Copper is one of the most widely used metals in the
field of electrical fittings and specially in making cables and wires.
Due to its excellent electrical properties like electrical conductivity,
and magnificent physical properties like light weight, malleability, and
ductility copper has become the premiere element for manufacturing top
quality cables. Almost in each type of cables whether it is control
cables, power cables, telephone cables or any other cables, copper cable
is the best suited to these functions.
Types of Copper Cables
Copper is used to make different types of cable which are used in
several industries.
Alloys of copper
Copper alloys also play an important part in manufacturing electrical
cables and wires. Bronze, brass, and copper-tin alloy are some of the
most valuable alloys of copper.
- Bronze: It is 60% copper and 40% tin. Some other
elements are also mixed in it to attain certain specific properties.
Bronze is very good for making electrical fittings.
- Brass: It is an alloy of copper and zinc. Its electrical
and physical characteristics almost resemble to copper hence used in
making different types of electrical fittings.
Consumption of copper around the world
Among the total production of copper in the whole world the maximum
amount is used in making electrical equipment and specially in cables
and wires. Here is given a rough idea about its consumption in different
areas.
- 60% of the copper is used for making electrical equipment.
- 20% of the copper is used in construction purposes like roofing
and plumbing.
- 15% of the copper is used in manufacturing industrial machinery
like heat exchangers.
- 5% of the copper is used in making alloys like bronze and brass.
Some other uses of copper in electrical industry
- In making electromagnets.
- In manufacturing electrical relays, electrical bus bars and
electrical switches.
- In the formation of Vacuum tubes, cathode ray tubes, and the
magnetron in microwave ovens.
- In integrated circuits.
