At what temperature does copper melt - Metals and their processing

At what temperature does copper melt: necessary process conditions in production and at home - Machine Tool

The use of copper as a material for the production of tools and weapons has been known to mankind for many centuries.

The development of electrical engineering and electronics was a further stimulus for the development of advanced methods for extracting and processing raw materials in which this metal is present. Modern copper production is a well-established process.

One of the problems in obtaining this scarce metal is the low percentage of copper in the mined ore. It does not exceed five percent of the total amount of mined rock.

Copper production methods

Currently, several methods for producing copper have been developed. The main ones are:

pyrometallurgy;
hydrometallurgy;
electrolysis.

The largest quantity is produced using the first method. With its help, almost 90% of all metal is obtained. It is quite labor-intensive and time-consuming.

The technology for producing copper using this method includes several stages that enrich the incoming material and sequentially obtain the finished material.

Each stage contains a strict sequence of technological tasks. Typically, a copper smelter performs the full range of operations.

To obtain the so-called copper cathode, a third method is used. This method is completely called electrolytic refining with subsequent deposition of the finished product on the surface of metal plates.

Stages of pyrometallurgical copper production

This method is effectively used for processing ore with different copper contents. It consists of the following sequence of actions:

preparation (enrichment) of extracted raw materials;
direct smelting onto matte;
converting the resulting matte;
final refining.

Each technological process is carried out using the necessary processing methods. To isolate blister copper, so-called purging is performed. Next, the copper is placed into molds or poured onto slabs. It remains contaminated with various impurities and does not have the properties of pure copper.

The essence of the process is to supply air under pressure through the liquid melt of copper matte. It is produced in special converters, which can be positioned vertically or horizontally. Subsequently, enriched copper ore concentrates are sent for final processing.

Initially, the copper content in the mined ore does not exceed six percent. To produce copper with the best efficiency, it is necessary to enrich the mined ore. This production is intended to obtain a concentrate that will contain more than 10% copper. In some cases it can be increased to 35%.

The main method of beneficiation of sulfide copper-nickel ores is flotation. To increase the efficiency of enrichment, a magnetic separation operation is first performed. It promotes the release of pyrrhotite into an independent concentrate. The possibility of carrying out magnetic separation is due to the relatively high magnetic susceptibility of pyrrhotite.

The process itself includes the following operations:

preliminary crushing and subsequent grinding into small particles (this is carried out until grains of no more than 0.05÷0.5 mm are obtained);
flotation enrichment, which is based on the processing of non-wettable ore particles together with bubbles of blown air when they rise upward in the form of foam (oil is added for the efficiency of the process), the waste rock, being wetted, falls down.

After receiving the enriched material, proceed to the next stage.

Burning

Pyrometallurgy defines two types of roasting process. The first is the so-called oxidative roasting. It produces partial oxidation of sulfides of copper concentrates.

This process occurs in one of three modes: kinetic, diffusion and intermediate.

Each of them is characterized by the rate of crystal chemical transformation and the value of the diffusion coefficient.

The correct choice of these parameters allows you to significantly reduce the sulfur content and obtain matte of the required concentration. This firing is carried out in special units. They are called kilns.

With their help, it is possible to reduce the moisture content to five percent and at the same time reduce the sulfur content.

The modern scheme of this process involves carrying it out in a fluidized bed or in a suspended state.

The second method involves heating to a temperature that activates the oxidation of sulfur sulfide. Higher fractions go through a stage of dissociation. The lower fractions are subject to oxidation only slightly.

The choice of optimal temperature for this process depends on the following conditions:

fuel combustion process parameters;
heat transfer characteristics;
the quality of the insulating properties of the furnace (its durability of the lining);
heat transfer characteristics of the processed material itself.

The most popular method is roasting copper concentrate in multi-hearth furnaces. They simultaneously carry out mechanical mixing of the loaded mixture. The greatest efficiency of the technological process is manifested in furnaces of a ten-pod design.

In such furnaces, not only is sulfur removed most effectively, but the concentrate is also mixed efficiently with the added additives and fluxes. In this case, such a furnace plays the role of a mixing apparatus. The oven maintains a temperature between 450 and 500 degrees.

The composition of the loaded mixture and the quality of firing (desulfurization) depend on the optimality of the selected parameters.

In addition to this method, there is firing of finished concentrates in a fluidized bed. To implement it, special units are used that are capable of creating such conditions. Their complex and expensive design significantly limits their use.

Melting for matte

The main components in the raw materials for producing matte are sulfides of two metals: iron and copper. It contains oxides of various metals, for example, aluminum, calcium.

Carrying out the melting process allows you to obtain two products in liquid form. One is matte, in which copper is concentrated. It goes there from the oxides of the charge. The second is slag.

It stores the remaining connections.

The raw material for smelting is the prepared concentrate. It is mixed with flux. They must stimulate this process. Such additives are limestone or quartz. Matte alloy is produced in several ways. For this purpose, reverberatory, shaft and electric arc furnaces are used.

The technological process of melting in reverberatory furnaces has gained the greatest popularity. They have the following geometric dimensions: up to forty meters long, width does not exceed ten meters and the maximum height from the bottom to the roof should be no more than four and a half meters.

Under the stove, rests on an equipped foundation. It is made in several ways. Special silica bricks can be used, or they can be welded from quartz sand. The most optimal hearth thickness is considered to be from 0.6 meters to 1.5 meters.

The walls are lined with magnesite-chromite bricks from the inside. The vault is made of an arched spacer-trapezoidal shape. To extract the finished matte, special holes are prepared. After the unloading operation is completed, they are closed with a clay plug.

