Seperating aluminum from stainless steal?

[danzman]

Any ideas how I can seperate Aluminum swarf from stainless steal swarf, as stainless steal is non magnetic?

[Loosehead]

May not be practical but Aluminium melts at a lower temperature.

[danzman]

Thanks for your reply loosehead, but want I want to do is separate it to sell back to foundaries, I'd imagine part of their process would include what you're suggesting. I want to be able to separate it at more basic level.

[Gnu]

According to this website, most types of stainless steel are magnetic.

http://www.azom.com/details.asp?ArticleID=1140

[theprof]

There are many different types of stainless steels all with individual properties. Nevertheless, they are all classified into three types:

1. Austenitic
2. Ferritic
3. Martensitic

As far as magnetic properties are concerned, the austenitic types are non-magnetic, whereas the ferritic and martenistic alloys are ferromagnetic.

Therefore, it does depend which type of alloy you have if you want to separate the mix magnetically.

[jake-the-peg]

Sounds like you need an eddy current separator

http://www.reedlink.com/ProductInfo~Productid~55617.html

[danzman]

Thanks for all your answers, but the type of stainless steel we use is austenitic. We use because it is non magnetic as we produce Ultra High Vacuum chambers and equipment for scientific research.

[BillyBB]

Maybe some sort of air blower would lift the lighter aluminium out?

[qapmoc]

I would have thought that you would need to pass the waste through a tank containing a very dense liquid, the stainless will have a higher density than the aluminium so if you get the liquid density right the aluminum would float and the steel would sink.
I have no idea what liquid you would use for this but if you like the idea we can settle on 5% of your saving as my fee.