Application of Cu in various fields
Cu 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 power, electronics, energy and petrochemical, machinery and metallurgy, transportation, light industry, emerging industries and other fields. It is second only to aluminum in the consumption of non-ferrous metal materials in my country.
Power industry
Power transmission such as wire cables, transformers, switches, plug components and connectors; motor manufacturing such as stators, rotors, shaft heads and hollow wires; communication cables and residential electrical lines also need to use a large number of Cu wires.
Electronic industry
Cu foil vacuum devices such as high-frequency and ultra-high-frequency transmitting tubes, ferry tubes, magnetrons, etc., they require high-purity oxygen-free Cu and dispersion-strengthened oxygen-free Cu. Cu printed circuits require a large amount of Cu foil and Cu-based brazing materials. Cu is used instead of aluminum in silicon chips as interconnects and lead frames in integrated circuits.
Energy and petrochemical industry
The main condenser tube plates and condenser tubes of thermal power plants in the energy industry are made of brass, bronze or white Cu. Solar heaters are also often made of Cu tubes. Petrochemical industry Cu and many Cu alloys are widely used to manufacture various containers, piping systems, filters, pumps and valves, various evaporators, heat exchangers and condensers that come into contact with corrosive media. Marine industry Since Cu is not only resistant to seawater corrosion, but also the Cu ions dissolved in water have a bactericidal effect and can prevent marine biofouling, Cu and its Cu alloys are very important materials in the marine industry. They have also been widely used in seawater desalination plants, offshore oil and gas production platforms, and other coastal and submarine facilities, such as pipeline systems, pumps and valves used in the desalination process, and equipment used on oil and gas production platforms, including bolts for splash zones and underwater, anti-biological fouling sleeves, pumps, valves and piping systems.
Transportation industry
Aluminum bronze in the shipbuilding industry Cu alloys include aluminum bronze, manganese bronze, aluminum brass, gunmetal (tin-zinc bronze), white Cu and nickel-Cu alloy (monel alloy), which are all standard materials for shipbuilding. In warships and merchant ships, Cu and Cu alloys are generally used for aluminum bronze propellers, bolts, condensers, rivets, Cu-coated paints, etc. In the automotive industry, Cu and Cu alloys are mainly used for radiators, brake system pipelines, hydraulic devices, gears, bearings, power distribution and power systems, brake friction pads, washers, and various joints, accessories and accessories. The motors, rectifiers, and control, braking, electrical and signal systems on railway trains also rely on Cu and Cu alloys to work. In addition, the electrification of railways requires a large amount of Cu and Cu alloys. Cu materials are required for wiring, hydraulic, cooling and pneumatic systems in aircraft, aluminum bronze pipes are used for bearing retainers and landing gear bearings, and antimagnetic Cu alloys are used for navigation instruments.
Mechanical and metallurgical industry
In addition to the large amount of Cu used in motors, circuits, oil pressure systems, pneumatic systems and control systems, various transmission parts and fixings, such as cylinder liners, connectors, fasteners, gears, twisting parts, etc., all require Cu or Cu alloys for friction reduction and lubrication. Crystallizers, key components in the continuous casting technology of metallurgical equipment, are mostly made of high-strength and high-thermal-conductivity Cu alloys such as chromium-Cu and silver-Cu. The water-cooled crucibles of vacuum arc furnaces and electric slag furnaces in electrometallurgy are made of Cu pipes. Various induction heating induction coils are wound with Cu pipes or special-shaped Cu pipes, and water is passed through them for cooling. Alloy additives Cu is an important additive element in alloys such as steel and aluminum. A small amount of Cu added to low-alloy structural steel can improve the strength of steel and its resistance to atmospheric and marine corrosion. Adding Cu to corrosion-resistant cast iron and stainless steel can further improve their corrosion resistance.
Application in light industry
Cu and Cu alloys can be used to manufacture heat exchangers for air conditioners, clock movements, mesh cloths for paper machines, rollers, printing Cu plates, fermentation tank linings, distillation pots, architectural decorative components, etc.
Emerging industries and high-tech fields
Cu is also used in emerging industries and high-tech fields, such as sheaths for superconducting alloys, containers and pipelines for ultra-low temperature media, cooling inner villages for rocket engines, and magnet windings for high-energy accelerators.
Foreign refined Cu consumption is mainly concentrated in the construction industry, accounting for 48% of total consumption, followed by electronics and electricity, accounting for 21%.
Since the 1990s, with the rapid development of China's economy, the rapid construction of urban infrastructure, the transfer of manufacturing to China, and the influx of a large amount of foreign capital, China has become the world's factory and the center of Cu consumption growth.
China's Cu consumption is mainly concentrated in the real estate, electricity, home appliances, automobiles and other industries. The general structure is as follows: electricity 53%, electronics 6%, transportation 9%, construction 2%, air conditioning 10%, refrigerators 2%, and others 18%. As shown in the figure below:
