Copper Development Association Copper – The Vital Metal CDA Publication 121, 1998 Copper – The Vital Metal CDA Publication 121 April 1998 (This book replaces CDA Book 1 ‘Introduction to Copper’, 1988) Members as at 1st January 1998 ASARCO Inc Boliden MKM Ltd Thomas Bolton Ltd The British Non-Ferrous Metals Federation Chile Copper Ltd Gecamines IMI plc Inco Europe Ltd Noranda Sales Corporation of Canada Ltd Rio Tinto London Ltd Southern Peru Copper Corporation Acknowledgements This publication is financed by the members of Copper Development Association, European Copper Institute, British Non-Ferrous Metals Federation and Aalco. CDA is glad to acknowledge with thanks the provision of illustrations where noted. Copper Development Association Copper Development Association is a non-trading organisation sponsored by the copper producers and fabricators to encourage the use of copper and copper alloys and to promote their correct and efficient application. Its services, which include the provision of technical advice and information, are available to those interested in the utilisation of copper in all its aspects. The Association also provides a link between research and user industries and maintains close contact with other copper development associations throughout the world. Website: www.cda.org.uk Email: [email protected] Copyright: All information in this document is the copyright of Copper Development Association Disclaimer: Whilst this document has been prepared with care, Copper Development Association can give no warranty regarding the contents and shall not be liable for any direct, indirect or consequential loss arising out of its use Contents Contents........................................................................................................................................................3 Overview ......................................................................................................................................................5 Section 1 - Attributes and Applications .....................................................................................................7 The Vital Modern Metal................................................................................................................................7 Where would we be without copper? ........................................................................................................7 Copper and copper alloys are essential for:...............................................................................................7 Basic Properties of Coppers....................................................................................................................10 Applications of Copper and Copper Alloys ............................................................................................11 Features and Benefits of Copper and Copper Alloys ..............................................................................16 Typical Applications of Copper and Copper Alloys ...............................................................................16 Application Examples .............................................................................................................................23 Section 2 – Availability..............................................................................................................................27 Forms available............................................................................................................................................27 Wrought Forms .......................................................................................................................................28 Castings...................................................................................................................................................28 Buying copper and copper alloys.................................................................................................................31 Manufacturers .........................................................................................................................................31 Foundries.................................................................................................................................................32 Stockists ..................................................................................................................................................32 Primary Copper Reserves ............................................................................................................................32 Recycling Copper and Copper Alloys .........................................................................................................33 Sustainability of Copper Supplies................................................................................................................35 Section 3 - Copper in Health and Environment......................................................................................36 Copper and Health.......................................................................................................................................36 Copper in the Environment..........................................................................................................................37 Copper in Farming.......................................................................................................................................37 Section 4 - Copper and its Alloys..............................................................................................................38 Coppers........................................................................................................................................................38 Copper alloys...............................................................................................................................................38 Copper and High Conductivity Copper Alloys........................................................................................39 Bronzes and Phosphor Bronzes...............................................................................................................41 Aluminium Bronzes (Copper-Aluminium Alloys) ..................................................................................42 Brasses ....................................................................................................................................................42 Gunmetals ...............................................................................................................................................45 Nickel Silvers..........................................................................................................................................45 Copper-Nickel alloys...............................................................................................................................46 Copper-Nickel-Silicon ............................................................................................................................47 Copper- Beryllium Alloys .......................................................................................................................48 Copper in other Metals............................................................................................................................48 Copper Compounds.................................................................................................................................49 Section 5 - Making Components...............................................................................................................50 Fabrication, Joining and Finishing...............................................................................................................50 Fabrication ..............................................................................................................................................50 Hot Working ...........................................................................................................................................50 Cold Working..........................................................................................................................................50 Machining ...............................................................................................................................................51 Joining.....................................................................................................................................................52 Finishing..................................................................................................................................................52 3 Section 6 - Mining and Extraction ........................................................................................................... 53 Mining of ores and copper extraction.......................................................................................................... 53 Copper and Mineral Ores........................................................................................................................ 53 Extraction................................................................................................................................................ 56 Section 7 - Standards, Compositions and Properties..............................................................................58 A Variety