Five Industrial Uses Of Copper

The oldest metal known to man, copper has been an important material in shaping and transforming many civilizations, from ancient Egyptians and Romans to modern cultures. Today, it is the third most consumed metal on Earth after iron ore and aluminum. According to the U.S. Geological Survey, every American born in 2008 will use 1,309 pounds of the metal in their lifetime for necessities, lifestyle and health.

 

 

Copper is inherently key to modern society and a valuable contributor to a variety of industries. Here are the top 5 uses of copper today:

 

 

Nearly half of the world's copper goes into buildings, from downtown skyscrapers to suburban homes, according to the U.S. Geological Survey's Mineral Commodities Summary. Today, the average single-family home contains about 200 kilograms of copper metal.

Copper has physical properties that few metals can match, and is used in a wide range of building applications, from heating and plumbing to roofing and electrical wiring.

The malleability of copper makes it easy to solder, but it is strong enough to create the bonds needed for plumbing and electrical wiring. Copper is light, requires little maintenance, and because of its corrosion resistance, it can last for hundreds of years.

The copper material also has a low rate of thermal expansion, making it stable and resistant to deterioration due to movement. It is relatively light compared to lead and requires little maintenance compared to other metals.

Copper is also non-magnetic and has good resistance to biofouling, so it is often used in the construction industry to form pipes and pipes for drinking water distribution and heating and cooling systems. This metal can be easily formed into complex shapes and used as a protective coating and flash material for gutters, downpipes and top covers.

Copper can be worked either hot or cold, and joints can be formed by welding or welding. Another big plus: copper is an antibacterial agent. Its resistance to bacteria, viruses and microorganisms plays an important role in its use in pipes and the transport of water.

Additionally, copper is a sustainable metal for building construction because it can be recycled again and again without losing durability or conductivity, which means it has a lower lifecycle impact.

 

 

Copper materials are considered the "gold standard" for electrical wiring. It has superior electrical conductivity than other metals, and its abundance as a raw material makes it an efficient and cost-effective option for electronics manufacturers.

Copper has a 60% higher thermal conductivity than aluminum and can also be used to remove heat from electronic components. The more heat that is removed from the processor, the more efficiently it operates and the less likely it is to cause damage to other critical components.
 

 

From gasoline-powered and electric vehicles to trains and planes, copper is also an essential part of our daily commute.

In the automotive industry, copper is an essential component in brakes, bearings, connectors, motors, heat sinks and wiring. A conventional vehicle can hold up to 50 pounds of copper: 40 pounds for electrical components and 10 pounds for non-electrical components. Electric vehicles rely on copper to conduct electricity in batteries, wiring systems and charging stations.

In the railway industry, copper materials are used to make a variety of train components, including motors, brakes and controls, as well as electrical and signaling systems. A typical diesel-electric railway locomotive uses about 11,000 pounds of metal.

Aircraft require copper for cooling, hydraulics and navigation, and electrical systems. About 2 percent of the Boeing 747-200 jet's total weight is copper. That weight includes 632,000 feet of copper wire.

 

 

In consumer goods, copper's reach and influence are more diverse. The healthcare, jewelry and arts industries, among many others, have long been loyal customers.

 

 

Since copper and its alloys are among the most versatile engineering materials today, they are used in nearly all industrial machinery and equipment. These include copper piping systems, electric motors, evaporators, condensers, heat exchangers, valves and vessels used to contain corrosive media. Corrosion-resistant copper alloys are key materials in the manufacture of subsea facilities, such as desalination machinery and offshore oil and gas rigs.

The renewable energy sector also relies heavily on copper, an important raw material needed to build windmill turbines and solar systems. Renewable energy can contain 12 times more copper metal than conventional energy systems. Wind farms use 4 million to 15 million pounds of copper, while solar photovoltaic farms require 9,000 pounds of copper material per megawatt.