Copper
There are two different types of copper used for electrical conductors: Copper containing oxygen (CU-ETP1) and Oxygen-free copper (CU-OF1) for special applications
Copper containing oxygen (CU-ETP1)
| Symbol | Cu-ETP1 (E-Cu) |
| Material number | CW003A |
| Standard | EN 1977 |
| Composition (%-by-weight) | Cu ≥ 99.90** Oxygen max. 0.040 |
| Density (g/cm³ at 20°C) | 8.9 |
| Melting point | 1083 °C |
| % IACS min.* | 101 |
| Electrical conductivity (m/Ωmm² at 20°C) | ≥ 58.58 (in annealed condition) |
| Thermal conductivity (W/(m*K)) | 400 |
* International Annealed Copper Standard = IACS
Oxygen-free copper (CU-OF1) for special applications
| Symbol | Cu-OF1 (OF-Cu) |
| Material number | CW007A |
| Standard | EN 1977 |
| Composition (%-by-weight) | Cu 99,95 |
| Density (g/cm³ at 20°C) | 8.9 |
| Melting point | 1083 °C |
| % IACS min.* | 101 |
| Electrical conductivity (m/Ωmm² bei 20°C) | ≥ 58.58 (in weichem Zustand) |
| Thermal conductivity (W/(m*K)) | 400 |
* International Annealed Copper Standard = IACS
Applications
Due to its excellent electrical conductivity, copper is primarily used as a conductor material for electrical applications. These in particular can be found in a wide variety of areas, such as
- Industrial applications
- Automotive
- Medicine technology
- Aircraft and aerospace
- Communications and data technology
- Military and defense technology
The markets that wires and strands – made either from bare or plated copper – target can be categorized into two major areas:
- Further processing into cables, extrusion
- Further processing, without being extruded, into flat ribbons, braids etc.
