What is Copper
Copper is a metallic element and a transition element. Pure copper is a soft metal, its surface is reddish orange with metallic luster when it is just cut. Copper has good ductility and high thermal and electrical conductivity. Therefore, it is the most commonly used material in cables and electrical and electronic components. In addition, copper can also be used as a building material, and can also be composed of various alloys. Copper alloys have excellent mechanical properties and low electrical resistivity. Among them, the most important copper alloys are bronze and brass. In addition, copper is a durable metal that can be recycled many times without compromising its mechanical properties.
Copper is one of the earliest metals used by humans. Since prehistoric times, people have mined open pit copper mines and used the copper to make weapons, tools and other utensils. The use of copper had a profound effect on the progress of early human civilization. Copper is a metal found in the Earth's crust and oceans. Copper makes up about 0.01% of the Earth's crust. In individual copper deposits, the copper content can reach 3% to 5%. Most of the copper in nature exists in the form of compounds, that is, copper ore.
Copper is less reactive. Iron element reacts with copper sulfate to replace copper element. Elemental copper is insoluble in non-oxidizing acids.
| I | O | |||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 H |
II | III | IV | V | VI | VII | 2 He |
||||||||||
| 2 | 3 Li |
4 Be |
5 B |
6 C |
7 N |
8 O |
9 F |
10 Ne |
||||||||||
| 3 | 11 Na |
12 Mg |
III | IV | V | VI | VII | VIII | I | II | 13 Al |
14 Si |
15 P |
16 S |
17 Cl |
18 Ar |
||
| 4 | 19 K |
20 Ca |
21 Sc |
22 Ti |
23 V |
24 Cr |
25 Mn |
26 Fe |
27 Co |
28 Ni |
29 Cu |
30 Zn |
31 Ga |
32 Gc |
33 As |
34 Se |
35 Br |
36 Kr |
| 5 | 37 Rb |
38 Sr |
39 Y |
40 Zr |
41 Nb |
42 Mo |
43 Tc |
44 Ru |
45 Rh |
46 Pd |
47 Ag |
48 Cd |
49 In |
50 Sn |
51 Sb |
52 Te |
53 I |
54 Xe |
| 6 | 55 Cs |
56 Ba |
57-71 La-Lu |
72 Hf |
73 Ta |
74 W |
75 Re |
76 Os |
77 Ir |
78 Pt |
79 Au |
80 Hg |
81 Tl |
82 Pb |
83 Bi |
84 Po |
85 At |
86 Rn |
| 7 | 87 Fr |
88 Ra |
89-103 Ac-Lr |
104 Rf |
105 Db |
106 Sg |
107 Bh |
108 Hs |
109 Mt |
110 Ds |
111 Rg |
112 Uub |
||||||
| La-Lu | 57 La |
58 Ce |
59 Pr |
60 Nd |
61 Pm |
62 Sm |
63 Eu |
64 Gd |
65 Tb |
66 Dy |
67 Ho |
68 Er |
69 Tm |
70 Yb |
71 Lu |
|||
| Ac-Lr | 89 Ac |
90 Th |
91 Pa |
92 U |
93 Np |
94 Pu |
95 Am |
96 Cm |
97 Bk |
98 Cf |
99 Es |
100 Fm |
101 Md |
102 No |
103 Lr |
|||
- Item Name: Copper
- Element Symbol: Cu
- Atomic Number: 29
- Atomic Weight: 63.546
- Atomic Radius: 128pm
- Density: 8.96g/cm3
- Melting Point: 1083.4°C
- Boiling Point: 2562°C
- Electronic Layout: [Ar]3d104s1
The Atomic Structure of Copper
The Role of Copper in Nickel Alloys
In nickel alloys, the role of copper is mainly to resist oxidation. However, this antioxidant effect of copper is only effective at room temperature. At high temperatures, copper reacts with oxygen to form copper oxide. However, if a small amount of copper is added to the nickel alloy, it can play a certain role in high temperature corrosion resistance together with other elements.
In addition, the good electrical conductivity of copper is also an important role in nickel alloys.
Below, we will analyze the specific role of copper from the four most common copper-containing nickel alloys.
Monel 400
Monel 400 is the most common nickel-copper alloy. Its copper content is as high as 30%. Copper brings very good corrosion resistance to the alloy. At normal temperatures, Monel 400 is resistant to most corrosion, especially in flowing sea water. Therefore, the most application field of Monel 400 is marine projects.
400
Si
C
Mn
Fe
Cu
Ni
Monel 401
Monel 401 is also a nickel-copper alloy. It has a higher copper content than Monel 400. Different from Monel 400, Monel 401 is more used in electronic components, thanks to the good electrical conductivity of copper metal.
401
Si
C
Mn
Fe
Cu
Ni
Incoloy 825
Incoloy 825 is a copper-containing nickel-iron-chromium alloy. In order to reduce cost, Incoloy alloy has lower nickel content and higher iron content than Inconel. This also led to Incoloy needing some other means to increase corrosion resistance. There are certain proportions of nickel, molybdenum and copper elements in Incoloy 825 alloy. The combined effect of these elements brings better high temperature oxidation resistance to the alloy.
825
Si
Mn
Al
Ti
Cu
Mo
Fe
Cr
Ni
Hastelloy C-2000
Hastelloy C-2000 is a copper-containing nickel-chromium-molybdenum alloy. Unlike Incoloy 825, Hastelloy C-2000 alloy is high in nickel, chromium, and molybdenum. Therefore, its own corrosion resistance is very good. Copper is added to Hastelloy C-2000 alloy primarily as a supplementary effect. Copper can effectively improve the resistance of Hastelloy C-2000 in sulfuric acid environment.
C-2000
Al
Cu
Co
Fe
Mo
Cr
Ni
Conclusion
The two main roles of copper in nickel alloys are corrosion resistance and electrical conductivity. In different alloys, copper occupies different proportions. Therefore, its specific role has also changed.
We produce various nickel alloys / superalloys according to strict standards. If you have an inquiry, please contact us via the email below.
