Electrophysical method of metal chip briquetting

An electrophysical (electro-pulse) technology for briquetting metal chips and other similar wastes is proposed. To form a briquette a local and short-term impact of a high-density energy flow namely a short pulse of a high-density electric current is used. Briquettes of different shape size and density from chips of titanium alloys including high-strength (VT1-0 3M VT20 etc.) and some other metals were made on the laboratory and pilot plants. Mechanical tests have shown that with a relatively small contribution of energy (~ 5 kWh/t) tensile strength of briquettes exceeded 200 kN/m2. When briquetting in the air even such chemically active metal as titanium metal contamination is insignificant. The evaluation of technological possibilities of using briquettes under industrial conditions showed that the oxygen content in the alloy increased by 0.008 % if the briquette content in the charge was increased by 1 %. Temperature of briquettes after processing does not exceed 200 oC. This technology is energy-saving.