Copper

 Copper↑ is one of the oldest and the most widely used non-ferrous metals in industry.

COPPER

Copper↑ is one of the oldest and the most widely used non-ferrous metals in industry.

1. Properties of Copper

The copper possesses the following properties :

1. Copper possesses very high electrical conductivity. In fact, in this respect it is second only to silver.

2. It also has very high thermal conductivity.

3. It exhibits excellent resistance to corrosion.

4. It is very soft, ductile and malleable.

5. It becomes brittle just below its melting point.

6. It can be worked in hot or cold condition, but it cannot be welded.

Table 3.17 presents the principal properties of pure copper.

† How is copper extracted?

Copper is extracted almost entirely from ores based on copper pyrites. Copper pyrites refers a mineral in which copper is chemically combined with iron and sulphur. First the copper ore is concentrated. Then it is converted into a copper sulphide-iron sulphide matte. Oxygen introduced to the matte converts the iron sulphide into iron oxide and the copper sulphide to an impure copper called blister copper. This blister copper is then purified to obtain pure copper.

The pure copper so obtained is of the order of 99% pure and it may be refined to higher purities by electrolytic, or fire refining techniques.

2. Applications of Copper

✔ Copper↑ is extensively used for manufacturing power cables, telephone cables, cables for computer networks, printed circuit boards, connectors, etc.

✔ Other grades of pure copper are used in the form of sheet for architectural cladding and for shaping into articles such as domestic water tanks and vessels used in the food and chemical industries, and in the form of tubing for heat exchangers.

✔ It is mainly used in the manufacture of important alloys such as brass and bronze.