Mineral Group
Material Description
Copper (Cu) is one of the best electrical conductors of all the metals, and its abundance helped it become the material that tied the world together in telecommunications. Light red in color and easily oxidized to a gritty green hue, copper can be drawn and formed to serve many purposes from architecture and jewelry to water pipes and circuit boards. Source – http://metals.about.com/od/metalproperties/a/Material_Profile_-_Copper.htm
The advantages of copper include:
- Corrosion Resistance
- Electrical and Thermal Conductivity
- Malleability, Ease of Fabrication
Extraction Process
Cu is extracted from concentrated ores by froth floatation or bioleaching followed by flash smelting. The resulting matter is then electrorefined to pure copper.
The concentrated ore is heated strongly with silicon dioxide (silica) and air or oxygen in a furnace or series of furnaces.
- The copper(II) ions in the chalcopyrite are reduced to copper(I) sulphide (which is reduced further to copper metal in the final stage).
- The iron in the chalcopyrite ends up converted into an iron(II) silicate slag which is removed.
- Most of the sulfur in the chalcopyrite turns into sulfur dioxide gas
An overall equation for this series of steps is:
The copper(I) sulfide produced is converted to copper with a final blast of air.
Cu2S+O2→2Cu+SO2
The end product of this is called blister copper - a porous brittle form of copper, about 98 – 99.5% pure.
Source - http://www.chemguide.co.uk/inorganic/extraction/copper.html
Check out a visual by Verite, Inc – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RmaGh4g1JtY
Basic Properties
Compressive Strength - 70000000 N/M2 (70 MPa)
Tensile Strength - 220000000 N/M2 (220MPa)
Stiffness - 117000000000 N/M2 (117 GPa)
Density – 8.96 g/cm3
Carbon Footprint – less than average, 5.5 tons
Recyclable – Yes
Fabrication
Laser – Yes
Small Laser – TBD
Milling – Yes
3D Printing – No
Local Material Suppliers
Servei Estacio – www.mwmaterialsworld.com/es
Peninplastic, S.L. - http://www.gmdu.net/corp-798978.html
Aurubis - http://www.aurubis.com/en/our-business/products/contact-rolled-products
Just Metals & Services - http://www.scrapmonster.com/website/home/just-metalsservices-sl/17271#message
Price
5,98 Euros for 20×30 cm sheet @ Servei Estacio
Reference / Precedent Applications
Peix Fish, Frank Gehry, Port Olimpic, 1992
Etch Shade, Tom Dixon