In some structures, special siphon devices are installed for unloading.

Refining using copper cathode

The refining process is designed to separate pure copper from various additives and impurities. In modern industry, it is considered economically feasible to carry out this process in two stages. The first is temperature refining, the second is electrolytic. The second method is carried out using copper cathode.

Electrolytic refining allows you to solve two problems:

Deep cleaning from impurities.
Ensuring high electrical conductivity.

Depending on the composition of the raw material, in some cases it is possible to obtain associated metals (silver, selenium and even gold). The technological process itself takes place in special baths up to 5 meters long and up to 1.5 meters deep. The walls of such baths are treated with acid-resistant materials. A mounting system is created above the bath, to which the cathodes are attached.

Flat plates made of pure copper are used as cathodes. One plate acts as a cathode, the second as an anode. The bath is filled with electrolyte. The electrolyte used is sulfuric acid (H2SO4) in which copper sulfate (CuSO4) is dissolved. A low voltage of 0.4 V is applied to these cathodes.

After closing the circuit, the process of electrolytic dissolution of the anode begins. Under the influence of a potential difference, copper ions move from the anode to the cathode, settling on it in the form of pure copper. The electrolyte is periodically renewed. This is necessary, since metal solutions are formed in its composition, which slow down the electrolysis process. In addition, sediment called sludge accumulates at the bottom of the bath.

It is also unloaded periodically. At modern enterprises, complete dissolution of the anode occurs within 30 days.

The unloading sequence is carried out at intervals of six to twelve days. The electrolysis process is quite electrically intensive. To obtain one ton of pure copper, it is necessary to provide a power of up to 350 kW.

The resulting cathodes are sent for further processing. As a result, individual ingots or blanks of a given shape are obtained. Melting of cathodes is carried out in reverberatory or shaft-type furnaces.

The temperature at which the cathodes melt is created by burning natural gas, using electric arc or induction installations. The resulting copper is poured into ready-made molds. To obtain wire, it is placed in so-called wirebass.

The entire process takes place in continuous or semi-continuous casting plants.

Copper production in Russia and the world

According to analytical agencies, the Russian Federation confidently occupies fifth position among countries engaged in the mining and production of pure copper. Copper production in Russia on average per year is 860 thousand tons.

The basis of the modern structure of copper production is made up of three large holdings: OJSC MMC Norilsk Nickel (Norilsk Nickel), LLC UGMKHolding (UMMC) and CJSC Russian Copper Company (RMK). These companies carry out a full production cycle from ore mining to the production of finished ingots, rolled products and wire.

Each holding includes several enterprises equipped with the most advanced production technologies. Thanks to dynamic development, last year it was possible to increase copper production by seven percent.

Global copper production is fairly consolidated. Almost 35% of this metal is produced by the five largest companies. These include:

Codelco (Chile).
Freeport-McMoRan (USA).
Glencore (Switzerland).
BHP Billiton (Australia).
Southern Copper (Mexico).

These companies obtain almost 80% of copper from primary raw materials (that is, they carry out a full processing cycle) and produce 20% as a result of processing incoming scrap. In Europe, the largest copper producers are: Poland, Portugal and Bulgaria. Each plant is capable of producing a wide range of copper products.

Despite the current crisis, copper still remains a sought-after metal. One of the serious disadvantages inherent in this production is environmental problems. Assessments of emissions from copper smelters showed high levels of ambient air pollution.

It contains a large number of chemical compounds harmful to health (cadmium, mercury, arsenic, lead, nitrogen oxides and carbon).

Source: https://regionvtormet.ru/metally/pri-kakoj-temperature-plavitsya-med-neobhodimye-usloviya-protsessa-na-proizvodstve-i-doma.html

At what temperature does copper melt - Metalist's Handbook

Copper products are actively used not only in various industries, but also in everyday life. In this regard, it is quite natural that many craftsmen have a question about how to melt copper and make various products from it at home using the casting method. Knowledge of this technology, which has been known to mankind since ancient times, allows us to create various objects not only from copper, but also from its alloys - brass and bronze.

Melting copper in a homemade stove

Characteristics of copper

Copper is one of the first metals that man learned to mine and process. Products made of copper and its alloys were used as early as the 3rd century BC, as evidenced by historical data and the results of archaeological excavations. The widespread use of copper has largely been facilitated by the fact that it can be quite easily processed by various mechanical methods. In addition, it can be easily melted.

Copper, the surface of which has a distinct yellowish-red color, due to its softness, can easily be processed by plastic deformation. When the surface of copper interacts with the surrounding air, it becomes covered with an oxide film, which gives it such a beautiful color.

Grades of technical copper and their chemical composition

The characteristics of copper, such as electrical and thermal conductivity, are also of great importance, for which it ranks second among all metals, second only to silver. Due to these properties, products made from it are actively used in the electrical industry, as well as in cases where it is necessary to ensure rapid heat removal from a heated object.

Another important parameter of copper, which directly affects the amount of energy and labor consumed in the production of products from it, is the melting point. For pure copper, the temperature at which the metal changes from solid to liquid is 1083°.

If you mix copper with tin and get bronze, then the melting point of such an alloy will already be 930–1140°, depending on the content of the main alloying additive in it.

A copper alloy such as brass, which is obtained by adding zinc to the base metal, has an even lower melting point, which is in the range of 900–1050°.

Electrical properties of copper at a temperature of 20°

If you decide to implement a technological process such as copper casting at home, it is important to know one more parameter - its boiling point. At 2560°, copper begins to literally boil, which is clearly visible in the video of this process. The appearance of bubbles on the surface of the liquid metal and active gas formation in it is facilitated by carbon released from copper as a result of its oxidation, which occurs during strong heating.

