Now, many people are unaware of the importance of recycling old and worn-out electrical wires and cables. In fact, doing so not only maximizes the remaining value of these materials but also distinguishes and prevents waste from being lost to society. To minimize environmental impact and transform waste into treasure, one can either recycle and reuse the materials or reduce production waste for businesses. The recycled old and worn-out wire and cable materials generally undergo varying degrees of aging, with the additives experiencing varying levels of loss. Although the recycled materials may differ in performance from new ones, recent research data indicates that by adjusting the formulation and adding necessary functional additives, the processing, mechanical, and electrical properties of the recycled materials can be improved. Depending on different product requirements, various process formulations and techniques are employed. This involves melting the recycled wire and cable material for reuse, then adding appropriate functional additives to re-granulate it after crushing, producing lining material for the insulation layer of power cables. This not only aids in environmental protection but also significantly reduces production costs for businesses, pushing the limits of competitive advantage.

Waste Cable Utilization Methods

1. Hand Peeling Method: This method involves manual peeling, which is inefficient, costly, and provides poor working conditions for the workers.

2. Incineration Method: This is a traditional method that involves burning the plastic sheath of waste cables to recover the copper inside. However, it produces extremely severe smoke pollution, and during the incineration process, the surface of the copper wire is severely oxidized, reducing the metal recovery rate. This method has been strictly prohibited by various countries.

3. Mechanical Peel Method: This involves the use of cable stripping machines for processing, which still requires manual operation. It is semi-mechanized, labor-intensive, with low efficiency, and is suitable only for stripping thick-wire cables.

4. Chemical Method: The technology for treating waste cables by chemical method was proposed in the 1990s. Some countries have conducted research on it, and China also carried out research during the "Eighth Five-Year Plan" period. A major drawback of this method is that the waste liquid produced cannot be processed, which has a significant impact on the environment, so it is rarely used.

5. Cryogenic Method: This method was also proposed in the 1990s, using liquid nitrogen as the refrigerant to make the waste cables脆 at extremely low temperatures. After being crushed and vibrated, the plastic sheath is separated from the copper wire segments. China also initiated research on this method during the "Eighth Five-Year Plan" period. However, the drawback of this method is its high cost and difficulty in industrial production.

Cables and wires are categorized by voltage ratings.

1. Low-voltage cables: Suitable for fixed installation in AC 50Hz power transmission and distribution lines with rated voltage of 3kV and below, used for transmitting electrical energy.

2. Medium and Low Voltage Cables (typically 35KV and below): Polyethylene insulated cables, polyethylene insulated cables, cross-linked polyethylene insulated cables, etc.

3. High-voltage Cables (typically 110KV and above): Polyethylene cables and cross-linked polyethylene insulated cables, etc.

4. Extra-high voltage cables: (275-800 kV)

5. Ultra-high voltage cables: (1000 kV and above).

Major categories of wire and cable recycling products

Key classifications of wire and cable recycling products are worth noting! They can be categorized by voltage levels into medium and low-voltage power cables (up to 35 kV), high-voltage cables (above 110 kV), ultra-high-voltage cables (275-800 kV), and extra-high-voltage cables (1000 kV and above). Additionally, they can also be divided into AC cables and DC cables based on current systems.