Electrochemical Recovery Of Metallic Values From Hardmetal Scraps: Can It Be Still Taken Into Consideration Or Should We Give It Up?

Circular use of the main hardmetal constituents is mandatory for European industrial economy. Over the past 20 years some recovery processes have been integrated in the extractive metallurgy or directly in the hardmetal production processes. Among attempted recovery routes, electrochemical methods have been studied since the ‘70’s, although they never climbed to the level of an industrial process. In this work, we present the crucial electrochemical knowledge-base that has enabled the definition of an electrochemical demolition process, claiming to overcome the productivity barrier that, so far, has hindered the industrial application of electrochemical scrap treatments. In particular, in this contribution, we concentrate on the systematic investigation of the electrochemical response of HM in the pseudopassive and transpassive condition, an appropriate sequence of which is adopted in our electrochemical demolition process. As a worst-case benchmark, this study revolves around a representative series of corrosion-resistant grades.