Copper cables have been used for electrical wiring for over a century. The invention of the telephone, telegraph, and electromagnet in the mid-1800s created a demand for copper wire as an electrical conductor. Today, copper cables are used in all kinds of applications, including home wiring and in industrial applications.
Cost
The global industrial cables market is expected to grow at a moderate rate over the next four years. Moreover, the household appliance and medical equipment sectors will remain positive over this period. The law enforcement agencies are also planning to step up their efforts to curb this epidemic. Furthermore, copper is a valuable resource that will never be replaced by any other technology.
Copper is the main raw material used for copper cables, accounting for approximately half of the total cost. Copper prices fluctuated over the last few years, declining in the second half of 2014 and rebounding in the Chinese market from the second half of 2016. Other raw materials used in copper cables include polyethylene and polyvinyl chloride. The prices of these raw materials are influenced by the global crude oil price.
Electrical conductivity
Copper alloys have excellent physical and mechanical properties, making them ideal for use in electrical cables. They are stronger and can carry greater loads for a given service, requiring less insulation, shielding, and armouring. Copper cables also have greater flexibility, making them easier to install and transport. They also resist creep and have excellent performance under adverse conditions.
Electrical conductivity measures the ease with which heat or electric charge can pass through a material. The highest conductive materials are metals, followed by semiconductors, and insulators. The electrical conductivity of copper cables is believed to be the best among them.
Fire hazard
There are two main ways to evaluate the fire hazard of copper cables. Firstly, the flame growth index (FGI) measures the rate at which a flame spreads on a solid material. It is calculated as the ratio of pHRR to the time at which the fire spreads, and is expressed in kW m-2 s. The values of pHRR and FGI are presented in table 3. A profile of FGIs for different overloaded wires is shown in figure 9. The linear lines corresponding to the FGIs of various wires are almost coincident.
A third way to assess the fire hazard of copper cables is to consider the design of electrical installations in buildings. While copper cables can conduct voltages caused by lightning, it is not advisable to use them in places where lightning can strike. This could lead to damaging network devices and causing injury to personnel. Therefore, copper cabling should be installed according to building codes and specifications. This is important to avoid any fire hazards or potentially dangerous situations.
Reliability
Reliability of copper cables is an important consideration for the life of a cable system or component. The reliability of copper wire bond interconnects is influenced by the bonding process and the thickness of the intermetallic compounds. There are many process control measures in place to ensure copper wire bonding is reliable.
Copper is a good conductor of electricity, but it can be damaged by power surges. Lightning strikes have destroyed electrical equipment in buildings and even killed cats. In one instance, a lightning strike knocked out the entire 911 communications network in North Carolina. To reduce the risk of this occurrence, copper wiring should be installed as far away from electrical equipment as possible.
In comparison, fiber optic cable is smaller, lighter, and more durable. It is also less likely to break during installation. Fiber optic cables are made of glass and have a protective coating. They are a better choice for long-distance communication.
Applications
Copper cables are a versatile material used in a variety of applications. They are used in security devices, telephone lines, printers and scanners, and for high-speed Internet connections. Although optic fibre is gradually replacing copper for these purposes, copper wire for broadband connections is still a popular choice. These cables are available in shielded versions that protect against external influences, like water or chemicals.
Copper wire is used in jewelry, and silver enameled copper wire is used as a substitute for sterling silver. Copper is resistant to tarnishing, making it an ideal material for jewelry. It is also used in fishing, particularly deep-water fishing. Electricity networks and power transmission systems also use copper wire.
