Frequently asked questions (FAQ)

Copper was one of the first metals that was ever used by humans, and since its discovery in approximately 8000 B.C. we have found many innovative and useful ways to utilise copper metal.

Copper’s main properties and qualities include great ductility, excellent conductor of electricity and heat; it is also a malleable metal. Due to these characteristics, copper is often used in electrical components such as motors, wiring, machinery heat exchangers and electronic connecters.

Copper is also one of the primary metals used to make cooking utensils and equipment, but the copper that we probably have the most daily contact with - coins.

The density of copper in its purest form is 8.92 gm/cm3.

An easy way to determine if your copper is pure via density is to use the following method:

• Measure the weight of your copper

• Measure the dimensions of your copper to discover the volume (volume = L x W x H)

• Divide the weight of your copper by the volume

• Compare your results with the density of pure copper : 8.92 gm/cm3

If your result isn’t the same as above, this might mean your copper is not pure or that your measurements are not accurate.

Copper is a versatile method with a wide-ranging portfolio of properties that makes it the ideal metal to use in a variety of applications. Some of the most useful properties of copper are:

• Good Electrical Conductivity

• Good Thermal Conductivity

• Corrosion Resistant

• Ductile and Malleable

• Easy to Alloy

• Anti-Bacterial

• Non-Magnetic

Sulphur copper is the addition of sulphur to a standard copper. Pure copper has excellent thermal and electrical conductivity, as well as great ductility and corrosion resistance, but the metal has poor machinability.

When sulphur is introduced to copper, the workability of the metal significantly increases, without having to compromise on the favoured and beneficial aforementioned properties.  Pure copper has a machinability rating of 20%, in contrast to sulphur copper that has an 80% machinability rating.

Sulphur copper has machining speeds that are four times faster than pure copper and since the compound produces a much softer metal, it is less detrimental on tooling and machining components.

Sulphur copper is used in applications that require good corrosion resistance, excellent thermal and electrical conductivity, but also applications that demand easy forming and extensive machining that pure copper is unable to handle.

Some examples of these applications include:

• Circuit Breakers

• Electrical Connectors

• Socket Connectors

• Laser Nozzles

• Transistor Bases

• Relay Parts

• Electrical Pins

S&D Non-Ferrous is one of the UK’s leading suppliers of free-machining tellurium copper and other non-ferrous metals. To ensure we supply our customers with the highest-grade tellurium copper, we source all of our metals to reliable UK and European manufacturers that we know comply with our high industry standards.

You can find out more information about our range of tellurium copper on our website, or if you have any specific queries, you can speak to our experts on 0121 525 5500.

Copper Chromium Zirconium is a high copper alloy in which chromium and zirconium have been later introduced. Pure copper has outstanding electrical and thermal conductivity properties, but the chromium and zirconium are added to improve a number of mechanical properties and their performance.

Copper Chromium Zirconium is significantly stronger than soft pure copper and its key characteristics frequently see the compound being used in welding equipment, rotating machinery, circuit breakers, switchgear components and electrical conductors, to name a few.