If you bring the ground to a boil, then the castings made from it will be of low quality; their structure and surface will be characterized by a large number of pores, which reduce not only its decorative, but also its mechanical characteristics.

If the smelting technology is followed, shallow pores may remain on the surface of the copper ingot, which can be easily removed by grinding

Step-by-step instructions for melting copper

Copper smelting, if you prepare everything necessary for the implementation of such a technological process and approach its implementation correctly, allows you to produce copper products for both decorative and purely practical purposes even at home.

To melt copper, you will need the following tools, equipment and supplies:

muffle furnace (preferably with adjustable heating temperature);
a crucible in which you will melt copper (for melting copper, crucibles made of ceramics or refractory clay are used);
tongs with which the hot crucible will be removed from the furnace;
hook (it can be made from ordinary steel wire);
household vacuum cleaner;
charcoal;
the mold into which the casting will be performed;
gas burner and forge.

Electrical copper contains the least amount of impurities

You can melt copper both in industrial and at home conditions by following the algorithm below. Step one

The crushed copper is placed in a crucible. Keep in mind: the smaller the pieces of metal, the faster it will melt. After filling the crucible with copper, it is placed in a furnace, which, using a temperature regulator, must be heated to the required state. The doors of serial muffle furnaces must have a window through which you can observe the melting process.

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The viewing window will allow you to control the process without opening the door again, thereby not reducing the temperature in the oven

Step two

After all the copper in the crucible has melted, it must be removed from the furnace using special tongs. There is always an oxide film on the surface of the molten copper, which must be moved to one of the walls of the crucible using a steel hook.

After freeing its surface from the oxide film, the molten metal should be poured as quickly and carefully as possible into a pre-prepared mold. The details and rules for performing this procedure are well demonstrated in a video that is easy to find on the Internet.

You will have to pour the metal into molds very quickly if the heating method you chose could not provide the desired temperature

Step three

If you do not have a muffle furnace at your disposal, you can heat the crucible with copper using a gas burner, placing it vertically under the bottom of the container. In this case, it is important to ensure that the flame of the gas burner is evenly distributed over the entire area of the bottom of the crucible.

Step four

If at home you need to melt low-melting alloys based on copper (brass and some brands of bronze), then you can use a regular blowtorch as a heating device, also placing it vertically under the bottom of the crucible.

When melting is performed using this and the previous methods, the surface of the molten metal will actively interact with oxygen, which will lead to intense oxidation.

To reduce the intensity of oxidation, molten copper can be sprinkled with crushed charcoal.

Melting copper with a blowtorch in a homemade stove

Step five

If you have a forge in your home workshop, it can also be used to melt copper, brass or bronze. In this case, a crucible with crushed metal is placed on a layer of hot charcoal.

If you use a vacuum cleaner, you need to make a metal tip with a small diameter blowing hole on its hose.

The smelting process will be even more efficient in a gas furnace

When selecting a muffle furnace for performing foundry operations with copper and its alloys, you should pay attention to the temperature conditions that such a device can provide. Depending on the type of metal being melted, such a furnace must provide the following heating temperatures:

copper – 1083°;
various grades of bronze – 930–1140°;
brass – 880–950°.

It is possible that you will decide to make a smelting furnace yourself after watching the video.

Ordinary copper, which does not contain any alloying additives in its chemical composition, does not have good fluidity in the molten state, therefore it is not suitable for the manufacture of casting products of complex configurations and small sizes. For these purposes, it is best to use brass, and choose an alloy whose surface color is lighter (this indicates that brass of this brand has a lower melting point).

There is one more important recommendation that you should definitely follow if you decide to put into practice such a technological process as casting products from bronze alloys. It is better not to use products made from antique bronze as raw materials. Such an alloy may contain significant amounts of arsenic, which, when evaporated, can create serious health problems.

Source: https://ssk2121.com/pri-kakoy-temperature-plavitsya-med/

Copper: chemical element, melting and boiling points, step-by-step instructions

Copper is one of the seven most ancient metals that people became familiar with at the very beginning of their existence. The period from the 4th to the 3rd millennium BC is called the Copper Age in the history of human development. Ancient people made household items, tools and military weapons from it. This became possible due to the relatively low melting point of copper.

Cuprum: element characteristics

The scientific name of copper Cuprum comes from the name of the Greek island of Cyprus, where copper mining began in the middle of the third millennium BC.

In the periodic table of Mendeleev, the chemical element copper has atomic number 29 and is located in group 11 of the fourth period. Belongs to the ductile transition metals. In its pure form it has a characteristic golden-pink color.

Pure copper is easy to oxidize, so under natural conditions it always forms a thin oxide film on its surface, which gives it a reddish tint.

Physical properties

This is the second metal after silver in terms of electrical conductivity, which makes it extremely popular in modern electronics. The second valuable quality is high thermal conductivity, which allows it to be widely used in all kinds of heat exchangers and refrigeration equipment.

Melting point 1083 degrees.
Boiling point 2567 degrees.
The resistivity at 20 degrees is 1.68·10 -3 Ohm·m.
Density 8.92 g/cm.

Being in nature

It occurs in nature in native form and in the form of compounds.

The largest deposits of native copper are located in the United States in the Lake Superior region. It was in this area that the largest copper nugget weighing 3560 kilograms was found. There is also a lot of native copper found in the ore mountains of Germany.

In Russia and the post-Soviet space, copper is mined by extracting it from sulfide ore. It can be mined by extracting it from copper pyrite or chalcopyrite CuFeS2. The most famous deposits are Udokan in Transbaikalia and Dzhezkazgan in Kazakhstan.

