Introduction to Copper Applications
Copper is a non-ferrous metal that is closely related to human beings. It is not only rich in natural resources, but also has excellent electrical conductivity, thermal conductivity, ductility, corrosion resistance, wear resistance and other excellent properties. It is widely used in electricity, electronics, Energy and petrochemical, machinery and metallurgy, transportation, light industry, emerging industries and other fields are second only to aluminum in the consumption of non-ferrous metal materials in my country.
Power Industry
Power transmission such as cables, transformers, switches, plug-in components and connectors, etc.; motor manufacturing such as stators, rotors, shaft heads and hollow wires; communication cables and residential electrical lines also require a large number of copper wires.
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Electric vacuum devices such as high-frequency and ultra-high-frequency launch tubes, transition tubes, magnetrons, etc., require high-purity oxygen-free copper and dispersion-strengthened oxygen-free copper. Copper printed circuits require large quantities of copper foil and copper-based brazing materials. In integrated circuits, copper is used instead of aluminum in silicon chips for interconnects and lead frames.
Energy and Petrochemical Industry
The main condenser tube sheets and condenser tubes of thermal power plants in the energy industry are made of brass, bronze or cupronickel. Solar heaters are also often manufactured using copper pipes. Copper and many copper alloys in the petrochemical industry are widely used in the manufacture of various containers, piping systems, filters, pumps and valves, various evaporators, heat exchangers and condensers that come into contact with corrosive media. In the marine industry, copper and its copper alloys are very important materials in the marine industry because copper is not only resistant to seawater corrosion, but also has a bactericidal effect of copper ions dissolved in the water, which can prevent marine biological fouling. Therefore, copper and its copper alloys have been used in seawater desalination plants, Widely used in offshore oil and gas production platforms and other coastal and subsea facilities, such as piping systems, pumps and valves used in seawater desalination processes and equipment used on oil and gas production platforms, including splash zone and underwater bolts, anti-corrosion Biofouling jackets, pump valves and piping systems, etc.
transportation industry
In the shipbuilding industry, copper alloys including aluminum bronze, manganese bronze, aluminum brass, gunmetal (tin-zinc bronze), cupronickel and nickel-copper alloy (Monel) are all standard materials for shipbuilding. In warships and merchant ships, copper and copper alloys are generally used as aluminum bronze propellers, bolts, condenser pipes, rivets, and copper-containing clad paints. In the automotive industry, copper and copper alloys are mainly used in radiators, brake system pipes, hydraulic devices, gears, bearings, power distribution and power systems, brake pads, gaskets, and various joints, accessories and trims. Motors, rectifiers and control, braking, electrical and signaling systems on railway trains also rely on copper and copper alloys to work. In addition, the electrification of railways places a high demand on copper and copper alloys. The wiring, hydraulic, cooling and pneumatic systems in the aircraft need to use copper materials, the bearing retainers and landing gear bearings are made of aluminum bronze pipes, and the navigation instruments are made of diamagnetic copper alloys.
Mechanical and Metallurgical Industry
In addition to the large amount of copper used in motors, circuits, hydraulic systems, air pressure systems and control systems in mechanical engineering, various transmission parts and fixing parts, such as cylinder liners, connectors, fasteners, gears, twisting parts, etc., all need Wear reduction and lubrication with copper or copper alloys. The crystallizer, the key component in the continuous casting technology of metallurgical equipment, is mostly made of copper alloys with high strength and high thermal conductivity such as chromium copper and silver copper. , All kinds of induction heating induction coils are made of copper tube or special-shaped copper tube, and the water is cooled in the middle. Alloy Additives Copper is an important additive element in alloys such as steel and aluminum. A small amount of copper is added to low alloy structural steel to improve the strength and resistance to atmospheric and marine corrosion of the steel. Adding copper to corrosion-resistant cast iron and stainless steel can further improve their corrosion resistance
Applications in light industry
Copper and copper alloys can be used in the manufacture of heat exchangers for air conditioners, clock movements, meshes for paper machines, rollers, printed copper plates, fermenter linings, stills, architectural decorative components, etc.
Emerging industries and high-tech fields
Copper is also used in emerging industries and high-tech fields, such as superconducting alloys, containers and pipes for ultra-low temperature media, cooling inner villages for rocket engines, and magnet windings for high-energy accelerators.
