Copper
By: Ross Bainbridge
Copper is perhaps one of the most important materials in the world because it is used for electricity and computers. It is also one of the main businesses of the world’s largest economies, including the United States and Canada. Countries such as Chile, Zaire, Zambia, and Poland also produce significant amounts of copper.
Characteristics of copper
Copper is used in a lot of industries, because it is very ductile. It is the perfect metal for making wires, because not only can it be cold-rolled down to one one-thousandth inch in thickness - its can be lengthened as much as 5,000 times through a process called cold drawing.
Copper’s unmatched utility is due to its ability to form alloys readily with almost all metals. But aside from being functional, copper is also rather "˜attractive’ - it has a nice color and luster and takes a high polish.
Important Uses of Copper
Copper is mostly used in electrical equipment. Nearly all electrical devices run on copper wiring because copper is cheap and highly conductive, with a lot of free electrons that can transmit the current efficiently.
Copper is also very important in fashioning metal products like pipes, tubings, plumbing fixtures, hardware and machine tools. It is literally a part of everyday life. It is even used for cooking utensils, though it is usually coated with tin, so that it does not form harmful compounds with food properties. Copper also finds its way into the transportation industry, refrigeration equipment, and other miscellaneous uses. Of course you know that the penny in your pocket is made of copper too.
Copper and computers
Computers depend on copper used to build integrated circuits and chips, among many other parts. It is quickly replacing aluminum as the main chip material. Studies have found that copper will not only make computers more affordable, but also help them make faster calculations.
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