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Copper
Extrusions
(Deoxided;
Low Phosphorus)
|
Strength
(Tensile)
|
Very
good mechanical properties.
|
Very
high mechanical properties.
|
Average
to low mechanical properties.
|
| Density |
Lightweight;
about 1/3 that of copper or
steel. |
High
density; high pounds per cubic
foot. |
About
three times heavier than aluminum. |
| Strength
to Weight Ratio |
Very
Good. |
Good. |
Low. |
| Corrosion
Resistance |
Excellent;
it can be further increased,
along with enhanced appearance,
through anodizing or other coatings. |
Poor;
usually requires protective
coatings for corrosion service. |
Excellent. |
| Formability |
Easily
formable and extruded in a wide
variety of complex shapes including
multi-void hollows. Formable
to net shapes, and extrusions
provide for the placement of
metal where it's needed. |
Readily
formable; thinner cross-sections
than aluminum extrusions metal
cannot always be located where
best used in design. |
Excellent
formability and easily extrudable.
Formable to net shapes. |
| Electrical
Conductivity |
Excellent;
on a pound-for-pound basis,
twice as efficient as copper,
used in bus bar and electric
connector applications. |
Poor
cannot usually be used as an
electrical conductor. |
Excellent
electrical conductivity. |
| Thermal
Conductivity |
Excellent;
ideal for heat exchanger applications. |
Poor
cannot usually be used as a
heat exchanger. |
Excellent
thermal conductivity, second
only to silver in industrial
applications. |
Finishing
|
A
near limitless array of finishes
can be applied including mechanical
and chemical prefinishes, anodic
coatings, paints and electroplated
finishes. |
Protective
coatings such as paint finishes are employed along with
electroplated finishes. |
A
variety of coatings and platings
can be employed. |
| Recyclability |
High
scrap value; routinely reprocessed
to generate new extrusions. |
Low
scrap value. |
Very
high scrap value. |
| Tooling
Economics |
Extrusion
tooling is relatively inexpensive.
Generally, a simple shape will
cost only a few hundred dollars.
Short lead times for tooling
construction. |
Typical
tooling costs are thousands
of dollars. Long lead times
are required. |
Inexpensive
tooling costs for extrusions.
|
| Energy
Savings |
Lightweight
aluminum extrusions can offer
energy savings for transportation
vehicles. |
Lifetime
energy requirements for wrought
steel vehicle components are
twice those for aluminum components.
|
In
transportation vehicles, copper
is less energy-efficient than
aluminum. |
| Combustibility |
Noncombustible;
does not emit any toxic fumes
when exposed to high temperatures. |
Noncombustible;
does not emit any toxic fumes
when exposed to high temperatures.
|
Noncombustible;
does not emit any toxic fumes
when exposed to high temperatures.
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Material
Comparison 