Copper sulfites most often form in so-called mid-temperature hydrothermal veins. They can also form in sedimentary rocks in the form of cuprous sandstones and shales.

As a rule, copper ore is always mined by open pit mining. The percentage of pure copper in the ore ranges from 0.2 to 1.0 percent depending on the deposit.

Copper alloys

They are the very first metal alloys, the production of which humanity mastered at the very dawn of its development. At what temperature copper melts depends on what alloy it is in. Currently, the most famous and in demand alloys are:

Brass. An alloy with the addition of zinc, the content of which can reach up to 40%. Zinc increases the ductility and strength of the metal. The temperature at which brass melts is 880 - 950 degrees.
Bronze. An alloy with tin, with the addition of some other components such as silicon, beryllium, lead. Man learned to make bronze from copper at the very beginning of the Bronze Age. Bronze did not lose its relevance even with the advent of the Iron Age; for example, at the beginning of the 20th century, gun barrels were made from so-called gun bronze. The temperature at which bronze begins to melt is 930 - 1140 degrees.
Cupronickel. In addition to copper, it contains 5-30% nickel. Nickel increases the strength of the copper alloy and increases its electrical resistance. In addition, corrosion resistance is greatly improved. Melting point - 1170 degrees. In its external characteristics, cupronickel is very similar to silver; it used to be called white copper. But it has higher mechanical strength than ordinary silver.
Dural, or duralumin. The bulk of the alloy is aluminum 93%, copper accounts for 5%, the remaining 2% is occupied by manganese, iron and magnesium. The name comes from the name of the German city of Düren, where this high-strength aluminum alloy was first produced in 1906. One of its features is the fact that its strength characteristics tend to increase over time. Therefore, it does not lose its strength after several years of use, like other metals. Currently, this alloy is the basis of aircraft construction.
Jewelry alloys. Alloys of copper and gold. This increases the resistance of the precious metal to mechanical stress and abrasion.

Melting copper at home

This metal has a whole range of useful properties that make it a very desirable metal in the household. And the relatively low temperature during melting and a fair amount of copper scrap, which can be found at the nearest landfill, make it possible to ask the question of how to melt copper at home, not as a rhetorical one, but as a very real and practical one.

Copper melting chart

The melting of any metal consists in the fact that under the influence of high temperatures the crystal lattice is destroyed and the metal passes from a solid to a liquid state. It is possible to identify some regularities that are characteristic of any metal during the melting process:

During heating, the temperature inside the metal rises, but the crystal lattice is not destroyed. The metal retains its solid state.
When the melting point is reached, for copper this is 1083 degrees, the temperature inside the metal stops increasing, despite the fact that general heating and heat transfer continue.
After the entire mass of metal passes into the molten state, the temperature inside the metal again begins to rise sharply.

In the case of the cooling process of molten metal, the same thing happens, but in the reverse order. First, there is a sharp decrease in the temperature inside the metal, then at 1080 degrees the temperature drop stops until the entire mass of the metal turns into a solid state. After this, the temperature again begins to drop sharply until it becomes equal to the temperature of the surrounding air and crystallization is completely completed.

Boiling temperature

Copper begins to actively release carbon in the form of gas bubbles at a temperature of 2560 degrees. Outwardly, this is very similar to boiling water. In fact, this is a process of active oxidation of copper, as a result of which the metal loses almost all of its unique properties.

Parts cast from boiling copper have a large number of pores in their structure, which will reduce the mechanical strength of the material and worsen its decorative properties.

Therefore, during the smelting process, it is necessary to carefully monitor the temperature and prevent the copper from boiling.

Melting methods

Copper scrap can be melted at home in different ways, depending on the technical equipment of the home workshop. At the same time, you need to keep in mind that you will have to heat the copper not to its melting temperature, but a little higher - to about 1100-1200 degrees.

The following devices are suitable for these purposes:

Muffle furnace. The most rational solution to the problem of melting copper, since such a furnace allows you to regulate the temperature during the melting process, which is very convenient. Such laboratory furnaces are equipped with a special window made of heat-resistant glass, which allows constant visual monitoring of the entire process.
Gas-burner. A hand-held gas burner is placed under the bottom of a container made of refractory material, in which the copper scrap will be placed directly. This method assumes the presence of close contact of the molten mass of metal with air, which will enhance the oxidation process of the molten metal. To somehow counteract this, a layer of charcoal is poured on top of the molten mass.
Blowtorch. The method is practically no different from melting using a gas burner. But in this case it is impossible to achieve relatively high temperatures, so it is suitable for melting copper alloys, which have a lower melting point than pure copper.
Forge. A refractory crucible with crushed metal is placed on the hot coals of a special fire. To speed up the melting process, use a regular household vacuum cleaner turned on in blowing mode. The vacuum cleaner pipe must be small in diameter and have a metal tip, otherwise it will melt. This method is suitable for those who regularly smelt copper at home and deal with large volumes of raw material that needs to be annealed.
Microwave. A high-power household microwave, with minor design modifications, can easily melt fairly large volumes of scrap copper. To do this, you need to remove the rotating plate from the microwave, and instead place it in an appropriately sized crucible, which must be made of a refractory material, for example, fireclay brick.

Step-by-step instruction

The process of melting any metal occurs in stages and follows a certain algorithm, which is the same for both industrial and artisanal production. For those who are puzzled by the issue of copper smelting at home, the step-by-step instructions will look like this:

You need to take a refractory crucible. The crushed metal is poured into a crucible. After this, the crucible is placed in a preheated muffle furnace. Using a special window, the melting process is observed.
After the entire volume of copper scrap has completely melted, the crucible is removed from the furnace using special long tongs.
A film of its oxide forms on the surface of the molten metal. This film must be carefully moved to the side towards one of the walls of the crucible. For these purposes, use a special hook made of refractory metal.
After the metal is freed from the oxide film, it must be very quickly poured into pre-prepared molds.

