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How is highly conductive oxygen-free copper different from ordinary copper? Uncover the truth about power transmission!
In the electronics industry, the quality of copper directly affects the performance and stability of equipment. Among them, oxygen-free copper (OFC), as a high-conductivity, high-quality material, is gaining more and more attention. So, what is the difference between oxygen-free copper and ordinary copper?
Oxygen-free copper refers to a highly conductive copper alloy whose oxygen content is reduced to below 0.001% after electrolytic refining.
Oxygen-free copper is usually designated as a class of material in the ASTM/UNS database, with the main types being C10100 and C10200. Firstly, C10100 is a 99.99% pure copper with extremely high conductivity, with a minimum conductivity of 101% IACS (International Annealed Copper Standard). The production process is completed in a strictly oxygen-free environment to avoid compromising purity.
Although C10200 oxygen-free copper is also considered oxygen-free, its conductivity is not higher than common electrolytic copper (C11000). C11000 is the most commonly used copper material and plays an important role in various electrical applications.
Oxygen-free high thermal conductivity copper (OFHC) is widely used in the field of low-temperature technology due to its excellent thermal conductivity. OFHC copper is directly converted from reduced refined cathodes under a strictly controlled environment, avoiding the intrusion of impurities during the process. This type of copper has a purity of up to 99.99%, and its thermal and electrical conductivity are very high, and it is often used in ultra-high vacuum equipment and refrigeration technology.
In current technology and industrial applications, oxygen-free copper is not only for its superior conductivity, but also for its chemical purity and stability.
In industrial applications, oxygen-free copper is valued for its chemical purity rather than just its electrical conductivity. This makes it the material of choice in semiconductor manufacturing and ultra-high vacuum equipment. In these high-end applications, any release of oxygen or other impurities could cause undesirable chemical reactions with other materials in the environment.
For home audio equipment, oxygen-free copper wire is advertised as improving the transmission of electrical signals. However, in reality, there is no significant difference in conductivity between ordinary electrolytic copper (C11000) and the more expensive oxygen-free copper (C10200), so in audio applications, the extra cost of C10100 may not necessarily provide a corresponding technical advantage.
It is worth noting that oxygen-free phosphorus copper (CuOFP) is used in some special occasions, such as welding or exchanger pipes used in high-temperature environments.
In summary, there are significant differences between oxygen-free copper and ordinary copper, especially in purity and conductivity. The demands of different industries for material performance also directly affect the selection of these materials. In future technological development, will the application value of these materials be re-evaluated?
