Copper has played a major role in the social and technological development of the world for over 10,000 years. Because of its unique qualities, the metal can be used in a variety of fields, such as electronics, electric generating, transportation, industrial machinery, and construction.
How is Copper Produced?
Throughout the Earth’s surface, copper is mostly found as copper minerals or as ores that are combined with other metals like lead and zinc. The main methods of mining it are underground or open-pit mining. Roughly 90% of copper is produced through open-pit mining, which involves removing ores close to the surface of the ground using progressive steps that descend into the crust.
Underground mining, which entails excavating shafts into the ground to enable machines or explosives to separate the ore, may be used when ore is too deep to be mined using open-pit methods.
Once ore is extracted, it must be processed to achieve a high level of purity. Sulphide ores undergo a five-step process:
- the ore is crushed into a fine sand to loosen the copper minerals;
- it is froth floated, where the sand is mixed with water and chemicals to make the copper particles water repellent;
- air is passed through the mixture, allowing the copper minerals to attach to bubbles and float to the surface;
- the copper-rich froth is then thickened into a concentrate, which can be smelted into a purer copper concentrate, called anode slabs; and
- these slabs are further refined through electrolysis into copper cathode slabs, which are 99.99% pure copper. Copper oxide ores undergo a three-step process to achieved high levels of concentration. First, in a process called heap leaching, sulfuric acid is used to separate copper from the ore.
Next, the solvent extraction stage moves the copper from the leach to a solvent, removing impurities. Last, electrowinning involves passing an electric current through the solvent to positively charge copper ions, allowing them to be plated onto a cathode.
How is Copper Used?
Due to the metal’s ability to carry heat and electricity well and its resistance to corrosion, copper and its alloys have a wide range of uses. Among its uses are:
Equipment: Copper is used extensively in the production of equipment, including microprocessors for computers, smartphones, and other appliances, as well as wires, connectors, and switches for electrical devices and heat exchangers for cooling devices like air conditioners and refrigerators.
Infrastructure: Copper is commonly the metal of choice for the production, transmission, and distribution of electricity due to its significantly lower cost compared to precious metals with comparable electrical conductivity. It is also an essential part of data transmission in the telecom sector, which includes cable wire and internet services, as well as renewable energy systems. To see our perspective, click this link.
Construction: Both residential and commercial buildings are frequently wired with copper. It is also commonly used in sprinkler systems, plumbing, and roofing due to its resistance to corrosion. Brass doorknobs, which are composed of copper and zinc, are frequently found in public spaces due to the antibacterial qualities of copper and its alloys.
Transportation: The majority of vehicles, including cars, trucks, trains, and aeroplanes, use copper. About 22.5 kg of copper are used in the motors, wiring, brakes, bearings, connectors, and radiators of an ordinary automobile.4. Copper is also used in more recent features including safety devices, satellite navigation systems, and on-board computers. Because of its antifouling and corrosion resistance, copper nickel is used in ships and boats. Given their greater reliance on electronics, next-generation electric and hybrid cars, aircraft, and high-speed trains require considerably more copper than their predecessors.
Industrial: Copper is necessary for transformers, generators, and high-efficiency motors. Turbine blades, bearings, and gears are also made with it. It is present in vats, pressure tanks, and heat exchange materials. Copper is also essential for marine environments, such as oil platforms, coastal power plants, and propellers.
