Untitled Document

Where Does Copper Go?

The world consumes a massive amount of copper. The best way to observe this is in lists.

World Production: 13.2 million tons

U.S Production 1.48 million tons

World Demand 15.2 million tons

World Consumption of Refined Copper:

Europe-4,597,400 tons

Africa-113,800 tons

Asia 5,929,500 tons

America 4,336,500 tons

Oceana 157,800 tons

U.S. Consumption of Copper

Brass Mills-727,000 tons

Chemical Plants-1,420 tons

Foundries-28,600 tons

Ingot makers-4,480 tons

Wire Rod Mills- 2,190,000 tons

Miscellaneous 64,100 tons

Total:2,990,000

Exports by Type:

Blister and Anodes-22,600 tons

Ores, Concentrates, Mattes, Ash, Precipitates 201,200 tons

Refined copper-91,600 tons
Scrap-441,000 tons

US Imports of Semi finished Copper Products

Barewire-196,000 tons

Copper Sulfate-26,700 tons

Piping and tubing 4,340 tons

Plates and sheets-75,600 tons

Wire and cable-9,430

(1)

Copper is one of the most widely used metals. The leading consumers of copper are wire mills and brass mills, which use the copper to produce copper wire and copper alloys, respectively. End uses of copper include construction materials, electronic products, and transportation equipment. In North America , the six most popular uses include building wire, power utilities, plumbing, telecommunications, automobiles and refrigeration and air conditioning tubing. More specifically, the copper water tube was introduced more than 70 years ago and continues to be the first choice among homeowners, builders and plumbing professionals. Copper is overwhelmingly preferred for its durability, quality, and safety, and for its ability to transmit pure, healthy drinking water, free from contaminants. (10)

Copper is an excellent conductor of electricity and heat, and excellent resistance to corrosion and long life span makes it fantastic for architecture, more specifically roofing where it can last for more than a hundred years. When alloyed with other metals it increases in hardness and corrosion resistance. Copper's largest use is in electrical products. It is the best electrical conductor after silver and used greatly in energy efficient power circuits. Electron tubes in televisions and computer monitors, audio and video amplification, and in microwave ovens are also made of copper. It is also used in construction, then transportation equipment (radiators, brakes, and wiring), then Industrial equipment, then consumer and general products.

Each kind of copper has specific uses. Copper matte is a mixture of copper and iron sulphides in black granules that almost never make it to market. It is usually refined into a more pure form. Cement copper is a fine black powder made up of copper metal, copper oxides, and insoluble impurities precipitated by adding iron to a copper leachate solution or by pouring it over scrap iron. Black copper is made by smelting oxide copper ores or impure scrap (60-85% Cu). Blister Copper is formed by blowing air through molten copper matte (98% Cu). Copper Anodes are slabs made from hot air blown through copper at high temperatures and then subjected to a reducing atmosphere. They are used in electrolytic refining. Refined Copper is used to produce bar, rod, tube, sheet, plate, foil, strip, castings, and powder.

Figure 4.1 Copper wire meant for electrical use.
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Figure 4.2 Workers examining sheets of copper.
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