3. Copper alloys

3.1 Copper's advantages

The first metal worked by man (Bronze Age), copper is the 3rd most widely used metal today in terms of tonnage (12 million tonnes/year in 1998). However, the low metal content of ores (less than 1%) and the "strategic" distribution of deposits (Chile, ex-Zaire, etc.) mean that its price is high and subject to considerable fluctuation.

Its high density (8.9) is close to that of nickel and 3.3 times that of aluminum.

It is the best electrical conductor (ρ = 1.67 µΩ · cm) and thermal conductor [ λ = 398 W/(m · K)], after silver, but ahead of aluminum. Half of all copper consumed is for electrical applications.

Its modulus of elasticity E = 120 GPa places it, in relative modulus (relative to...