Copper Pipe Scrap Metal

Copper Pipe Scrap. Copper is a reddish orange, non-magnetic soft metal that takes on a bright metallic luster. It is malleable, ductile, and an excellent conductor of heat and electricity – only silver has a higher electrical conductivity than copper. This ensures easy flow of heat or electricity with minimal energy loss. Copper surfaces exposed to air gradually tarnish to a dull, brownish color.Copper was one of the first metals to be used by humans. The main reason for its early discovery and use is that copper can naturally occur in relatively pure forms. Early uses included tools, spear and arrow tips as well as decorative and ornamental applications which exist to this day.Pure copper suffers from its softness, making it ineffective in modern times as a weapon and tool. Early experimentation by ancient civilizations resulted in a solution to this problem: bronze. An alloy of copper and tin, bronze was not only harder but could also be treated by forging (shaping and hardening through hammering) and casting (poured and molded as a liquid). Copper alloys are used in modern times for a wide variety of applications including bronze tooling, phosphor bronze gears, brass extrusions and tap-wear, as well as bronze valves and bushes.Chile is the world’s largest producer of copper ore. The world’s largest copper mine is in Escondida, Chile and is owned by Australian company BHP Billiton.With household and commercial waste increasing year-on-year, there is undoubtedly an increased strain on landfill sites across the country. These holes in the ground are rapidly filling up and the cost of filling those left is rising. Rather than adding to the problem by disposing of your scrap copper in landfill, you can recycle it, preferably at Top Dollar, helping your wallet and the environment at the same time.The recycling process for copper is said to use just 10-15% of the energy required to mine and extract new copper at source. In essence, it is better to recycle copper in order to conserve the world’s supply of fossil fuels. Even though only 12-13% of all known copper reserves have been mined, it makes complete sense to conserve the remaining ore for many generations to come. Although we still have plenty in reserve to mine, copper ore is a finite resource and once it’s gone, it’s gone. We need to recycle as much copper as possible simply because we have enough copper already in use to meet current demand. Although the cost of mining new copper is reportedly falling, it is still far cheaper to recycle old copper than it is to mine and extract new copper ore. The value of recycled copper is worth up to 90% of the cost of the original copper, so it certainly holds its value.Furthermore, the refinement of new copper is toxic. Throughout the process, the waste emitted into the atmosphere could be considered harmful to the wider environment, which is why recycling copper – and its relatively safe process – makes for a more environmentally friendly option, minimising toxins and gases that damage our planet. Whether you believe in climate change or not, when it comes to the future of our planet, the overwhelming evidence is that recycling trumps refinement of ore many times over.At Top Dollar we have been able to recycle more than a million kilograms of copper alloys including copper pipe, copper sheet, copper wire as well as brass and bronze castings. Feel free to contact us on our advertised numbers or through our social mediums to get up to date copper pricing. As with all the metals we recycle you will of course be paid for every kilo, every time at a fair price.