Copper
What is copper?
Copper is a chemical element identified by the symbol Cu and atomic number 29. This metallic element is especially known for its excellent electrical and thermal conductivity, as well as its corrosion resistance. After silver, copper is the best conductor of electricity and heat, making it a crucial material in machining and industrial applications.
Properties of copper
Copper is a versatile metal with over 400 different alloys. It retains its significant properties even in demanding environments, such as oil drilling platforms. Copper is highly workable through both cold and hot forming. Pure copper is soft and malleable, but when alloyed, it can become quite hard, making it suitable for a variety of machining processes. Copper also has excellent machinability, which makes it one of the most preferred metals for machinists. It is well-suited for welding and brazing and is also a fire-safe material.
Chemical properties of copper
Copper and its alloys form stable oxide layers that provide protection against corrosion. This protective property is based on copper’s ability to gradually react with oxygen in the air. Copper belongs to the same group as gold and silver, which is why it reacts relatively weakly with chemicals. As a result, it is a highly reliable material that withstands a wide range of chemical environments.
Mechanical properties of copper
The mechanical properties of copper can be tailored in terms of hardness, strength, and toughness for a range of uses. Hardness, strength, and toughness define copper’s mechanical properties, and these can be adjusted with alloying elements, mechanical working, and heat treatments. Copper is produced in many forms, from annealed soft states to hard forms. Hardness is achieved through working, but copper’s strength, hardness, and machinability can also be enhanced by alloying—although this may reduce its electrical conductivity.
Physical properties of copper
Copper’s outstanding electrical conductivity (at least 99.9% purity) makes it an ideal material for power generation, transmission, and distribution. Additionally, copper has exceptional thermal conductivity: about 30 times better than stainless steel and 1.5 times better than aluminum. This makes it important for use in heat exchangers, such as in air conditioning units and automotive radiators.
Machinability of copper
Copper is a soft, ductile, and extremely easy metal to machine. When copper is subjected to cold working, its strength can increase many times over. Its machinability is excellent, providing good cutting forces and chip formation, which saves on tooling costs and time. Copper is typically machined using carbide tools and optimal cutting speeds, ensuring efficient and precise results. In machining, it is also noteworthy that copper is an excellent material when complex shapes need to be worked using minimal resources.
Applications of copper from a machining perspective
Copper and its alloys, such as brass and bronze, are commonly used materials in machine shops for various applications. Copper is often used in electrical conductors, heat exchangers, and different structural parts, such as bearings and valves. Because copper is soft and easily formable, it is suited for the machining of complex components. Its excellent thermal conductivity also makes it an ideal material for cooling solutions, such as computer heat sinks.
Summary
Copper is a valuable and versatile metal in machining, due to its excellent electrical and thermal conductivity, as well as its good corrosion resistance. Its mechanical and physical properties—such as workability, machinability, and high recyclability—make it suitable for a wide range of machining projects. Copper is a key and irreplaceable material in modern machining-based industries, offering numerous innovative possibilities and applications.
