• Resources Recycling
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.46-55
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• 2022

The recycling of coated cemented carbide scraps is becoming increasingly significant for the recovery of rare metals. However, coatings consisting of Group IV and V transition metal nitrides are one of the challenging factors in obtaining high-purity materials. We investigated the structural, elastic, and mechanical properties of Group IV and V transition-metal nitrides (TiN, VN, ZrN, NbN, HfN, and TaN) using first-principle calculations. Convergence tests were performed to obtain reliable calculated results. The equilibrium structures of the nitrides were in good agreement with those of a previous study, indicating the reliability of the data. Group IV transition metal nitrides show a higher covalent bonding nature. Thus, they exhibit a higher degree of brittleness than that of Group V transition metal nitrides. In contrast, Group V transition metal nitrides show weaker resistance to shear loading and more ductile behavior than Group IV transition metal nitrides because of the metallic bonds characterized by valence electron concentration. The results of the crystal orbital Hamilton population analysis showed good agreement with the shear resistance tendencies of all transition metal nitrides.

• Resources Recycling
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.43-55
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• 2005

As world population increases and the world economy expalds, so does the demand for natural resources especially strategic metals such as cobalt. An accurate assesment of the nation's minerals must include not only the resources available in the ground but also those that become available through recycling. In this paper, data on domestic and international supply of cobalt and its applications by end-user were analyzed for stable security of cobalt resources and effective recycling of cobalt scraps. Also, an initial evaluation of the flow of cobalt-containing materials in the United States was prepared. In 2003, 8,000 metric tons of cobalt were consumed in the United States and an estimated 28% of U.S. cobalt supply was derived from scrap. The superalloy industry and catalyst industries have well-established recycling or cobalt recovery practices. Recycling rates of cobalt scraps from magnet alloy and cemented carbide were relatively low.

• Journal of Powder Materials
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.240-245
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• 2018

This study focuses on the fabrication of a WC/Co composite powder from the oxide of WC/Co hardmetal scrap using solid carbon in a hydrogen gas atmosphere for the recycling of WC/Co hardmetal. Mixed powders are manufactured by mechanically milling the oxide powder of WC-13 wt% Co hardmetal scrap and carbon black with varying powder/ball weight ratios. The oxide powder of WC-13 wt% Co hardmetal scrap consists of $WO_3$ and $CoWO_4$. The mixed powder mechanically milled at a lower powder/ball weight ratio (high mechanical milling energy) has a more rapid carbothermal reduction reaction in the formation of WC and Co phases compared with that mechanically milled at a higher powder/ball weight ratio (lower mechanical milling energy). The WC/Co composite powder is fabricated at $900^{\circ}C$ for 6 h from the oxide of WC/Co hardmetal scrap using solid carbon in a hydrogen gas atmosphere. The fabricated WC/Co composite powder has a particle size of approximately $0.25-0.5{\mu}m$.