Education

Copper Facts

Copper In Household Products

Most silver plate flatware (forks, knives, spoons) has a copper-zinc-nickel alloy base (nickel silver) which accounts for about 1.2 pounds of copper per set of 12 pieces. An average set of hollowware uses about 1.8 pounds of copper.

In order for sterling silver to be usable as tableware, 7.5 percent copper is mixed with 92.5 percent silver, making the metal hard and sturdy.

A pair of brass fireplace andirons weighs about 15 pounds. A copper fire screen uses about 12 pounds. A set of fireplace tools is about 10 pounds.

A solid brass bed weighs in at about 60 pounds.

Brass tables go for about 15 pounds each, while brass-framed mirrors use about 5 pounds each.

Brass and/or copper floor and table lamps consume about 7 pounds each for a total of about 60 million pounds - about half of all household products.

Grandfather, grandmother and large wall clocks, on average, use about 9 pounds of copper, each.

Decorative and instrumental bells consume about 4 pounds of copper alloy each, on average.

Twenty-four carat gold is not pure. Because gold is so soft it can be molded with the hands, a small amount of copper must be added to make it usable.

Advanced technology offers tough, new finishes for brass products that are brilliant and long lasting - many that come with lifetime warranties against corrosion, pitting and discoloration.

Using various vapor-deposition processes, multiple coatings of semiprecious metals, only molecules thick, are applied to the brass. Final color coats produce bright brass, chrome and other finishes.

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.