Copper
From MaterialProject.org, the free architectural material catalog
Contents |
Material analysis
MasterFormat Number: 05 00 00
Traditional uses
- Building Construction
- Roofing
- Wall Cladding
- Flashing
- Gutters + downspouts
- Plumbing; Pipe + fittings
- Electrical
- Furniture + Fixtures
Emerging uses / trends
- Pre-patinated copper sheet products.
- man-made patina
- Laminated Copper systems.
- Composite; alloy is mixed with high performance core material to allow usage of such systems on wall claddings, column covers, roofs, curtainwalls and furniture applications.
- fully or partially structural panel system
- Copper shingle system.
- Typically used for residential and small scale applications.
- Individual tiles or long panels.
Finish and aesthetic qualities
- Natural Weathering
- Long term atmospheric exposure generally results in the formation of a naturally protective patina.
- Patina changes in hue from a natural salmon pink color through a series of russet brown shades to light and dark chocolate browns and finally to the ultimate blue-green or gray-green.
- Salt, moisture, sunlight and orientation can effect the final color.
- Chemical Coloring
- Speeds up the natural weathering process
- Factory and field applied
- Clear Coatings
- Preserves the original salmon or gold tones of copper surfaces.
- Opaque Coatings
- Paint/Guilding
- Longevity of the copper is desired, but a different aesthic is preferred.
- Paint/Guilding
Surface forms / shapes
- Strip
- Sheet
- Coil
Cost analysis
- Price / CuFt:
- Price / SqFt:
Material properties
Primary structural use
- Non-structural element (some exceptions apply).
- requires a structural substrate for satisfactory performance.
Material performance
- Copper components typically offer extremely low maintenance and long life, even in coastal or industrial environments.
Dimensional and opening restriction
- Strip copper:
- Weight in oz./sf: 16, 20, 24, 32, 48.
- Width in inches: 10, 12, 14, 15, 16, 18, 20, 24.
- Length in inches: 96, 120, coil.
- Sheet Copper:
- Weight in oz./sf.: 12, 16, 20, 24, 32, 48.
- Width in inches: 30, 36.
- Length in inches: 96, 120, coil.
Acoustic property
Manufacturing process and assembly
Copper passes through the following production stages: [1]
- Mining, Crushing
- Grinding
- Concentrating
- Leaching or Smelting
- Electrowinning or Electrolytic Refining
- Pure Copper Cathodes which can be converted to:
- Wire Rod
- Billet
- Cake
- Ingot
Environment and Life Safety
Environmental impact
- More than two-thirds of the copper used to make architectural sheet products and plumbing tube is derived from recycled scrap.
- Excluding wire production, which requires newly refined copper, about 75% of all copper-based products are made from recycled copper.
- Each year in this country, nearly as much copper is recovered from recycled material as is derived from newly mined ore.
- Copper tube and sheet products can be recycled over and over with no loss of their engineering properties.
- The recycling of copper requires only 15% of the total energy otherwise consumed in mining, milling, smelting and refining.
- Nearly all of the 700 billion pounds of copper mined worldwide to date (of the estimated 5.8 trillion pounds of known copper resources on earth) are still in circulation today.
- Embodied energy coefficients: MJ/kg: 1983 = 45.9 1996 = 70.6
Flammability rating
- USA VW-1
Coefficient of friction
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References
Notes
Student contributions
- Michelle Aberbach, Spring 08
See also
Similar materials
Building references
External links
Additional resources
Leading manufacturers
- Sheet Copper Manufacturers:
- Copper Roof Shingles
- Copper Systems
- Decorative Systems
