Copper electrical cables

Copper is one of the most popular materials for producing elements that must provide excellent electrical conductivity and that is why it is still widely used in electrical systems today.

Properties of copper as a conductor for electrical cables

When producing an electrical system, it is important to consider several factors, including efficiency and safety. Choosing unsuitable or low-quality materials will not only cause more leakage and subsequent energy waste but there is also more of a risk of fires breaking out involving cables or electrical devices.

The first step to ensure a high standard of work is therefore to choose a conductive material that is appropriate for the situation and can optimise overall performance. There are many metals that are good electrical conductors but in almost all cases the most popular choice is copper or aluminium electrical cables, for different reasons.

Copper is the most conductive metal after silver and is significantly cheaper. It can be extremely ductile in the processing phase, which makes it simple to produce different types of cables.

Copper alloys in electrical cables

Copper is also often used in alloys designed to maximise the benefits of using multiple materials. For example, copper and beryllium alloys have excellent conductivity and also good mechanical properties, which is why they are preferred for the production of contacts and other components subjected to greater stress, while brass, i.e. copper and zinc alloys, is more workable and ductile.

Bronze, which offers high conductivity and excellent mechanical properties, is a copper and tin alloy used to produce manifolds and electric gearmotors.

Advantages of copper electrical cables

As we have seen, copper electrical cables offer significant advantages over other metals, both in terms of high conductivity and very low costs due to the greater availability of the raw material. Plus, as copper is easy to work, it can also be obtained from scrap metal and waste available on the market.

Copper electrical cables also have significant safety benefits as this metal is extremely resistant to oxidation and can therefore also be used outdoors, ensuring long-term durability.

Thanks to its properties, copper remains the most popular choice, even above aluminium, which despite having undoubted advantages in terms of lightness and resistivity, is limited by a lower melting temperature, which makes it impossible to use it in cases where there is a risk of thermal hazard.