Oxygen free copper tube for heat exchanger is the pure copper tubing used in heat exchanger and electronic applications. Oxygen-free copper typically specified according to the ASTM/UNS database.
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Introduction of Oxygen Free Copper Tube
Oxygen-free copper or oxygen-free high thermal conductivity copper is a group of wrought high-conductivity copper alloys that have been electrolytically refined to reduce the level of oxygen to 0.001% or below. Oxygen-free copper is a premium grade of copper that has a high level of conductivity and is virtually free from oxygen content. The oxygen content of copper affects its electrical properties and can reduce conductivity. Oxygen free copper is achieved by finishing the product in a regulated, oxygen-free environment, which assists the process that gives oxygen free copper tubes far greater levels of electrical conductivity than any commercial copper grades.
Alloy And Production Standard
ASTM B111 or ASME SB111
C10100 (OFE) Oxygen-free electronic
C10200 (OF) Oxygen-free without residual deoxidants
C10300 Oxygen-free, extra low phosphorus
C10800 Oxygen-free, low phosphorus
Cu-OF (DIN or EN12449)
C103 (BS British Standard)
C1020 (JIS Japanese Industrial Standards)
Chemical Composition
Cu≥99.90~99.97; O2 ≤0.001~0.003
Dimension/size
Outside diameter range : 3.5mm~120mm
Wall thickness range : 0.3mm~15mm
Maximum length: 24 meters
Grades of Oxygen-Free Copper
C10100 Oxygen-Free Electronic Copper (Cu-OFE)
With silver removed, C10100 oxygen-free electronic copper contains 99.99% copper, with oxygen reduced to 0.0005%. This grade is made from pure copper cathode, which is poured beneath a protective gas atmosphere. It boasts around 1% higher electrical conductivity compared to C10200 oxygen-free copper, along with superior corrosion resistance. It's frequently used for high-quality audio and video systems.
C10200 Oxygen-Free Copper (Cu-OF)
This grade contains 99.95% copper and boasts excellent purity. It's worth noting that no copper is ever 100%.
Benefits of Using Oxygen-Free Copper Tube
Exceptional Electrical Conductivity
During the manufacturing of OFC, the copper is processed in the presence of carbon to remove any oxygen present. High purity, coupled with the absence of oxygen, allows more currents to pass through the same conductor size. Thus, OFC is specifically used for battery cables, induction coils, and space heaters.
High Thermal Capacity
Due to higher thermal conductivity, OFC elemental copper wires do not heat up as quickly as other metals, such as aluminum. As a result, they also have superior thermal strength and thermal conductivity. Industries heavily rely on them for high-temperature applications such as induction heating furnaces.
Excellent Resistance to Hydrogen Embrittlement
Oxygen-free coppers achieve excellent resistance against hydrogen embrittlement occurring under wet electrochemical environments. Because of its malleability, weldability, and lack of reactivity in oxygen-free waters, Finland is even using copper canisters to store nuclear waste inside an encapsulation plant.
Excellent Fabrication Properties
All oxygen-free copper grades are good for machining, with an excellent machinability rating of 20 (100 is more difficult to machine). They have excellent hot-working and cold-working properties. All grades are ideal for soldering, brazing, and gas shielding arc welding. However, spot welding and seam welding are not recommended.
What is Oxygen Free Copper used for?
The higher the purity of any copper product, the better the corrosion resistance, the higher the electrical conductivity, and less heat is produced while conducting electricity. As the purest copper product possible, C101 Oxygen Free Copper provides the best results of any copper products.
By removing almost all impurities there are very few interruptions to the metallic structure of the copper, and by removing almost all oxygen there is a significant reduction in oxidation of the metallic copper which can further impede performance.
Due to the higher price that comes with the higher purity product, almost all uses of C101 Oxygen Free Copper are highly specialized. These include:
Superior Audio/Visual Applications
high end audio/visual applications where quality is paramount will utilize copper wiring made from C101 Oxygen free Copper.
