The great influence of copper on the history of human civilization is unmatched by any material. Copper is the first widely used metal, and its role is so great that in the history of human civilization, there are two stages named after its alloy: the Bronze Age and the Sub-Bronze Age. Today, copper is still the third most used metal in the world, second only to iron and aluminum. Without copper, modern life would be unimaginable. From the fields of industry, daily necessities, architectural decoration and even art, the figure of copper can be described as ubiquitous around people. This article analyzes the copper industry chain in detail from the perspectives of mineral deposits, production, consumption, downstream applications, price influencing factors, etc. It is an indispensable material for copper industry professionals.
Copper is one of the earliest metals discovered by mankind, and one of the best pure metals. It is slightly harder, extremely tough, resistant to wear, and has good ductility. At the same time, it has good thermal and electrical properties, and it has good shape and easy Processing. Compared with iron and aluminum, copper is a relatively rare element, and its content in the earth's crust is only 0.005%, while the content of iron and aluminum reaches 5% and 8%, respectively. Pure copper is light rose or light red, after forming a copper oxide film on the surface, the appearance is copper-colored. Metal copper, atomic number 29, atomic weight 63.54, specific gravity 8.9 (aluminum 2.7, iron 7.9, lead 11.3, gold 19.3), melting point 1083 ℃ (lead 327, aluminum 660, iron 1536). The element symbol Cu is an abbreviation of its Latin name cuprum.
Copper has many valuable physical and chemical properties. The most important point is that its electrical conductivity is much higher than other base metals and iron, only silver exceeds it. Similarly, its thermal conductivity also greatly exceeds other metals except silver. Generally, copper has strong corrosion resistance, as evidenced by its application in architecture and sculpture for thousands of years. Copper exposed to the air for a period of time, after oxidation, a light green copper film will form on the surface. Once the film is formed, it will permanently protect the internal metal. Copper is resistant to organic acids and alkalis (except ammonia), so it can be buried underground or immersed in water without corrosion.
In addition, copper has high tensile strength and is easy to weld; it has excellent plasticity and ductility, and is easy to cast, roll, squeeze, and even be drawn into very thin copper wires to make very thin copper foils. Copper can form alloys with many metals with various characteristics and a wide range of uses. It has good electrical response characteristics and is not magnetic. Finally, its rich colors, whether it is pure copper or alloy, are suitable for applications in architecture, art and decoration.
Humans have used copper for thousands of years. Archaeological discoveries from tombs indicate that as early as 6000 years ago, the Egyptians used bronze wares. Copper is not only an ancient metal, but also a modern engineering material full of vigor and vitality. At present, human beings have entered a rich and colorful, highly civilized society characterized by electrification and electronic information, which has opened up a broader land for the application of copper. Copper is used by people in the form of a wide variety of metals, alloys and compounds. It has deeply penetrated into all aspects of production and life, and has become an indispensable and important metal for rapid development in the 21st century.