Practical recommendations

The melting point of copper at home depends on the alloy in which it is contained.

Technical pure copper is found in wires and cables, as well as in the windings of transformers, electric motors and generators. It should be borne in mind that chemically pure copper is found only in cutlery and other kitchen utensils. In all other cases, it contains certain harmful components.

In its pure form it has a high viscosity in the molten state, so it is very difficult to cast products of complex configurations and small sizes from it. It is much easier to use brass for these purposes.

In bronze alloys made at the beginning and middle of the last century, arsenic and antimony were used as components. Therefore, you should avoid melting so-called antique bronze, since arsenic vapors can lead to poisoning of the body.

Source: https://obrabotkametalla.info/splavy/temperatura-plavleniya-i-kipeniya-medi

Melting copper at home: origin, physical properties and melting point

People have learned to mine and smelt copper since ancient times. Already at that time, the element was widely used in everyday life and various objects were made from it. They learned to make an alloy of copper and tin (bronze) about three thousand years ago; it made good weapons. Bronze immediately became popular because it was durable and beautiful in appearance. Jewelry, dishes, labor and hunting tools were made from it.

Thanks to the low melting point, it was not difficult for humanity to quickly master the production of copper at home. How does the melting process of copper occur, at what temperature does it begin to melt?

Origin and occurrence of copper in nature

The chemical element got its name from the name of the island of Cyprus (Cuprum), where they learned to extract it back in the 3rd millennium BC. In the periodic table of chemical elements, copper has atomic number 29 and is located in group 11 of the 4th period. The element is a ductile transition metal with a golden-pink color.

In terms of distribution in the earth's crust, the element ranks 23rd among other elements and is most often found in the form of sulfide ores. The most common types are copper pyrite and copper luster. Today there are several ways to obtain copper from ore , but any of the technologies requires a step-by-step approach to achieve the final result.

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At the very beginning of the development of civilization, people learned to obtain and use copper, as well as its alloys. Already at that distant time, they were mining not sulfide, but malachite ore. In this form, it did not require preliminary roasting. A mixture of ore and coals was placed in a clay vessel, which was lowered into a small pit, after which the mixture was set on fire, carbon monoxide helped restore malachite to the state of free copper.

In nature, copper is found not only in ore, but also in native form; the richest deposits are located in Chile. Copper sulfides often form in mid-temperature geothermal veins. Often copper deposits can be in the form of sedimentary rocks - shales and copper sandstones, which are found in the Chita region and Kazakhstan.

Physical properties

Ductile metal in the open air is quickly covered with an oxide film , which gives the element a characteristic yellowish-red tint; in the lumen, the films can have a greenish-blue color. Copper is one of the few elements that have a color that is noticeable to the eye. It has a high level of thermal and electrical conductivity - this is second only to silver.

Density - 8.94*103 kg/m3
Specific heat capacity at T=20°C - 390 J/kg*K
Electrical resistivity in temperature conditions from 20-100°C - 1.78 * 10-8 Ohm/m
Boiling point - 2595oC
Specific electrical conductivity at T=20°C is 55.5-58 MS/m.

Melting point of copper

The melting process occurs when a metal changes from a solid to a liquid and each element has its own melting point. Much depends on the presence of impurities in the metal; copper usually melts at a temperature of 1083 ° C. When tin is added to it, the melting point decreases and is 930-1140°C; the melting point here will depend on the tin content in the alloy. In an alloy of copper and zinc, the melting point becomes even lower - 900-1050 ° C.

In the process of heating any metal, the crystal lattice is destroyed. As it heats up, the melting point becomes higher, but then it remains constant after it has reached a certain temperature limit. At such a moment, the process of melting the metal occurs, it completely melts and after that the temperature begins to rise again.

When the metal begins to cool, the temperature begins to decrease and at some point it remains at the same level until the metal completely hardens. Then the metal hardens completely and the temperature drops again. This can be seen in the phase diagram, which displays the entire temperature process from the beginning of melting to the solidification of the metal.

heated copper begins to boil at a temperature of 2560°C. The process of boiling metal is very similar to the process of boiling liquid substances, when gas begins to evolve and bubbles appear on the surface. When the metal boils at the highest possible temperatures, carbon begins to be released, which is formed as a result of oxidation.

Melting copper at home

The low melting point allowed people in ancient times to melt metal directly on a fire and then use the finished metal in everyday life to make weapons, jewelry, dishes, and tools. To melt copper at home you will need the following items:

Crucible and special tongs for it.
Charcoal.
Muffle furnace.
Horn.
Household vacuum cleaner.
Melting mold.
Steel hook.

The whole process occurs in stages; first, the metal must be placed in a crucible, and then placed in a muffle furnace. Set the desired temperature and watch the process through the glass window. During the melting process, an oxide film will appear ; it must be removed by opening the window and moving it to the side with a steel hook.

If there is no muffle furnace, then copper can be melted using an autogen ; melting will occur with normal air access. Using a blowtorch you can melt yellow copper (brass) and fusible types of bronze. Make sure that the flame covers the entire crucible.

