Copper
Copper is the oldest metal used by man. It’s uses dates back to prehistoric times. Copper has been mined for more than 10,000 years with a Copper pendant found in current day Iraq being dated to 8700BC. By 5000BC Copper was being smelted from simple Copper Oxides. Copper is found as native metal and in the mineral’s cuprite, malachite, azurite, chalcopyrite and bornite.
Commercial Compositions of Copper
There are around 370 commercial compositions for copper alloy. The most common grade tends to be C106/CW024A – the standard water tube grade of copper. World consumption of copper and copper alloy now exceeds 18 million tons per annum.
Key Properties of Copper Alloys
Copper is a tough, ductile and malleable material. These properties make copper extremely suitable for tube forming, wire drawing, spinning and deep drawing. The other key properties exhibited by copper and its alloys include:
Applications of Copper
Copper and copper alloy can be used in an extraordinary range of applications. Some of these applications include:
- Power transmission lines
- Architectural applications
- Cooking utensils
- Spark plugs
- Electrical wiring, cables and busbars
- High conductivity wires
- Electrodes
- Heat exchangers
- Refrigeration tubing
- Plumbing
- Water-cooled copper crucibles