Search the forum,

copper

Copper is a chemical element with the symbol Cu (from Latin: cuprum) and atomic number 29. It is a soft, malleable, and ductile metal with very high thermal and electrical conductivity. A freshly exposed surface of pure copper has a pinkish-orange color. Copper is used as a conductor of heat and electricity, as a building material, and as a constituent of various metal alloys, such as sterling silver used in jewelry, cupronickel used to make marine hardware and coins, and constantan used in strain gauges and thermocouples for temperature measurement.
Copper is one of the few metals that can occur in nature in a directly usable metallic form (native metals). This led to very early human use in several regions, from c. 8000 BC. Thousands of years later, it was the first metal to be smelted from sulfide ores, c. 5000 BC; the first metal to be cast into a shape in a mold, c. 4000 BC; and the first metal to be purposely alloyed with another metal, tin, to create bronze, c. 3500 BC.In the Roman era, copper was mined principally on Cyprus, the origin of the name of the metal, from aes сyprium (metal of Cyprus), later corrupted to сuprum (Latin). Coper (Old English) and copper were derived from this, the later spelling first used around 1530.Commonly encountered compounds are copper(II) salts, which often impart blue or green colors to such minerals as azurite, malachite, and turquoise, and have been used widely and historically as pigments.
Copper used in buildings, usually for roofing, oxidizes to form a green verdigris (or patina). Copper is sometimes used in decorative art, both in its elemental metal form and in compounds as pigments. Copper compounds are used as bacteriostatic agents, fungicides, and wood preservatives.
Copper is essential to all living organisms as a trace dietary mineral because it is a key constituent of the respiratory enzyme complex cytochrome c oxidase. In molluscs and crustaceans, copper is a constituent of the blood pigment hemocyanin, replaced by the iron-complexed hemoglobin in fish and other vertebrates. In humans, copper is found mainly in the liver, muscle, and bone. The adult body contains between 1.4 and 2.1 mg of copper per kilogram of body weight.

View More On Wikipedia.org
  1. J

    how to seal a weaping copper joint

    So discovered a leak or weeping joint. Two elbows are attached by a 5cm copper pipe which has the blue residue on it. Also there is an imperceitble leak. The plumber will call out sometime next week so I need a temporary fix. Whats the best solution? Sealing putty Self amalgam tape Stixall or...
  2. D

    Plastic pipe or copper

    Hi, I want to install a salamander hot water pump to my hot water taps, from my tank in bedroom. I will install a new s flange, my question is can I install this with plastic pipes ie speed fit instead of copper
  3. F

    Soft Copper Pipe

    Hi, I'm currently in the process of fitting an outside tap and need approximately 3m of 15mm dia soft copper pipe. Does anybody know where I could get a 3m length from please? I didn't realise it would be this difficult to source! Any advice or help would be appreciated.........
  4. M

    How much copper pipe

    Hello I'm having new 15 & 22mm pipe routed from the basement boiler to 2 radiators on ground floor (directly above basement boiler) and 6 radiators on first floor. Each floor is 80sqm with ground floor ceilings removed and joists previously notched for access routes. Given the expense of...
  5. D

    Copper pipe for tub faucet loose

    Hello, I had to removed my tub faucet yesterday and after removal I noticed that the copper pipe sticking out of the wall spins freely. It doesn't come out (I have not tried to pull with much force) but I am concerned the solder behind the wall is broken and it will leak. Am I way off with this...
  6. J

    Air gap under copper cylinders

    Hi all Thanks for the secondary return in plastic pipe replies....Nice one Just have another question i can't find an answer to How does the bottom of a hot water copper cylinder rot if there's no circulation of air passing through it. I know it rots but actually why it rots is my question???
  7. A

    Routing mains water pipe under the floor?!?

