New low-cost method to recycle magnesium alloy from steering wheels

Researchers from the Saitama Prefectural Institute of Industrial Technology have collaborated with the National University Corporation Toyama University, announcing the development of a new low-cost technology to extract magnesium alloy from used automobile steering wheels. Previously considered non-recoverable, this innovation could advance recycling of industrial waste and circulating the materials.

Automobile steering wheels are typically made with polyurethane resin embedded with magnesium alloy, designed for lightweight handling and enhanced driver safety. The magnesium alloy, however, is notoriously difficult to recover due to its concave shape and strong adhesive properties with the resin. Previous methods, such as burning the resin, produced harmful gases, while other approaches like laser treatment, were too costly for large-scale implementation.

The newly developed process introduces a solvent that effectively separates the polyurethane resin from the magnesium alloy without triggering unwanted reactions. The solvent mixture contains a solution that can easily soak through the adhesive layer and another solution that bonds well with polyurethane. After applying the solvent, the materials are shaken or stirred to fully separate them. This process enables efficient extraction at a low cost while ensuring that the recycled magnesium alloy retains its strength.

A joint patent for this innovative approach has already been filed by the collaborating parties, and efforts are underway to transfer the technology to companies for real-world implementation. The research team hopes to partner with interested businesses next in adopting this technology provide ongoing support for the improvements necessary to bring this solution to practical use.