CAR Material Selection & Properties 5

Question 1

What is 'prepared 1' (P1) grade copper scrap, and why is it relevant to appliance recycling?

Accepted Answer

Copper with less than 0.5% impurities, achieved by stripping insulation from motor windings

Answer

P1 copper (clean uncoated copper pipe, wire, and fittings) commands premium prices, and proper preparation by removing insulation from motor windings achieves this grade.

Question 2

Polystyrene (PS) inner door liners in refrigerators are identified by which resin code and property?

Accepted Answer

#6, brittle and produces a metallic ring when tapped

Answer

Polystyrene (#6) is rigid and somewhat brittle, and it makes a characteristic hollow ring when tapped, distinguishing it from other refrigerator liner plastics.

Question 3

In the context of appliance shredder residue (ASR), the 'fluff' fraction primarily consists of:

Accepted Answer

Mixed plastics, foam, rubber, glass, and dirt classified as waste

Answer

ASR fluff is the light, mixed residue of plastics, foam, fabric, glass, and fines that remains after metals are extracted, typically sent to landfill or energy recovery.

Question 4

Why is it important to identify whether an appliance uses R-410A versus R-22 refrigerant before recovery?

Accepted Answer

They require different recovery equipment and cylinders; mixing them creates contaminated waste refrigerant

Answer

R-410A operates at nearly double the pressure of R-22 and requires separate recovery cylinders; cross-contamination destroys the reclaim value of both refrigerants.

Question 5

Ballasts in older fluorescent light fixtures found in commercial refrigeration cases may contain:

Accepted Answer

PCB-containing dielectric oil requiring hazardous waste management

Answer

Pre-1979 magnetic ballasts may contain PCB-based insulating oil, classifying them as PCB-containing equipment regulated under TSCA.

(CAR) Certified Appliance Recycler Practice Test

(CAR) Certified Appliance Recycler Practice Test

CAR Material Selection & Properties 5