If you don’t have any of the above remedies at home, then you can use a forge , setting it on a layer of charcoal. To increase the temperature, you can use a household vacuum cleaner by turning on the blowing mode, but only if the hose has a metal tip. It is good if the tip has a narrowed end so that the air stream is thinner.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5l0ZlXDYHOI

In modern industrial conditions copper in its pure form is not used ; its composition contains many different impurities - iron, nickel, arsenic and antimony, as well as other elements.

The quality of the finished product is determined by the presence of the percentage of impurities in the alloy, but not more than 1%. Important indicators are the thermal and electrical conductivity of the metal.

Copper is widely used in many industries due to its ductility, flexibility and low melting point.

Source: https://stanok.guru/cvetnye-metally-i-splavy/med/temperatura-i-usloviya-dlya-plavleniya-medi-v-domashnih-usloviyah.html

At what temperature does copper melt: necessary process conditions in production and at home

Already in ancient times, people mined and smelted copper. This metal was widely used in everyday life and served as a material for the manufacture of various objects. They learned to make bronze about 3 thousand years ago. This alloy was used to make good weapons. The popularity of bronze quickly spread, as the metal was distinguished by its beautiful appearance and durability. Jewelry, hunting and labor tools, and dishes were made from it. Thanks to the low melting point of copper, people quickly mastered its production.

The metal received its Latin name Cuprum from the name of the island of Cyprus, where they learned to mine it in the third millennium BC. e. In the periodic system, Cu received number 29, and is located in the 11th group of the fourth period.

In the earth's crust, the element is in 23rd place in distribution and is most often found in the form of sulfide ores. The most common are copper luster and pyrite. Today, copper is extracted from ore in several ways, but any technology requires a step-by-step approach to achieve results.

At the dawn of the development of civilization, people were already obtaining and using copper and its alloys.
At that time, it was not sulfide ore that was mined, but malachite ore, which did not require pre-roasting.
A mixture of ore and coals was placed in a clay vessel, which was lowered into a small pit.
The mixture was ignited, and carbon monoxide helped the malachite to be restored to the state of free Cu.
There is native copper in nature, and the richest deposits are in Chile.
Copper sulfides often form in medium-temperature geothermal veins.
Often the deposits are in the form of sedimentary rocks.
Copper sandstones and shales are found in Kazakhstan and the Chita region.

Melting at home

Due to its low melting point, ancient people could melt cuprum over a fire and use the metal to make various products.

To melt copper at home you will need:

charcoal;
crucible and special tongs for it;
muffle furnace;
household vacuum cleaner;
bugle;
steel hook;
melting mold.

The process proceeds in stages, the metal is placed in a crucible and then placed in a muffle furnace. The desired temperature is set, and the process is monitored through a glass window. During the process, an oxide film will appear in the container with Cu, which needs to be removed - open the window and move it to the side with a steel hook.

In the absence of a muffle furnace, copper can be melted using an autogenous furnace. Melting will occur if there is normal air access. A blowtorch melts brass and fusible bronze. The flame should cover the entire crucible.

If you don’t have any of the above products at hand, you can use a forge set on a layer of charcoal. To increase T, you can use a vacuum cleaner turned on in the blowing mode, but the hose must have a metal tip, it’s good if it has a narrowed end, so the air stream will be thinner.

The melting point of bronze and brass, like the melting point of copper and aluminum, is low.

Today, Cu is not used in its pure form in industrial settings. It contains many impurities: nickel, iron, arsenic, antimony, and other elements. The quality of the product is determined by the percentage of impurities in the alloy (no more than 1%). Important indicators are thermal and electrical conductivity. Due to its ductility, low melting temperature and flexibility, copper is widely used in many industries.

Source: https://tokar.guru/metally/temperatura-plavleniya/pri-kakoy-temperature-plavitsya-med-plavlenie.html

Melting point of copper: how to melt metal at home - step-by-step instructions

Copper is an extremely popular and widespread metal used in the production of electronics, power transmission, and the manufacture of various alloys.

What is the melting point of copper, how is it mined and why is it interesting ? Let's talk about all this.

How is copper obtained?

The reserves of this metal on Earth are relatively small (compared to other elements). Moreover, it is found both in the form of nuggets and as part of complex compounds .

Most often these are copper pyrite, chalcopyrite, bornite and chalcocite. They are found in sedimentary rocks, but most often in hydrothermal veins.

The total number of copper deposits in the world is quite large, but there are only a few truly large ones of strategic importance .

! copper in the ore is very small - 0.3–1%, depending on the specific deposit.

In Russia, this is Udokan, located in the Trans-Baikal Territory. If we consider Europe, the largest deposit is the German Mansfeld. In the neighboring countries, Kazakhstan can boast of such reserves - they are in the city of Zhezkazgan.

A serious honey belt is located in Central Africa. The USA also has a large deposit - Morenci. Finally, Chile can boast of two serious production points at once - Collausi and Escondida .

Copper ore is mined using the open-pit method. Only a relatively small part of the deposits, where the raw materials lie at great depths, use the shaft method.

After mining, the ore undergoes complex processing to separate the pure metal from the slag. For this, different methods are used: electrolysis, hydrometallurgy, and pyrometallurgy.

How did our ancestors smelt copper?

This is the oldest metal that people have mastered. Amazing plasticity has become its main advantage. It is thanks to him that, even with primitive tools, it is possible to process metal, making household items and various tools from it.

! The Latin name “cuprum” comes from the name of the island of Cyprus, where a large deposit was discovered. The exact origin of the Russian word “copper” is, alas, unknown - there are only a few theories.

Our ancestors learned to process the first metal around the 4th millennium BC . Finding cobblestones of unusual color, people tried to process them, hitting them with heavy stones as usual. However, the nuggets did not split, but were only deformed. Thus, primitive craftsmen were able to make the first tools.

