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Copper purity in wires, pipes, etc

PostPosted: Tue Oct 04, 2011 1:44 pm
by SoFa
I was wondering if you have bare bright copper wire can you assume a certain purity for it? Like 99%+, or 99.5%?
Is the copper wire in power cords the same purity or can it vary?

Same with run of the mill copper pipe like you find at Home Depot. How pure is it? Is there a standard purity it is made to?

Re: Copper purity in wires, pipes, etc

PostPosted: Tue Oct 04, 2011 7:42 pm
by theirrationalist
SoFa wrote:I was wondering if you have bare bright copper wire can you assume a certain purity for it? Like 99%+, or 99.5%?
Is the copper wire in power cords the same purity or can it vary?

Same with run of the mill copper pipe like you find at Home Depot. How pure is it? Is there a standard purity it is made to?


This is an awesome question, and it is the topic of my next article.

Copper wire that you find in any type of modern electronic device is .999 pure copper (If you remove the insulation, of course). Same thing with copper pipes: .999 pure.

Re: Copper purity in wires, pipes, etc

PostPosted: Tue Oct 04, 2011 9:15 pm
by SoFa
Thanks! I'll look forward to your article.