If you've checked out our scrap metal prices, you may have noticed that copper (and copper-based materials such as copper wire, brass and braziery) are right at the top of the list.
Copper wire in particular can command up to £4,500 per tonne!
So why exactly is copper so valuable?
The unique nature of copper
In the world of metals, copper is a bit special. This reddish-pinkish-orange metal is soft, malleable and highly ductile (which means it can be stretched out into a wire without breaking). Copper also has excellent electrical and thermal conductivity.
Copper has lots of other useful properties, too. For example, it's biostatic—meaning bacteria and other life forms usually won't grow on it—and it doesn't react with water. In some cases, a layer of brown-black copper oxide will form on the metal's surface in reaction to atmospheric oxygen; this is similar to the rust that forms when iron reacts with moisture, but unlike rust, the copper oxide layer is protective rather than corrosive.
And if a harder metal is required, copper can be mixed with other metals to create a hard alloy like brass.
Copper has a variety of uses!
Because of all the qualities mentioned above, copper lends itself to a wide range of applications. Over ten thousand years ago, humans were already using copper for jewellery, pots, statues, coins and ornaments. It was alloyed with tin to create bronze in approximately 3500 BC, allowing humans to leave the Stone Age and enter the Bronze Age.
Here in the 21st century, we still use copper decoratively and for household items, but over time, as more of its useful features have become apparent, copper's use has expanded enormously in volume and range.
These days copper is mostly used in—and is the preferred choice for—electronics and wiring, thanks to its excellent electrical conductivity, its resistance to corrosion, and its ductility. Copper is also used in renewable energy production for the same reasons.
It's also the preferred choice when water and/or corrosion resistance are essential, such as in rain gutters, roofing and plumbing. Copper paint is even applied to the hulls of boats because its biostatic properties prevent barnacles!
And as if all that weren't enough, copper is also utilised for biological and medical purposes. Small amounts are used in nutritional supplements, and it's used as an antimicrobial in hospital settings to reduce the spread of microorganisms. Copper isotopes are also being investigated for use in nuclear medicine as tracers.
Increasing demand for copper
Copper mining underwent rapid expansion from 1900 onwards—more than 95% of our copper mining and extraction occurred after this time. As both developed and developing nations expand their infrastructure, demand for copper will continue to increases.
In fact, copper prices are now used as a barometer for the overall health of the economy. High copper prices tend to indicate that the economy is doing well.
However, copper mining has many potential drawbacks. The amount of copper we can extract from the ground is subject to a number of mitigating factors—for example, government restrictions or natural disasters can have a negative impact on copper output. Miner strikes can also disrupt the supply chain.
And that's where we come to recycling.
The ever-increasing demand for copper plus the issues associated with mining have made copper the most valuable scrap metal on the market today.
Recycling your unwanted scrap metal with A&L Scrap Dealers benefits the environment by reducing waste, reinvests a precious resource back into the economy, and pays you in real cash. Use the links below to check out our latest scrap metal price estimates or contact us for a quote.
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Copper wire photo from pixabay.com
