Copper is therefore used for applications that require rapid heat transfer, such as kitchen utensils, heat exchangers, car and vehicle radiators, and computer heat storage units, rotating disks, and television sets
Copper recycling helps conserve natural resources. By recycling copper, the need for new Copper mining and extraction is reduced. This helps preserve valuable reserves of copper ore and minimizes the environmental impact associated with mining activities. The recycling process for copper requires significantly less energy compared to the production of copper from primary sources. Recycling copper can save up to 85-90% of the energy that would be required for primary production. This energy savings helps reduce greenhouse gas emissions and lowers the carbon footprint associated with copper production.
Recycling copper helps divert copper-containing waste from landfills. Copper is a valuable material, and recycling it prevents it from being discarded as waste. This reduces the volume of waste generated and helps minimize environmental pollution. Copper recycling contributes to economic growth and job creation. The recycling industry provides employment opportunities in the collection, sorting, processing, and manufacturing of recycled copper. Additionally, recycling copper reduces the dependence on imported copper, which can have economic benefits for countries.
- Copper wiring, cables, and other components from electronic devices and appliances can be recycled.
- Copper pipes, fittings, and roofing materials can be recycled.
- Copper scraps and residues generated during manufacturing processes can be recycled.
- Copper radiators, wiring harnesses, and other copper-containing parts from vehicles can be recycled.
- Discarded copper coins, jewelry, and decorative items can be recycled.
- Copper can be recycled from general scrap Metal sources, such as machinery, equipment, and other metal products.
Recycled copper undergoes processes such as sorting, shredding, melting, and purification to remove impurities and contaminants. The resulting copper can be used to produce new copper-based products or alloys, continuing the cycle of reuse. About 40% of the annual consumption of alloys of this metal is supplied from recycled copper materials.
- Tensile strength
The tensile point of copper metal alloys is not clearly defined. It is more common than at 0.5% tensile strength, the yield strength of annealed materials is considered as one-third of their tensile strength. Cold working hardening means that the materials become harder and their ductility decreases and the yield strength approaches the tensile strength. - Cold and hot work
Both copper and its alloys can be cooled and heated. Ductility can be recovered by annealing or accidental annealing during welding or soldering. - Electrical conductivity
The electrical conductivity of this product is in the second place after Silver and it is 97%. Due to its lower cost and higher frequency, it is traditionally used as a standard material for electricity transmission applications. Although from a weighted point of view, a large proportion of high voltage power lines now use more Aluminum than copper, the conductivity of aluminum is about twice that of copper. - These aluminum alloys have low strength and need to be improved by galvanizing or coating aluminum with high tensile strength Steel wires in each layer. Although the addition of other elements improves properties such as strength, it does cause some reduction in electrical conductivity. For example, adding 1% cadmium can increase strength by 50%, but electrical conductivity can be reduced by 15%.
- Thermal conductivity
The thermal conductivity of this metal is about twice that of aluminum and 30 times that of stainless steel. Copper is therefore used for applications that require rapid heat transfer, such as kitchen utensils, heat exchangers, car and vehicle radiators, and computer heat storage units, rotating disks, and television sets. - Corrosion resistance:
All alloys of this metal have corrosion resistance against water and steam. In most industrial and marine atmospheres, the alloys of this product have corrosion resistance. The metal is resistant to saline solutions, soils, non-oxide minerals, organic acids, and caustic solutions.
Wet Ammonia solution, halogens, sulfides, solutions containing ammonia ions, and oxide acids, such as nitric acid, will attack copper. The corrosion resistance of copper alloys is due to the formation of adhesive films on the surface of the material. These films are relatively impermeable to corrosion, thus protecting the base metal from further attack. Cu-Ni alloys, aluminum brass, and aluminum show excellent corrosion resistance in saltwater.
