%0 Generic %A Crawford, Robert %A Stephan, André %A Prideaux, Fabian %D 2019 %T EPiC database - Copper wire %U https://melbourne.figshare.com/articles/dataset/EPiC_database_-_Copper_wire/9979649 %R 10.26188/5da553272580f %2 https://melbourne.figshare.com/ndownloader/files/18746009 %K Embodied energy %K Embodied carbon %K Embodied greenhouse gas emissions %K Embodied water %K Input-output analysis %K Construction %K Building %K Materials %K Environmental performance %K Life cycle assessment %K LCA %K Database %K Process analysis %K Australia %K Hybrid analysis %K Life cycle inventory %K LCI %K Concrete block %K Cement mortar %K Portland cement %K Autoclaved aerated concrete (AAC) %K Concrete 20 MPa %K Concrete 25 MPa %K Concrete 32 MPa %K Concrete 40 MPa %K Concrete 50 MPa %K Fibre cement sheet %K Fibre cement weatherboard %K Gypsum plaster %K Plasterboard - 10 mm %K Concrete roof tile %K Flat glass %K Double glazing - flat glass %K Laminated glass %K Toughened glass %K Double glazing - toughened glass %K Cellulose insulation %K Aluminium foil insulation %K Glasswool insulation %K Rockwool insulation %K Polystyrene (EPS/XPS) insulation %K Polyurethane (PU) rigid foam insulation %K Aluminium bar %K Aluminium composite panel %K Aluminium extruded %K Aluminium sheet %K Copper sheet %K Copper pipe %K Copper wire %K Building Science and Techniques %X This material is part of the free Environmental Performance in Construction (EPiC) Database. The EPiC Database contains embodied environmental flow coefficients for 250+ construction materials using a comprehensive hybrid life cycle inventory approach.

Copper is a soft and malleable non-ferrous metal and has been used in construction for hundreds of years. It has high thermal and electric conduction properties.

Copper is made by crushing mined copper ores and flash smelting them. The resulting copper sulphite is further heated with oxygen to obtain copper oxide. The latter is heated to obtain blister copper, which is used to cast anodes that are turned into pure copper cathodes through electroplating. These cathodes are melted, roll milled to a very small thickness and fed to a coiler than produces the wire.

Copper has multiple uses in construction. Copper wires are used in the majority of electrical cables. %I The University of Melbourne