KobeWieland

Copper

History

Archaeological evidence indicates that copper was used as far back as 10,000 years ago in western Asia. During the prehistoric Chalcolithic Period, societies discovered how to extract and use copper to produce ornaments and implements. As early as the 3rd-4th Millennium BC, copper was actively extracted from Spain's Huelva region. Around 2500 BC, the discovery of useful properties of copper-tin alloys led to the Bronze Age.

It has been documented that Israel's Timna Valley provided copper for the Pharaohs. Papyrus records from ancient Egypt reveal that copper was used to treat infections and sterilize water. The island of Cyprus is known to have supplied much of the copper needed for the empires of ancient Phoenicia, Greece, and Rome. Since copper was principally mined on Cyprus, hence the origin of the name of the metal as Cyprium, "metal of Cyprus", later shortened to Cuprum.

The discoveries and inventions in the late 18th and early 19th Centuries by Ampere, Faraday, and Ohm propelled copper into a new era. Demonstrating excellent electrical conducting and heat transfer characteristics, copper played a pivotal role in launching the Industrial Revolution.

Copper Mining

The flow-sheet shows a basic copper mine process, from mine to metal. There are two distinct types of copper ore, the sulfide ore and the oxide ore. The sulfide ores are beneficiated in flotation cells, while the oxide ores are generally leached. First the copper ore from a open pit mine is blasted, loaded and transported to the primary crushers. Then the ore is crushed and screened, with the fine sulfide ore (~-0.5 mm) going to froth flotation cells for recovery of copper. The coarser ore goes to the heap leach, where the copper is subjected to a dilute sulfuric acid solution to dissolve the copper. Then the leach solution containing the dissolved copper is subjected to a process called solvent extraction (SX). The SX process concentrates and purifies the copper leach solution so the copper can be recovered at a high electrical current efficiency by the electro-winning cells. It does this by adding a chemical reagent to the SX tanks which selectively binds with and extracts the copper, is easily separated from the copper (stripped), recovering as much of the reagent as possible for re-use. The concentrated copper solution is dissolved in sulfuric acid and sent to the electrolytic cells for recovery as copper plates (cathodes). Copper cathodes are purchased by KobeWieland as our raw material and then manufactured into copper tubing.

Why Copper

Copper is essential to all living things, and plays an important role in modern technology. What's more, copper is used in wire and cable to transmit power and information, in plumbing systems for potable water, and in products with architectural and industrial applications like air-conditioning units.

And now scientists are discovering more about copper's vital role in the environment and human health.

With its unique combination of properties - including durability, the ability to conduct heat and electricity, formability and the ability to be recycled - copper has myriad uses.

Copper is by far the world's most preferred choice for plumbing tube material. Copper, a stable, natural, and recyclable material, has been used continuously in piping for over 2000 years. Archeologists have recovered a portion of a water plumbing system from the Pyramid of Cheops in Egypt. After 5,000 years, the copper tubing was still in serviceable condition.

Copper tube offers versatility and performance like no other plumbing material. Plumbing systems can be fabricated at the site, taking advantage of copper's flexibility.

Copper tubes have a large margin of safety which allows them to withstand pressure and temperature peaks. The strength and light weight of copper tube and fittings means fewer hangars for support and alignment.

Unlike plastics, copper tube is impervious to leached petrochemicals or solvents that may be present in the ground or used as cleaning agents and pesticides. These chemicals can be absorbed in plastic pipe systems and can severely affect the safety of the water supply.

Only copper permits economical on-site fabrication of bends, tees, and junctions in pipework without affecting system performance and quality.

The advantages of copper plumbing tube for water delivery include the following:

• Ease of installation
• Ease of joining and manipulation (bending)
• Ease of fabrication
• High strength
• High ductility
• Corrosion resistance
• Suitability for potable waters
• Potential as a bactericide
• Biofouling resistance
• Availability in a range of sizes compatible with fittings

Copper Properties

Physical Properties of Copper:

• Malleable and Ductile
• Excellent Electrical Conductor
• Excellent Alloying Characteristics
• Non-Magnetic
• Essential Nutrient to Life
• Resistant to Corrosion
• Machinable
• Formable
• Excellent Heat Transfer Characteristics
• Durable
• Recyclable

Specific Properties of Copper:

• Chemical Symbol: Cu
• Atomic Number: 29
• Atomic Weight: 63.54
• Density: 8960 kg m(-3)
• Melting Point: 1356K
• Specific Heat at 293K: 0.383kJkg(-1)K(-1)
• Thermal Conductivity: 394W m(-1) K(-1)
• Electrical Conductivity (%International Annealed Copper Standard): 100%
• Electrical Resistivity: 1.673x10(-8) ohm-m
• Crystal Structure: Face Centered Cubic