| |
|
|
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 w 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. |
