1. Main classes of copper and its industrial alloys

In this paragraph, we will use the following classification, despite the possibility of classifying certain alloys in two or even three different categories:

• brass with and without oxydules ;

• low-alloyed copper with Ag, P, As, B, Te, Cd, Sn or Mg ;

• single-phase α alloys filled with Ni, Zn, Al, Sn, Si or Mn, possibly in combination ;

• precipitation-hardening alloys with additions of Be, Cr, Fe, Co, Zr, Ti, etc. ;

• two-phase brass α + β ;

• cupro-aluminium complexes ;

• foundry alloys.