What is copper?
Copper is a pure and non-ferrous metal. It is the 29th element in the periodic table. Alongside brass and bronze, copper is one of the “red metals” that possess key properties, making it useful for various industries. Copper is a versatile metal with many applications both, as a base metal and a plating material. This resource focuses on copper as a base metal.
Applications of copper
Copper has been traditionally used for monetary purposes, such as coin making. However, there are various other uses for copper in every sector of daily life. According to the International Copper Association, just one tonne of copper brings functionality to 40 cars, powers 100,000 mobile phones, enables operations in 400 computers, and distributes electricity to 30 homes.
Sectors that benefit from copper
Electrical & Telecommunications
Did you know that the electronics and telecommunications sectors consume almost half of the world’s copper? This is because copper is extensively used in wiring, accounting for around 60% of its usage. Due to its exceptional properties, it is easy to create ultra-thin yet strong wires, which makes copper an obvious choice for these industries.
Automotive
Copper has been a popular choice in the automotive industry for a long time, particularly for components like car radiators, brakes, connectors, and wiring looms. However, with the increasing demand for electric vehicles (EVs), the use of copper is predicted to rise significantly. In fact, EVs may require up to 83% more copper than traditional internal combustion engine (ICE) cars, which currently use around 30kg of copper. Additionally, charging infrastructure for EVs will likely require a large amount of copper and other related metals.
Electronics
Copper is an incredibly useful metal that plays a vital role in designing and producing a wide range of electronic products, from smartphones and tablets to car infotainment systems. It’s highly utilised in circuit boards and wiring, making manufacturing cost-effective and efficient. This is essential for creating reliable, high-performance electronic devices that meet the demands of modern technology.
Renewable energy
Copper is playing a crucial role in the pursuit of a sustainable future and the fight against climate change. The use of copper in renewable energy systems is significantly higher, averaging up to five times more than in traditional power generation methods such as fossil fuel and nuclear power plants. The high demand for copper is due to its essential role in solar wind farms, solar panel components, and copper conductors for generators, transformers, and electrical cables. This underscores the importance of copper in meeting the growing demand for renewable energy systems and achieving UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Advantages of copper
There are many advantages to utilising copper, these are:
- High conductivity – copper has high conductivity, making it an ideal choice for various applications such as car radiators, generators, and transformers. This high conductivity also means that copper is an excellent conductor of both heat and electricity.
- Durability – Copper is an extremely durable metal that can withstand harsh conditions, increasing product/component effectiveness and quality. The same can be said about its properties as they do not deteriorate over time, making it an excellent choice for long-lasting products.
- High corrosion resistance – copper has a very high corrosion resistance compared to other metals, especially in dry environments. This makes it an ideal choice for products that require resistance to rust or other forms of corrosion.
- Ductile and Malleable – Copper can be made into various shapes without breaking or losing its strength and properties, making it perfect for wires, roofing, and construction.
- Copper plating – copper can be plated onto various base metals for added benefits. To summarise, it has high conductivity, is durable, has high corrosion resistance, and is ductile and malleable, making it a versatile metal with numerous advantages over other metals
Why plate copper
Due to the numerous advantages of copper, one might question the necessity of plating onto copper. Nevertheless, there are various scenarios wherein plating copper components becomes imperative. Common metal plating techniques employed on copper include:
Aesthetics: Copper is reddish brownish-orange and is one of the few metals that possess a natural colour apart from gold. However, depending on the purpose or use case, it may be necessary to apply a finish to alter its appearance.
Tin Plating – Tin plating is an excellent choice for improving solderability as it facilitates the formation of strong solder joints.
Silver plating – when more conductivity is required in copper applications, silver plating is a great addition as it creates an extra layer of silver on the copper, thus enhancing conductivity.
Nickel plating – Manufacturers can enhance the corrosion resistance characteristic and improve the ability to withstand higher temperatures by electroplating copper with nickel.
Most popular copper components
Copper Busbars: For copper busbars, tin is an excellent option. Tin-plated busbars are copper busbars coated with a layer of tin, providing additional protection against erosion.
Nickel is another popular finish for copper busbars, owing to its proven effectiveness in enhancing their durability, wear resistance, and low friction surfaces. This, in turn, mitigates the risk of electrical arcing, making it an ideal choice for applications where safety and reliability are paramount.
Circuit Boards: For electronics, high-quality and reliable connections are critical for reliable and long-lasting products. Tin-plated copper circuit boards make for durable connections perfect for manufacturers.
Contact us
For reliable and quality plating of copper, get in touch with our team today. Whatever your application, our experts can help you choose the right plating technique for your copper.