Large industrial transformers
The increased electrical conductivity of C101 Oxygen Free Copper can reduce the diameter of the wiring within transformers and therefore reduce the amount of copper and the size of the overall installation.
Long life applications
In large or very difficult to replace projects, the longer lifespan of C101 Oxygen Free Copper products can be beneficial.
High vacuum applications
Any scientific requirement to minimize the presence of impurities in a vacuum environment can utilize C101 Oxygen Free Copper to ensure no contamination happens from the copper wiring.
Our history:
Guilin Lijia Metals Co., Ltd, established in 1976, is a key enterprise of copper fabrication in Guangxi, China. Our company is a modern nonferrous-metal processing enterprise engaging in manufacturing copper and copper alloy tubes/pipes/coils, rods/bars, profiles and finned tubes. Persevering in development orientation of "being special, new, exceptional and meticulous", we have accumulated more than 40 years' manufacturing experience and held yearly capability of 16,000 tons.
Insisting on global business strategy and worldwide marketing net, we started exporting business since 1998 and have steady market in USA, Europe, Australia, Canada and Southeast Asia.
Our corporate culture slogans are "teamwork, perseverance, preciseness, sincerity and innovation".
FAQ
Q: 1.Why oxygen-free copper?
A: Oxygen-free high conductivity (OFC) copper C10100 is a type of copper that has been refined in an electrically charged solution of copper sulfate and sulfuric acid. This process is known as electrolytic refining. Electrolytic tough pitch copper, or ETP copper, has an exceptionally low level of oxygen, often with less than 0.001% oxygen content.
Oxygen-free copper C10100 is commonly used in consumer electronics. Specifically, oxygen-free copper is most frequently found in high-end audio-visual systems. In addition, oxygen-free copper wiring custom cable accessories are also on the market for the pickiest of customers. Oxygen-free copper is used for speaker wires, audio/video connector cable assemblies, and amplifier wires. Due to its high purity, it is supposed to have higher conductivity and a better ability to transfer low-frequency sounds. Some manufacturers also state that oxygen-free copper wiring provides better clarity of sound, and lasts longer than other, less pure, copper wires.
With less applications that's some other copper alloys, C10100 copper is still the purest. It can be purchased in large quantities or used in specific items, such as cables. Oxygen-free copper is largely distributed in North America, both in copper sheet and copper bar forms, and is easily available.
Q: 2.What is oxygen-free copper?
A: C101 Oxygen Free Copper is extremely pure copper with very little oxygen content. With a typical oxygen content of less than 0.0005% and a typical copper grade of 99.99%, C101 Oxygen Free Copper is the highest-grade copper available, and the material properties closely resemble that of elemental copper.
Q: 3.What is the difference between copper and oxygen-free copper?
A: The primary benefit of using oxygen free copper is that it has a higher conductivity than standard copper. This means that it can transmit electrical signals more efficiently, resulting in better sound quality. OFC is also more durable than standard copper, as it is less prone to corrosion.
Q: 4.Is oxygen-free copper better?
A: By removing the oxygen from the copper, oxygen-free copper (OFC) is produced, dramatically improving its corrosion resistance. Using OFC comes with obvious benefits of higher current flow, improved conduction efficiency, and reduced environmental strain.
Q: 5.What is the difference between OFC and ETP copper?
A: Although ETP Copper is not 100% oxygen free, it is considered to be an OFC (oxygen free copper) because it has a minimum conductivity rating of 100% IACS while the minimum rating to considered OFC is 99.9% pure. ETP Copper is the most common and widely used copper because of its conductivity.
Q: 6.What is the standard for oxygen-free copper?
A: Cu-OF (C10200) grade copper is oxygen-free up to 99.95%. This grade of copper boasts exceptional purity. While no copper is ever 100% pure, modern technology has allowed refiners to reduce the remaining oxygen content to a practical range of 0.001–0.003%. Cu-OFE (C10100) grade copper is oxygen-free up to 99.99%.
