Copper cannot be effectively separated from stainless steel due to the non-magnetic properties of austenitic stainless steels, which comprise a significant portion of stainless steel types. The presence of copper can degrade the structural integrity of stainless steel when melted together. This degradation occurs because copper, in sufficient quantities, adversely affects the mechanical properties of stainless steel. Therefore, separating these two metals post-melting is not feasible.
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The comment ('rumor') may be related to the magnetic properties of certain stainless steel, or the lack thereof.Albeaver89 said:I heard a rumor from some people at a scrap yard that it's impossible to sepperate copper from stainless steel, and that the copper ruins the stainless steels structual integrety. Is there any truth to this?