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The Secret of Oxygen-Free Copper: How it Plays a Key Role in High-Tech Industries?
Oxygen-free copper (OFC) and oxygen-free high thermal conductivity copper (OFHC) are a family of electrolytically refined, highly conductive copper alloys whose oxygen content has been reduced to 0.001% or less. Oxygen-free copper is considered the highest grade of copper because it has extremely high conductivity and contains almost no oxygen. The presence of oxygen affects the electrical properties of copper, reducing its ability to conduct electricity. This article will take a deep dive into the applications of oxygen-free copper across a variety of industries and its importance.
"The high purity of oxygen-free copper makes it an indispensable material in high-tech applications."
Specifications of oxygen-free copper
Oxygen-free copper often has different specifications according to the ASTM/UNS database. Here are three commonly used high conductivity electrical coppers, two of which are considered oxygen-free coppers:
C10100- Known as oxygen-free electronic copper (OFE), it is 99.99% pure and has an oxygen content of 0.0005%.C10200- Known as oxygen-free copper (OF), it has an oxygen content of 0.001% and a purity of 99.95%.C11000- Known as Electrolytic Tough Plating (ETP), it is typically 99.9% pure with an oxygen content ranging from 0.02% to 0.04%.
"Oxygen-free high thermal conductivity copper (OFHC) is one of the materials responsible for the widespread use of refrigeration technology and has excellent thermal conductivity."
Oxygen Free High Thermal Conductivity
Oxygen-free high thermal conductivity copper (OFHC) is widely used in cryogenic technology. The copper material is converted directly to specially selected electrolytically refined cathodes and castings to prevent contamination during processing. This manufacturing method ensures the copper is of high quality, with oxygen levels typically ranging from 0.001% to 0.003%, greatly accentuating the inherent properties of elemental copper.
“The high ductility and electrical conductivity of oxygen-free copper enable it to perform well in ultra-high vacuum environments.”
Industry Applications
In industrial applications, oxygen-free copper is valued more for its chemical purity than just its electrical conductivity. Oxygen-free and oxygen-free electronic copper (OF/OFE grades) are mostly used in plasma deposition (sputtering) processes, which include the manufacture of semiconductor and superconducting parts, as well as other ultra-high vacuum equipment such as particle accelerators. In these applications, any release of oxygen or other impurities can cause unwanted chemical reactions that affect the performance of the material.
Home Audio Applications
The high-end speaker wire market touts oxygen-free copper as having enhanced conductivity or other electrical properties that are beneficial for transmitting sound signals. In practice, however, the conductivity specifications for common C11000 (ETP) and more expensive C10200 (OF) copper are identical. Even the conductivity of C10100 is only 1% higher, which is not significant in audio applications. Despite this, oxygen-free copper is still used for audio and video signal transmission in audio playback systems and home theaters.
"The use of oxygen-free copper in audio equipment challenges our imagination of the performance of high-end materials."
Oxygen-free phosphorus copper
Highly conductive copper is distinguished from copper that has been deoxidized by the addition of phosphorus during the smelting process. Copper Oxygen-Free Phosphorus (CuOFP) is often used in structural and thermal applications where the copper material will be subjected to temperatures high enough to avoid hydrogen embrittlement. This type of copper was chosen as the cladding material for the KBS-3 concept for handling high-level radioactive waste because of its corrosion-resistant properties.
Conclusion
To sum up, oxygen-free copper undoubtedly plays an indispensable role in the fields of science and technology and industry. However, how can the actual value of these advanced materials be more widely understood and applied?
