Core Viewpoint - The waste metal recycling industry is experiencing significant growth due to the trend of resource recycling, but issues such as counterfeit products are emerging, which negatively impact the interests of recycling companies and the healthy development of the industry [1] Group 1: Common Counterfeiting Methods - Fraudsters often use alloy mixing to counterfeit, such as mixing zinc into pure copper to create brass and sell it as pure copper for higher profits [1] - Surface coating fraud is common, where ordinary metals are coated with a layer of precious or high-value metals to mislead recyclers [1] - Physical modification is another method, where scrap metals are mechanically processed to disguise them as high-value metal products [1] Group 2: Practical Identification Methods - **Visual Identification**: Observing the color and luster of metals, as each metal has unique characteristics. For example, pure copper is reddish and forms green patina, while counterfeit metals often have uneven color and dull luster [4] - **Physical Property Identification**: Using density differences to identify metals by measuring mass and volume. For instance, pure iron has a density of approximately 7.86 grams per cubic centimeter [5] - **Chemical Identification**: Flame tests can effectively identify certain metals based on the color of the flame produced when heated [7] - **Professional Instrument Detection**: Spectroscopic analysis tools can quickly and accurately determine the elemental composition and content of metals, with X-ray fluorescence spectrometers allowing for non-destructive testing [9] Group 3: Risk Mitigation Recommendations - Recycling companies and practitioners should enhance their professional knowledge and participate in industry training to stay updated on counterfeiting methods and identification techniques [10] - Establishing strict quality inspection processes and conducting sampling tests on each batch of scrap metal is essential [10] - Building long-term relationships with reputable suppliers and customers can help reduce transaction risks [10]