Transport Sector (24% of nickel use)
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Automotive: 14.9%
Aerospace: 3.8%
Marine: 1.9%
Rail: 1.2%
Other: 2.2%
Automotive (14.9%)
Automobiles and trucks contain small amounts of nickel in a wide range of products. Reasons for choice are mechanical properties, corrosion resistance, decorative qualities or some combination of these. Stainless steel exhaust and catalytic converter components; chromium-nickel plated decorative trim; nickel-plated engine components; nickel-containing valves and plugs; nickel steel gear components; nickel alloy turbochargers; nickel-zinc coated body panels; nickel-containing components in micro-electronics; temperature control devices, and air bags. Nickel-containing batteries are being used for electric and hybrid vehicles but these are not yet showing up in end-of-life vehicles.
The use is dispersed but the collection, dismantling and recycling of trucks and automobiles is practiced widely. Some nickel-containing components are clearly identifiable and easily accessible to dismantlers (e.g., exhausts systems, turbo chargers, bright trim) and they contain most of the nickel found in an auto. A high proportion of these will be collected, sorted and returned to the nickel loops. Many other components containing small amounts of nickel will end up in the general steel loop, however, as the work involved in separating nickel-containing components from non-nickel components is more costly than the value of the nickel so segregated.
There has been a strong trend to fragment (shred) mixed automobile scrap and submit it to various mechanical and/or magnetic separation processes. This is allowing a higher proportion of the nickel to be separated into the steel, copper and plastics streams.
Assumption: average life 12 years: 40% recycled into nickel streams; 40% recycled via steel, copper or plastics loops; 20% generally dispersed, including to landfill. [The "nickelinautos" portal contains a detailed explanation of auto recycling and nickel recovery.]
Aerospace (3.8%)
Concentrated use both with limited users (airlines, defense forces, specialist repair and maintenance facilities) and few specialized uses (notably jet engines, specialist batteries and advanced electronics). Collection at end-of-life will be very high and segregation into alloy and metal loops will similarly be high. Mixed alloys, coatings, etc. are used as feed for stainless steel blends.
Assumption: average life 15 years; 85% recycled to nickel loops, 14% to general steel, 1% generally dispersed, including to landfill.
Marine (1.9%)
Relatively concentrated use and dismantling - with a relatively small number of specialized ship repair and breaking yards. Nickel alloys, steels and coatings are used in large marine engines. Stainless steel and cupro-nickel are used in water cooling systems. Nickel-containing brasses are used in drive components. Specialized vessels to carry corrosive materials (e.g., acids), or to operate at low temperature (e.g., LNG), use stainless steel, nickel steels or nickel alloys. All major metal components are easily collected on dismantling but some nickel-containing components may be recycled into general steel or copper loops rather than specific nickel loops.
Assumptions: average life 35 years: 75% recycled to nickel loops; 20% recycled to steel and copper loops; 5% loss either to the seabed (losses overboard or by shipwreck) or more generally dispersed, including to landfill.
Rail (1.2%)
Concentrated use with specialized constructors, operators and dismantlers. Stainless steel is used in carriages and in specialized freight cars, nickel steel and alloy components are used in diesel engines and some braking and signaling equipment. Special nickel-containing batteries are used for standby power.
Assumptions: average life 35 years: 75% recycled to nickel loops; 20% recycled to steel and copper loops;
5% generally dispersed, including to landfill.
Other (2.2%)
Includes dispersed uses like bicycles which use nickel steel and chromium nickel plating.
Assumptions: average life 30 years; recycled to steel loops 70%; generally dispersed, including to
landfill 30%.
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