    Hi, I have my mains pipe coming into the side of my house which is copper. I am going to have the adjacent wall studded out (to the left in pic) and therefore want to hide the mains pipe behind it and put on a low profile stop tap in which can be accessible via a flap or something. There is an...
  8. r1k1n

    Advice needed about cold water copper pipes sweating

    Hello there guys, We've recently discovered (after a drop of water hit my brother on the head!), that a cold water copper pipe is sweating. We thought it might be a leak but have only seen droplets of water on the pipework and after some research have deciphered that the pipe is sweating. The...
  9. M

    Copper CH /water pipes in concrete floor/walls

    Could anyone point me in the right direction. I had a complete plumbing install at a property I was renovating, the CH and plumbing was commissioned in Oct 20. Over the last 2 weeks we noticed the boiler (ATAG Combi) losing pressure and requiring refilling, this became more frequent, most...
  10. T

    How to connect waste pipe to copper Moroccan basin

    Hello, would be really grateful for some advice, I got a small copper basin in a market in Morocco (way back when travelling was allowed!) I’ve just got round to thinking about installing it and can’t work out what waste pipe fitting to get to connect to it... will post a picture here (if I can...
  11. P

    Galv steel to copper

    Hi lads any ideas how to join what looks like galv steel to copper. This is the flow pipe to and from the boiler the steel pipe has rubber away on the joist and has corroded.
  12. P

    Copper tap tails for monobloc

    Hi lads just a quick one, can you fit isolation valves straight onto monobloc copper tap tails. I know they are soft copper i have always soldered onto them and never used compression fittings but on this job i need to fit valves on. I may even go as far as chucking push fit iso valves if need...
  13. A

    COPPER & PLASTIC TOGETHER OK?

    Hi all, Gutted out a 3 bed semi with a good condition Worcester Greenstar 28i Junior already installed. Planning to have 12 rads installed in the house (3 of which will be towel rads), with all new piping to each. Based on previous experience in another property with 1 rad not working because...
  14. N

    Copper push fittings used for a boiler swap.

    Hello everyone. Iv just read an article on installers magazine that says how much better gas installers find using copper push fit fittings for a boiler swap. According to the article, unlike plastic push fit fittings which cant be used in close proximity to the boiler, the copper ones can. So...
  15. J

    Copper Pipe in corner

    The existing copper pipe ran in the corner of two walls. It was proud of the brick wall. The old plaster has been removed and the pipe has been covered in felt lagging and gaffer tape. The plumber said the gaffer tape would stop any chance of the pipe touching the wall or plasterboard adhesive...
  16. A

    Copper pipe fitted in stud wall

    Just a quick one. I have to fit 15mm copper pipe [H+C] into an internal plasterboard cavity wall which is just insulated with rockwool. Will be lucky if the length of copper pipes in the cavity be around 1 meter in length to the drop in the floor. The question is do i have to put anything...
  17. T

    Best way to get rid off corrosion in CWST on my copper fortic cylinder?

    Hi all just a quick one what would be the best way to get rid off corrosion in my CWST on my copper fortic cylinder?
  18. R

    Old Bath Copper Waste Pipe

    Hi, a friend was complaining about water dripping through her kitchen ceiling. Turns out that the bath waste pipe is leaking. I've not seen copper pipe used as a bath waste before. I have smeared some silicon around the join but I need to fix this. I think best to hacksaw the old tee section...
  19. S

    Basic question - pex or copper for self build 100 sqm metre

    Basic question - pex or copper for self build 100 sqm metre 2 story house. It Is a budget build but will form part of a larger house for years to come. Plan to do some basic plumbing myself, no gas or oil just water pipes. which is a better option and why. Thank you
  20. GameForkStudio

    Connecting copper pipe to cistern .

    Hi all, A complete novice question. I need to connect a copper pipe to the cistern. I don't have enough space for a flexible hose. Can I insert the copper pipe inside the cistern's plastic inlet and use a nut and olive on it or is that not the way to do it? Also, the inlet has a small filter...
Creating content since 2001. Untold Media.

OFFICIAL SPONSORS

OFFICIAL SPONSORS

Back
Top
AdBlock Detected

We get it, advertisements are annoying!

Sure, ad-blocking software does a great job at blocking ads, but it also blocks useful features of our website. For the best site experience please disable your AdBlocker.

I've Disabled AdBlock