If you’re looking to sell scrap copper in Melbourne, then Metal Men Recycling is definitely the place for you. There are several fantastic reasons as to why you should recycle scrap copper – but today we thought we’d take the time to tell you about the metal itself. Copper is quite an interesting metal because whilst it may seem like a cheap and invaluable material – it’s actually quite the opposite. Let’s jump into the strange and electric world of copper.
Physical properties
Copper is highly malleable as well as ductile. This means it’s able to be easily fashioned into different shapes as well as drawn out without breaking – which is one of the reasons it’s favoured as the material for wires. These two properties alone make it highly desirable for a variety of applications and purposes.
It’s also highly conductive as well as able to withstand large levels of heat. These are another two reasons why it’s used for electrical wires. Its resistance to corrosion is another quality that makes it a highly sought after and versatile metal. Thanks to the fact that it’s almost 100% recyclable and highly durable – almost 80% of copper that has ever been produced is still in use today.
Applications
As we’ve mentioned, the biggest use for copper is for electrical wiring. This is due to its high ductility, conductivity, malleability and thermal resistance. Copper wiring is used in many fields ranging from speaker cables to phone wires to common electric circuitry. Other metals are quite ductile such as stainless steel – unfortunately, this metal has poor conductibility.
Some other applications for copper include:
- Tubing for natural gas pipelines as well as plumbing systems;
- Marine applications such as ships because of its durability and resistance to corrosion;
- Automotive industry;
- Architecture; and
- Metal fabrication.
Nutritional value
Believe it or not, copper actually contains nutritional value and is something that we ingest when we eat. Some of the health benefits of copper are:
- They help produce red blood cells;
- They absorb iron;
- They prevent prostatitis as well as prostate inflammation;
- They regulate your heart rate and blood pressure; and
- They activate your immune system.
As you can see, copper is actually quite beneficial to the human body. You don’t need high levels of copper, however, and so some of the foods that are rich in copper are:
- Green vegetables;
- Sunflower seeds;
- Beans;
- Peas; and
- Potatoes.
As with a lot of things, too much copper can be bad for you and cause symptoms such as vomiting and muscle pains. The daily recommended intake is set at 10 milligrams.
It’s the oldest metal
Copper is considered to the oldest metal used by man after a copper pendant dating back to 8700 B.C was discovered in northern Iraq. It was also one of the first metals that was used in large quantities to produce items. One of the ages of human history was even named after a copper alloy – Bronze age.
It’s very recyclable
If you’re looking to sell scrap copper in Melbourne, then you’ve made a fantastic choice as copper is highly recyclable and also brings a lot of environmental benefits with it. As we mentioned earlier, copper is almost 100% recyclable. No matter how many times it’s recycled the integrity of the material does not falter or degrade in any way.
This means that once you mine fresh copper – it can essentially be reused an infinite amount of times without any changes being made to its properties. This is highly beneficial as the energy and water used to recycle copper is drastically less than what is used when mining for virgin copper.
Looking to sell scrap copper in Melbourne?
Copper is a highly abundant resource that there is no short supply of around your home. If you’re looking to sell scrap copper in Melbourne, then Metal Men Recycling is the place for you. Our site features state of the art weighing facilities to help you determine how much scrap metal you have.
Our knowledgeable and friendly staff are also able to assist you with any questions you may have about the recycling process or if you’re unsure about if something can be recycled or not. We also deliver bins of varying sizes to your office or workplace for large loads.
If you’re looking to sell scrap copper in Melbourne, then please get in touch with us by calling 03 5941 6677. You may also contact us via the enquiry form found on our website.