In an era where environmental protection and resource recycling have become paramount, the battery recycling industry has emerged as a critical player in sustainable development. Crushing stands as a pivotal step in the battery recycling process, and the performance of the cutters in crushers directly influences recycling efficiency, material quality, and equipment costs. This article aims to provide an in-depth overview of the primary types of cutters used in battery recycling crushers, presented through tables, lists, and visual descriptions.
1. Cemented Carbide Cutters
Cemented carbide cutters are widely favored in battery recycling crushers, renowned for their exceptional performance in handling tough materials.
| Item | Details |
| Material Composition | Primarily composed of tungsten carbide (WC) as the hard phase and cobalt (Co) as the binder phase |
| Hardness | Can reach HRA89 – 93 |
| Wear Resistance | Offers a service life several to dozens of times longer than ordinary steel cutters |
| Key Advantages | High hardness enables processing of hard materials like metal casings and electrodes; the cobalt binder phase provides toughness, preventing breakage under high – impact conditions |
Ideal for processing batteries with a high metal content:
- Lead – acid Batteries: Efficiently crushes lead plates and metal casings, facilitating subsequent separation and recycling.
- Lithium – ion Batteries: Achieves excellent crushing results on copper foil, aluminum foil current collectors, and some metal casings, aiding in the separation of metal components.
2. High – Speed Steel Cutters
High – speed steel cutters play a crucial role in battery recycling, excelling in handling soft yet tough materials.
| Item | Details |
| Material Composition | High – alloy tool steel containing multiple alloying elements such as tungsten (W), molybdenum (Mo), chromium (Cr), and vanadium (V) |
| Hot Hardness | Maintains a hardness of HRC60 or above at around 600°C |
| Other Characteristics | High strength and toughness to withstand impact loads; good machinability allows for complex shapes |
Commonly used for processing the following materials:
- Lithium – ion Battery Separators: Utilizes its high strength and toughness to effectively shear and crush flexible separators.
- Batteries with Plastic Casings: Ensures good crushing performance while reducing cutter wear and extending service life.
3. Ceramic Cutters
Ceramic cutters are indispensable in specific scenarios due to their unique properties, especially in corrosive environments and applications requiring high – purity materials.
| Item | Details |
| Material Composition | Mainly made of ceramic materials such as aluminum oxide (Al₂O₃) and silicon nitride (Si₃N₄) |
| Hardness | Can reach HRA92 – 95, higher than that of cemented carbide cutters |
| Key Advantages | Excellent chemical stability, hardly reacting with battery chemicals; low friction coefficient reduces energy consumption and improves the surface quality of crushed materials |
Suitable applications include:
- Batteries with Corrosive Electrolytes: Such as used nickel – cadmium batteries, protecting against electrolyte corrosion and ensuring smooth crushing operations.
- High – Purity Requirements: Since they do not react with materials during crushing, they ensure high – purity recycled materials, meeting the demands of fine processing.
4. Custom – Made Cutters
Given the complexity of battery structures and compositions, custom – made cutters have been developed to address intricate crushing challenges.
4.1 Design Based on Battery Structures
- For lithium – ion batteries with multi – layer structures, design serrated cutting edges or cutting edges at specific angles to achieve layer – by – layer crushing.
- For cylindrical batteries, design circumferential cutting structures to quickly separate the casings from the internal cores.
4.2 Cutter Optimization Based on Material Characteristics
- In scenarios with high dust content, add dust – proof structures to reduce wear and pollution.
- For sticky materials, apply coating technologies to the cutter surface to reduce adhesion and prevent material buildup.
- Optimize material selection and heat treatment processes to enhance cutter service life.
Visual Description: Display images of cutters with dust – proof structures, such as dust covers or air holes around the cutter. Also, show close – up images of coated cutter surfaces, which may exhibit different colors and textures compared to ordinary cutters, directly demonstrating the effects of special treatments.
In the battery recycling industry, different types of crusher cutters have their own unique strengths. Enterprises can refer to the information in the above tables, lists, and visual descriptions to select the appropriate cutters according to their production requirements. This approach will help improve battery recycling efficiency and quality, driving the industry towards more sustainable development.