The name copper, which in most languages ​​derives from the Latin “cuprum”, brings to mind the region of Europe where in ancient times this metal was mined on the widest scale. We are talking about Cyprus. Copper can be said without exaggeration that it belongs to the elements that have played an important role in the history of mankind. Without it, the alloys called bronzes would not have been created. In nature, copper exists in two forms. As an ore and a pure mineral – native copper. Since the latter is very rare, the metal is obtained mainly from ore minerals – covelline, chalcocine, beronite, tenorite, malachite and azurite.

MHY and M1E copper – a raw material for the electrical industry

Copper is widely used in industry. It is an excellent conductor – not only of electricity, but also of heat. Its properties are perfect for industries related to electricity. It is a raw material for the production of electric wires, it is used to produce electromagnets, integrated circuits and printed circuits (MHY copper). Another type – a type of copper marked with the symbol M1E (cathode copper) – is successfully used, for example, for such specialized products as electrodes for electrical discharge machines. The excellent quality of pure cathode copper also makes it ordered by producers of rolled sheet, profiles and copper bars. Among other properties of the metal, it is worth recalling corrosion resistance. Let’s also add that natural water (with CO2 and O) affects copper, while sea water does not.

Copper is also strongly affected by:

• chlorine,
• ammonium chloride,
• aluminum chloride,
• ferric chloride,
• ammonium fluoride,
• sulfuric acid at higher temperatures,
• hydrogen sulfide.

Less impact on copper:

• sodium chloride
• calcium chloride,
• hydrogen chloride,
• hydrochloric acid,
• sodium sulfide,
• bleaching lime,
• mortarboard.

The solvent for copper is nitric acid.

The use of copper – not only electronics

Copper is perfect not only in the electrical, electronic, telecommunications and electrotechnical industries. The metal is also used for the production of heating and water installation components. It is also used as a roofing material and a material for the production of apparatus and printed circuit boards and parts of electrical machines. The properties of copper are used in construction to create architectural elements, as well as in modern technologies of micro- and optoelectronic materials.

Feature	Property/Use
M0KSA	Semoxygen-free copper products and articles.
M0KS	Enamel products.
M0K	Semi-finished products and products made of copper and copper alloys.
M00B	Electronics, radio engineering, electrical engineering.
M01B	Electronics, radio engineering, electrical engineering.
M1E	Electrical and other purposes.
M1R	Semi-finished products and products for general purposes, weldable.
M2R	Semi-finished products and products for general purposes, weldable.
M3R	Semi-finished products and products for general purposes, weldable.
MN25	Very good corrosion and abrasion/coin resistance.
MNC92	Good spring properties, good reworkability/Spring elements, plug-in connections, slipconnectors.
MNZ101	Good resistance to corrosion (especially in sea water), erosion and cavitation, good weldability/Heat exchanger tubesa, especially in equipment ships, apparatus, air-conditioning devices.
MNM301	Very good resistance to corrosion (especially in sea water), erosion and cavitation, good weldability/Heat exchanger tubesa, especially in ship devices, apparatus, air-conditioning devices.
MNZM3022	Very good resistance to corrosion (especially in sea water), erosion and cavitation, good weldability/Heat exchanger tubesa, especially in ship devices, apparatus, air-conditioning devices.
MNM441	High>resistance wproper and siThermoelectric/Resistors of measuring devices, electronics industry.