This was the reason for the transition from the Stone Age to the Copper Age. Making metal weapons took no more effort than making stone ones. But it served much longer, and if damaged, a copper ax or knife could be repaired - stone analogues had to be made anew.

At what degrees does copper melt? Today, this temperature does not seem high to experts - only 1083 degrees Celsius.

However, for ancient metallurgists it was unattainable, so they learned to melt the material for full processing much later - only in the 3rd millennium BC, when the necessary technologies appeared. However, even before this, in many settlements, craftsmen heated copper nuggets over fires, noticing that hot metal was much easier to process.

What has changed over time

Of course, modern copper products cannot be compared with those that were made five thousand years ago. Instead of crude copper knives, axes and arrowheads and spears, today sophisticated parts for electronics are produced. But all the properties of the metal remained unchanged. At what temperature copper melts today is the same temperature it melted at thousands of years ago. But technology has improved significantly.

For example, previously pure (relatively pure, of course) metal was extracted from ore using the most primitive methods. For example, ore and coal were placed in a clay jug. The vessel was placed in the pit, the mixture was set on fire, and the pit was filled up. When coal burned, carbon monoxide was released. By contacting the ore, it triggered a reaction that released metal and a small amount of water.

Today, as mentioned above, different methods are used to remove impurities from ore. Using a special copper melting schedule and various processing methods , specialists can obtain almost completely pure metal. Let us consider hydrometallurgical as an example as the easiest to understand.

Copper ore is filled with sulfuric acid . Copper, as a relatively active metal, reacts to form copper sulfate. Iron, when in contact with it, displaces copper. The reaction produces ferrous sulfate and copper.

How to melt at home

Some people have hobbies related to metal casting . Those who are just embarking on this fascinating path are often interested in how to melt copper at home. For this you will need:

melting mold;
forceps;
raw materials for smelting;
a high-pressure gas burner is the best solution, since not every household has a forge;
protective equipment (glasses, thick gloves).

If you have everything you need, you can start melting at home. The step-by-step instructions are quite simple:

If possible, grind the metal - you can use a file to turn it into sawdust. This will allow it to melt faster.
Place in a mold for melting - it must be made of a material with a high melting point.
Put on protective equipment, light the burner and direct the flame to the raw material.
Once the copper is melted, grab the melting mold with tongs and pour the liquid metal into the prepared mold.

As you can see, everything is quite simple. However, this method is not suitable for all alloys. For example, the melting point of steel is too high - a conventional burner will not work here. This also applies to the alloy of copper and iron.

The scope of application is very wide . Here are just a few examples:

transmission of electricity - low resistance makes this metal extremely popular;
instrument making – resistance to water, including sea water, is very important in many areas;
when soldering – also due to good electrical conductivity;
water pipes - it conducts heat well;
cooling radiators – the thermal conductivity of metal allows not only to warm rooms, but also to cool equipment.

Source: https://stroim.guru/polezno-znat/temperatura-plavleniya-med.html

Melting temperature of copper at home

Copper is a fairly ductile material with a golden pink color or pure pink if there is no oxide film. He is extremely popular. Quite often you can find copper products, various souvenirs, many decorative elements, beautiful and unusual objects. There are also some useful household details. This material is held in high regard by many craftsmen. The most common uses of pure red copper, bronze and brass (its alloys).

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But what if you are not a professional craftsman and at the same time decide to make something from this metal? A reasonable question arises: “How to melt copper at home?”

From the following article you will learn all about how to work with this material and its alloys at home.

What will you need for work?

Before you start processing copper and its alloys, you need to acquire all the necessary tools:

crucible;
forceps;
muffle furnace;
charcoal;
bugle;
household vacuum cleaner;
a hook made of iron wire;
a mold for a product to be manufactured.

Make sure that before melting copper at home, all the tools are at hand and neatly laid out, not piled up.

Below is an example of working with a copper alloy.

How to melt brass?

This material is a multicomponent copper alloy. Parts made from it are often used to create various structures.

What is needed for melting? To melt brass, you need to have all the tools listed in the following list:

muffle furnace;
blowtorch;
gas-burner;
crucible;
metal tongs;
charcoal;
iron wire;
the shape of the product that will be made from this metal.

Instructions for melting material

To avoid various injuries, as well as damage to materials, you must act strictly according to the instructions provided. Another important point is to ensure ventilation in the work area. The second thing to do is to grind the material itself, which will allow it to melt faster. Once this is done, you can get to work:

put all the material in a crucible and place it in the oven;
using an element that regulates the temperature, set the desired degree of melting (from 880 to 950 degrees); turn on the oven;
While the metal is melting, watch it through the window in the furnace door;
once the required brass condition has been achieved, the door can be opened;
using an iron wire hook, remove the oxide film from the surface;
using tongs and taking all precautions, grab the crucible with them;
carefully remove it from the oven and begin pouring the contents into the forms prepared in advance.

Tips for copper melting instructions

The following tips can make the work process a little easier if you suddenly don’t have some of the necessary tools at hand:

If there is no muffle furnace, you can use a blast furnace, if available. It is worth noting that it can also be rented. But before you melt copper, make sure the device is capable of heating up to 1083 degrees. And also make sure that it can withstand operation at a given temperature.
If you still had to use a blast furnace, find out more about how to properly work with temperature changes. Otherwise, the metal may begin to boil.
The mold for making a copper product must have a higher melting point than the metal itself.

Also, instead of furnaces for processing brass, you can use other available tools. You can use a torch or blowtorch for heating. To process metal with it, you need to place the device in a stable position with the flame facing up. Place a stand made of iron wire above it.