Q: 7.What is the difference between free copper and total copper?
A: Copper reference ranges are as follows: Free serum copper: 1.6-2.4 μmol/L or 10-15μg/dL. Total copper: 10-22 μmol/L or 63.7-140.12 μg/dL. Serum ceruloplasmin: 2.83-5.50 μmol/L or 18-35 μg/dL.
Q: 8.What is the ppm of oxygen-free copper?
A: The total content of impurities is less than 40 ppm (0.0040%), with no single impurity exceeding 25 ppm (0.0025%). This is to ensure high resistance to hydrogen embrittlement. The maximum oxygen content is restricted to 5 ppm (0.0005%).
Q: 9.How do you make oxygen-free copper?
A: Oxygen free copper is produced by melting and casting the copper cathodes in reducing atmosphere. The highest purity (A-grade) copper cathodes are used as the raw material. The reduction of oxygen from the melt can be done either by carbon or vacuum. Both methods result in a low oxygen content.
Q: 10.Is copper oxygen safe?
A: Copper prevents the build-up of microbial growth in gas systems, so medical gasses stay clean as they travel through the system. Safety standards for oxygen and other medical gasses require the use of copper tubing in accordance with EN 13348.
Q: 11.Why is oxygen-free copper used for high conductivity?
A: Subsequently, most of the oxygen contained in the copper is removed, ultimately forming a compound made with a minimum purity of 99.99% copper and oxygen content of less than or equal to 0.0005%. This pure copper content makes it more durable, thermally and electrically conductive.
Q: 12.Is OFC the same as pure copper?
A: Due to reduced oxygen content, OFC offers excellent formability and higher electrical conductivity than pure copper. Although there are some minor differences in machining characteristics between pure copper vs. oxygen-free copper, they display some common machining challenges.
Q: 13.Why is oxygen-free copper better?
A: The high-end speaker wire industry markets oxygen-free copper as having enhanced conductivity or other electrical properties that are supposedly advantageous to audio signal transmission.
Q: 14.Does oxygen-free copper oxidize?
A: During copper smelting, oxygen is added to the metal to help remove impurities. Oxygen-free copper has been refined to reduce the amount of oxygen in the metal in order to increase conductivity and resistance to oxidation.
Q: 15.What is the difference between copper and ETP?
A: Both OFHC copper and ETP copper have low oxygen levels. However, OFHC copper contains less than 10 ppm of oxygen, while ETP copper contains between 150 to 600 ppm of oxygen. Although this difference in composition may seem small, it can significantly impact performance in critical applications.
Q: 16.What is the purity of ETP copper?
A: Electrolytic tough pitch (ETP) copper is the most common type of copper available. It is highly conductive, which makes it an ideal material for carrying electric current in a broad spectrum of applications. ETP copper, or C11000 copper, is considered commercially pure and has a minimum purity of 99.90% copper.
Q: 17.Is C110 copper oxygen free?
A: C110 / CW009A is a very high purity certified grade of oxygen free copper for electronic type applications. The material is manufactured from pure cathode copper and poured in a protective gas atmosphere. It has a minimum copper content of 99.99% and offers a minimum electrical conductivity of 101.5% IACS.
Q: 18.Is oxygen-free copper better than regular copper?
A: Due to reduced oxygen content, OFC offers excellent formability and higher electrical conductivity than pure copper. Although there are some minor differences in machining characteristics between pure copper vs. oxygen-free copper, they display some common machining challenges.
Q: 19.What does oxygen-free copper do?
A: Oxygen-free phosphorus-containing copper (CuOFP) is typically used for structural and thermal applications where the copper material will be subject to temperatures high enough to cause hydrogen embrittlement or more exactly steam embrittlement. Examples include welding/brazing rods and heat exchanger tubing.
Q: 20.Which type of copper is suitable for best conductivity?
A: Pure annealed copper's electrical conductivity is so high that many metals are measured against it in the form of the IACS (International Annealed Copper Standard).
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