Reversibility in Industrial Materials: Comparative Analyses
Reversibility of industrial and agro-industrial processes: principles, diagnostics and applications

Copper exhibits high reversibility due to favorable physicochemical properties and proven recovery processes. Its nearly monometallic composition in many applications, the absence of complex alloys, and the marked differences in density or melting point compared to other metals facilitate sorting and purification operations. The thermal processes used to refine copper remove a large portion of common impurities without requiring irreversible chemical transformations. The energy required to achieve a level of purity compatible with electrical applications remains manageable, allowing for successive recycling loops.

This reversibility is reinforced by the existence of homogeneous industrial streams, such as cables,...