Non-Ferrous Aluminum
Aluminum Wheels
Grade: TromaHigh Tier
Cast aluminum automotive wheels and truck wheels
Market Price EstimateUpdated Daily
$2,250/ MT
+135 (6.4%)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 automotive wheels; premium aluminum casting scrap; high-volume vehicle recycling source; established supply from tire removal and vehicle dismantling; wheel-specific alloy recoverable; direct smelter feedstock
Acceptable Inclusions
- Aluminum 88-99% (wheel specification)
- Magnesium <5% (5000-series wheel alloy critical)
- Brake dust <2% (post-service residue)
- Light corrosion and oxidation
- Chrome plating <1% (automotive finish)
- Tire sealant <0.5% (minimal valve stem compound)
- Iron <1.5% (brake dust component)
Prohibited Materials
- Tire rubber >0.5% (hazmat concern; toxic volatiles)
- Steel wheel mixing (ferrous base)
- Unknown wheel composition
- Heavy plating or coating
- PCB or electronic components
- Lead-based paint (pre-1980 wheels)
- Radioactive materials (rare but hazmat risk)
Quality Assurance
Testing protocols, sampling methods, and acceptance criteria.
Sampling Protocol
frequencyRandom stratified sampling from multiple shipment positions
maximumQuantity80-100 wheels per shipment
minimumQuantity0.5-1 tonne or 20-40 wheel samples
percentage10-12% of lot
stratificationSample across wheel sizes/types; different vehicle applications
Acceptance Limits
all Criteria Must PassMaterial must be aluminum automotive wheels; alloy/structure verified; hazmat assessment cleared
alloy TypeConfirmed as automotive wheel casting alloy
aluminum ContentAl 88-99%
brake Dust LimitBrake dust <2%
chrome Limit<1%
iron LimitFe <1.5%
magnesium LimitMg <5%
material IdentityConfirmed aluminum automotive wheels
sealant LimitSealant <0.5%
structural IntegrityWheels sound; no major cracks/warping; casting quality verified
tire Rubber LimitTire rubber <0.5%
Weight Tolerance
measurementVerified by certified scale; weight certificate required for lots >2 tonnes
variance±3% from purchase order weight
Required Test Methods
Visual Inspection
Purpose
- Confirm aluminum automotive wheels (not steel)
- verify structural condition
- assess brake dust/contamination
Acceptance Criteria
- Aluminum wheels apparent
- solid casting construction confirmed
- structural integrity apparent
- no obvious hazards
Procedure
- 100% visual of all samples
- verify aluminum appearance (bright/light vs. dark/ferrous)
- check for visible cracks, warping, damage
- assess brake dust accumulation
Magnetic Test
Purpose
- Exclude steel wheels or ferrous contamination
- verify aluminum non-magnetic character
Acceptance Criteria
- Non-magnetic (aluminum expected)
- no ferrous wheel mixing
Procedure
- Magnet test on sample wheels
- strong attraction indicates steel mixing
- minimal response expected
Tire Rubber & Sealant Assessment
CRITICAL
Purpose
- assess tire compound residue
- hazmat risk evaluation
Acceptance Criteria
- Minimal tire rubber visible (<0.5%)
- sealant <0.5%
- no significant rubber saturation
Brake Dust Evaluation
Purpose
- Assess brake dust accumulation
- evaluate cleaning status
Acceptance Criteria
- Brake dust <2% (post-automotive acceptable)
- light to moderate accumulation typical
Procedure
- Visual inspection
- weight assessment if extensive dust
- expected from automotive service
Structural Integrity Check
Purpose
- Assess wheel casting quality
- detect cracks, warping, or damage
Acceptance Criteria
- Wheels structurally sound
- no major cracks, warping, or manufacturing defects
Procedure
- Visual/tactile inspection
- magnetic particle inspection for micro-cracks (high-value lots)
Chrome Plating & Surface Finish Assessment
Purpose
- Evaluate plating residue (<1%)
- verify surface finish condition
Acceptance Criteria
- Chrome/paint finish <1%
- surface clean/acceptable
Procedure
- Visual inspection of wheel finish
- assess plating wear/residue
XRF Spectrometry
CRITICAL
Purpose
- Verify Al 88-99%
- confirm 5000-series alloy (Mg <5% )
- assess all contamination
Acceptance Criteria
- Al 88-99%, Mg <5% (5000-series verified), Fe <1.5%, brake dust <2%