Education

Copper Facts

Electronics

IBM and others are replacing aluminum with copper in the computer chips they manufacture. Because of copper's superior electrical conductivity, this breakthrough technology enables conductor channel lengths and widths to be significantly reduced. The result is much faster operating speeds and greater circuit integration - up to 200 million transistors can be packed onto a single chip. Power requirements are now reduced to less than 1.8 volts, and the chips run cooler than ever before. The use of copper conductors in the chip is the last link in a now unbroken copper chain comprising the electronic data path between user and computer. From external cables and connectors to bus ways to printed circuit boards, sockets and lead frames, it's all copper.

Since their invention early in this century, electron tubes have depended on copper and copper alloys for their internal components. In spite of the dominance of semiconductors, some $2 billion worth of vacuum tubes are manufactured annually. They include the cathode ray tubes used in TVs and computer monitors, voltage rectifiers, audio and video amplification and broadcast applications, and the magnetrons in microwave ovens.

Radio and television signals are carried to transmission antennas by hollow conduits called wave-guides. Wave-guides made of oxygen-free, high conductivity copper are 30% to 40% more efficient than their aluminum counterparts.

The National Security Agency buildings at Ft. Meade, Maryland, are sheathed with copper to prevent unauthorized snooping. Even the windows are fitted with copper screens. The copper blocks radio waves from penetrating into or escaping from the spy operation. Copper sheathing is also used in hospitals to enclose rooms containing sensitive equipment like CAT scan, MRI and X-ray units to prevent problems related to the entrance or emission of errant electromagnetic radiation.

On a smaller scale, copper strip is used to shroud electron tubes, transistors, integrated circuits and even complete electronic chassis to prevent radio frequency (RF) interference.

The information provided in this section has been collected from many varied sources and is true and accurate insofar as the Copper Development Association Inc. has been able to determine.

Additional Resources

The CDA web site provides many other resources for people interested in learning more about copper and its alloys.

Take a look at Innovations - our on-line magazine.

Please also check out Copper In Your Home - a section dedicated to consumers, with a special section just for kids!

If you need metallurgical or properties information, take a look at the Standards & Properties section.

Please also take a look at our application specific sections if you are looking for information regarding plumbing, electrical, architecture, and other copper alloy applications.