Copper Specifications

Copper: A Vital Element of UK Industry

In the modern economy, copper emerges as a vital thread through diverse sectors. Its exceptional electrical conductivity renders it indispensable to the electronics and power industries, where it forms the lifeblood of circuitry and power transmission.

Moreover, copper's thermal conductivity and malleability underpin its pivotal role in construction, where it facilitates efficient heating and cooling systems and is the material of choice for many architectural wonders.

Copper as a Barometer of Economic Trends

Widely regarded as an indicator of economic health, the demand for copper, driven by its ubiquity in infrastructure and manufacturing, has earned it the moniker of "Dr. Copper."

Its fluctuations in demand and price are closely monitored by economists and analysts worldwide as a reflection of broader economic trends.

Copper and Copper Alloy Specifications

Copper is a medium strength, non-magnetic metal. It has excellent electrical and thermal conductivity properties and has a comparatively low cost. In its purest form it is soft and malleable but the introduction of alloying elements provides many industrial and commercial uses.

Holme Dodsworth’s extensive range of copper product types includes a variety of copper alloys which have a high level of corrosion resistance that makes them ideal for the production of everything from valves and pipe fittings to architectural extrusions. As a good conductor copper is the metal of choice for the manufacture of electrical busbars for the switchgear industry as well as wire for printed circuit boards.

Other uses include domestic cookware and various bio-medical applications.

Grades & Specifications

d/SHEET BS ISO EN Description
C101 Cu-ETP CW004A Electrolytic, tough pitch, high conductive copper
C103 Cu-OF CW008A Oxygen free high conductivity copper
C106 Cu-DHP CW024A Phosphorus de-oxidised copper
C109 Cu-TEP CW118C Tellurium copper (free cutting)
C110 Cu-OFE CW009A Oxygen free high conductivity copper (Electronic grade)

C111 Cu-S CW114C Sulphur copper (free machining)
C101 - Ag2 Cu-Ag-2 CW011A Silver-bearing Copper
C101 - Ag3 Cu-Ag-3 CW012A Silver-bearing Copper
C101 - Ag4 Cu-Ag-4 CW013A Silver-bearing Copper
CC102 CuCr1Zr CW106C

Copper Chrome Zirconium

 

BS EN Number Title Nearest Old BS Equivalent
Unwrought Products
1976 Cast unwrought copper products 6017
1977 Copper drawing stock (wire rod) 6926
1978 Copper cathods 6017
1981 Master Alloys -
1982 Ingots and castings 1400
Rolled Flat Products
1172 Sheet and strip for building purposes 2870
1652 Plate, sheet, strip and circles for general purposes 2870, 2875
1653 Plate, sheet and circles for boilers, pressure vessels and hot water storage units 2870, 2875
1654 Strip for springs and connectors 2870
1758 Strip for lead frames  
13148 Hot dip tinned strip -
14436 Electrolytically tinned strip -
Tubes
1057 Seamless, round tubes for water and gas in sanitary and heating applications 2871 Pt1
12449 Seamless, round tubes for general purposes 2871 Pt2
12450 Seamless, round capillary tubes  
12451 Seamless, round tubes for heat exchangers 2871 Pt3
12452 Rolled, finned, seamless tubes for heat exchangers -
12735 Seamless, round tubes for air conditioning and refrigeration Part 1: Tubes for piping systems - Part 2: Tubes for equipment -
13348 Seamless, round copper tubes for medical gases -
13349 Pre-insulated copper tubes with solid covering -
Rod / Bar, Wire, Profiles
12163 Rod for general purposes 2874
12164 Rod for free machining purposes 2874
12165 Wrought and unwrought forging stock 2872
12166 Wire for general purposes 2873
12167 Profiles and rectangular bar for general purposes 2874
12168 Hollow rod for free machining purposes -
13347 Rod and wire for welding and braze welding 1453, 1845, 2901
Electrical Purposes
13599 Copper plate, sheet and strip for electrical purposes 4608
13600 Seamless copper tubes for electrical purposes 1977
13601 Copper rod, bar and wire general electrical purposes 1433, 1432, 4109
13602 Drawn round copper wire for the manufacture of electrical conductors 4109
13604 Products of high conductivity copper for electronic tubes, semicolour devices and vacuum applications 3839
13605 Copper profiles for electrical purposes -
60317-0-1 Enamelled copper wire 6811
Forging and Fittings
12420 Pt 1-5 Plumbing fittings 864
prEN1254 Pt 6-7 Plumbing fittings -
12420 Forgings 2872
prEN14905 Recommended practice for the installation of plumbing fittings -
Test Methods
723 Combustion method for determination of carbon on the inner surface of copper tubes or fittings -
1971 Eddy current test for tubes -
12384 Determination of spring beding limit on strap -
12893 Determination of spiral elongation number DD79
13147 Determination of residual stresses in the border area of strip -
13603 Test methods for assessing protective tin coatings on drawn round copper wire for electrical purposes -
ISO 196 Detection of residual stress - mercury (1) nitrate test -
ISO 2624 Estimation of average grain size -
ISO 2626 Hydrogen embrittlement test 5899
ISO 6509 Determination of dezincification resistance of brass -
Miscellaneous
1173 Material condition or temper designation -
1412 European numbering system -
1655 Declarations of conformity -
10204 Metallic products - types of inspection documents -
12861 Scrap -
CR13388 Copper and copper alloys - Compendium of compositions and products -