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Specialty Scrap
Transformers
Grade: VariousMedium-High Tier
Electrical transformers with copper windings and steel core
Market Price EstimateUpdated Daily
$1,850/ MT
+95 (5.4%)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.
End-of-life electrical transformers; power infrastructure decommissioning; MODERATE precious metal content (12-25% copper primary value; 55-70% steel secondary); HAZMAT COMPLEXITY MODERATE (transformer oil 5-20%; PCB contamination legacy concern; environmental hazard if PCB-contaminated); SUBSTANTIAL supplier count (223 suppliers; power infrastructure lifecycle); MEDIUM-HIGH value commodity; copper recovery valuable; steel significant; oil hazmat variable (modern mineral oil safe; legacy PCB contamination critical concern); environmental/oil disposal cost significant; transformer recycling specialized infrastructure required
Acceptable Inclusions
- Copper windings 12-25% (transformer specification)
- Steel core 55-70% (commodity base metal; acceptable)
- Mineral oil 5-20% (modern transformer oil; safe; acceptable)
- Aluminum <5% (valuable secondary; acceptable)
- Insulation cellulose 3-10% (inert; acceptable)
- Dust, corrosion typical (post-service; acceptable)
Prohibited Materials
- PCB-contaminated oil (HAZMAT EXTREME; legacy transformers pre-1978; environmental liability CRITICAL)
- Copper <12% (below specification; material integrity compromised)
- Unknown oil type or PCB status unverified (hazmat risk unquantified; pre-1978 transformers MUST test)
- Leaking oil or environmental contamination (spill hazmat; cleanup cost prohibitive)
Quality Assurance
Testing protocols, sampling methods, and acceptance criteria.
Sampling Protocol
frequencyStratified random sampling by transformer age/type; oil type verification; metal content assessment
maximumQuantity200+ transformers per shipment
minimumQuantity5-20 transformers or 500-2000 kg
percentage10-20% of lot
stratificationSample across transformer ages; types; oil hazmat assessment mandatory
Acceptance Limits
all Criteria Must PassMaterial must be electrical transformer; copper/steel confirmed; oil/ hazmat status ; environmental liability documented
copper ContentCu 12-25%
environmental LiabilityOil/ hazmat status assessed; environmental cleanup cost estimated
oil StatusOil type confirmed
pcb Compliance<0.001% confirmed & documented
steel CoreFe 55-70%
transformer AuthenticityConfirmed as electrical power transformer
Weight Tolerance
measurementVerified by certified scale; weight accountability for dual-metal commodity
variance±5% from expected weight
Required Test Methods
Visual Inspection & Transformer Classification
CRITICAL
Purpose
- confirm transformer type/kVA
- identify age/vintage (pre-1978 = PCB concern)
- assess condition
Acceptance Criteria
- Transformer type unmistakably identifiable
- kVA rating confirmed
- vintage estimated
- composition range predicted
Procedure
- 100% visual inspection
- identify nameplate/model
- assess transformer age
- estimate kVA rating
- determine if pre-1978 (PCB CONCERN)
Oil Type & PCB Status Assessment
CRITICALMANDATORY
Purpose
- determine oil type (mineral vs. PCB)
- verify PCB status for pre-1978
- environmental hazmat assessment
Acceptance Criteria
- Oil type confirmed (mineral oil modern)
- PCB status verified negative for pre-1978 OR PCB detected & hazmat protocol activated
Procedure
- Visual oil inspection
- assess transformer age (pre-1978 = PCB concern)
- gas chromatography PCB testing if pre-1978
PCB Testing
CRITICAL
Purpose
- detect PCB content
- verify EPA environmental standards
- assess hazmat liability
Acceptance Criteria
- PCB <0.001% VERIFIED (environmental compliance CONFIRMED) OR PCB DETECTED (hazmat protocol activated
- remediation cost assessed)
Copper & Steel Assessment
Purpose
- Verify copper 12-25%
- confirm steel 55-70%
- validate dual-metal commodity
- assess recovery value
Acceptance Criteria
- Cu 12-25%, Fe 55-70%
- specification
- commodity value
Procedure
- Visual metal assessment
- copper winding visible
- steel core
- metal percentage estimation
XRF Metal Verification
Purpose
- Verify copper/steel/aluminum content
- quantify commodity metals
- confirm specifications
Acceptance Criteria
- Cu 12-25%, Fe 55-70% verified
- specifications