator blended spec), Pb <1.5%, Sn <0.8%, Fe <1.0%
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