Copper is the oldest metal used by man. It’s use 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 minerals cuprite, malachite, azurite, chalcopyrite and bornite. It is also often a by-product of silver production. Sulphides, oxides and carbonates are the most important ores.
Copper and Copper alloys are some of the most versatile engineering materials available. The combination of physical properties such as strength, conductivity, corrosion resistance, machinability and ductility make Copper suitable for a wide range of applications. These properties can be further enhanced with variations in composition and manufacturing methods.
The largest end use for Copper is in the building industry. Within the building industry the use of copper based materials is broad. Construction industry related applications for Copper include:
~ Roofing
~ Cladding
~ Rainwater systems
~ Heating systems
~ Water pipes and fittings
~ Oil and gas lines
~ Electrical wiring
Copper Usage
The building industry is the largest single consumer of Copper alloys. The following list is a breakdown of Copper consumption by industry on an annual basis:
~ Building industry – 47%
~ Electronic products – 23%
~ Transportation – 10%
~ Consumer products – 11%
~ Industrial machinery – 9%
There are around 370 commercial compositions for Copper alloys. The most common alloy tends to be C106/ CW024A – the standard water tube grade of Copper.
World consumption of Copper and Copper alloys now exceeds 18 million tonnes per annum.