Place a crucible on top of everything with brass folded into it. Next, you need to turn on the heating tool, setting the fire power so that it can completely cover the bottom of the vessel. Due to the fact that melting will occur in the open air, the brass will begin to oxidize.

To reduce this effect, cover the surface of the vessel with a dense layer of charcoal.

Source: https://respect-kovka.com/temperatura-plavleniya-medi-v-domashnih-usloviyah/

How to melt copper yourself: melting temperature, preparation, equipment, tips

Items made of copper, as well as various products that contain it, are widely used in everyday life. Therefore, many people ask a completely standard question: “How to melt copper yourself?”

Having an idea of this technology, people learned to make various objects from pure metal, as well as alloys obtained from it - bronze and brass.

1 Melting point
2 Melting copper

Melting temperature

Melting is a process that characterizes the gradual transition of a metal from a standard solid state to a liquid consistency. Each metal compound or metal in its pure form has its own temperature, under the influence of which it begins to melt.

An important factor in this case is what impurities are included in the composition of the melted compound.

So, copper begins to melt at a temperature of 1083 degrees Celsius. If you add tin to it, the melting point will decrease and be approximately 930-1140 degrees Celsius.

In this case, such a fluctuation is due to the amount of tin included in the alloy. The compound of copper and zinc melts at an even lower temperature - 900-1050 degrees. Heating of any metal is associated with the gradual destruction of the lattice formed from many crystals.

With heating, the melting temperature rises to the maximum required level, then its growth stops and remains at the achieved level until all the metal has melted, after which it begins to decrease.

Cooling is the reverse process of temperature change. As it cools, it falls and “freezes” at a certain level until the metal completely hardens.

Copper, heated to the highest possible temperature, boils at a temperature reaching 2560 degrees. In appearance, its boiling is similar to the boiling of any liquid substances, on the surface of which, as they heat up, bubbles appear and gas is released.

Thus, during the boiling process, copper releases carbon formed as a result of oxidation and its close contact with air.

Melting copper

The technology of copper smelting has been widely used since ancient times, when people used fires to melt metal to make arrows, tips and other weapons and household items.

Melting copper at home is also possible. For this you will need:

The crucible where the copper will be melted, and the tongs needed to remove the crucible from the furnace or remove it from the heat.
Charcoal.
Muffle furnace (it is better if the heating temperature is controlled in it).
Horn.
An ordinary vacuum cleaner.
A form into which molten liquid is poured.
Hook made of steel wire.
Gas burner if there is no muffle furnace.

The melting algorithm includes several step-by-step steps:

Grind the metal and pour it into a crucible . Moreover, the smaller the fragments, the sooner it will reach a molten state. Place the crucible in a furnace heated to the highest possible temperature required to begin the melting process (here, by the way, you will need a temperature regulator). Many muffle furnaces have a window cut into the door. Through it you can safely monitor the process.
must be removed from the furnace as carefully as possible using tongs . A film will form on the surface of the liquid substance; move it to the edge of the crucible using a wire hook. Pour the film-cleaned metal into a pre-prepared mold as quickly as possible.
If there is no muffle furnace, copper can be smelted using a conventional gas burner . But then the copper will be in close contact with air, and the oxidation process itself will take place much faster. Therefore, to prevent the formation of a thick film on the surface of the metal, copper, when it reaches a liquid state, is sprinkled with crushed charcoal.
You can also melt copper and its alloys using a forge . To do this, you need to heat the charcoal well and place a crucible with metal on it (pre-grind the copper). To speed up the heating process, point a vacuum cleaner turned on in the blowing mode on the coal. Particular attention should be paid to the tip of the pipe. It must be metal, since plastic will melt under high temperature.

Pure copper, which does not contain other compounds, has rather poor fluidity. Therefore, it is not recommended to make complex castings or small parts from it.

Then it is worth using alloys. For example, brass, the shade of which is lighter than the others. This suggests that lower temperatures are needed to melt it.

Source: http://VseoZolote.ru/precious-metals/plavka-medi-v-domashnih-usloviyah.html

Melting point of copper

At the dawn of mankind, people tried to master the creation of various elements from metals. Such things were more elegant, thin and durable. Copper was one of the first to be “conquered.” The presence of ore required the material to be melted and separated from the slag. This was performed in hot coals on the ground. The temperature was increased by bellows that created heat.

The process was hot and labor-intensive, but it made it possible to obtain unusual jewelry, dishes and tools. A separate area was the production of weapons for hunting, which could serve for a long time. The melting point of copper is relatively low, which makes it possible today to melt it in a domestic setting and produce items necessary for repairing mechanisms or electrical equipment.

What is the melting temperature of copper and its alloys? How can you perform this procedure at home?

The main thing about copper

In the periodic table this material is called Cuprum. It is assigned atomic number 29. It is a plastic material that can be easily processed in hard form by grinding and carving equipment. Good voltage conductivity allows copper to be actively used in electrical and industrial equipment.

In the earth's crust, the material occurs in the form of sulfide ore. Frequently encountered deposits are found in South America, Kazakhstan, and Russia. This is copper pyrite and copper luster. They form at average temperatures, like thin geothermal layers. Pure nuggets are also found that do not require slag separation, but require melting to add other metals, since copper is usually not used in its pure form.

The metal has a reddish-yellow tint due to the oxide film that immediately covers the surface upon interaction with oxygen. The oxide not only gives a beautiful color, but also promotes higher anti-corrosion properties. The material without an oxide film has a light yellow color.

Pure copper melts when it reaches 1080 degrees. This relatively low figure allows you to work with metal both in production conditions and at home. Other physical properties of the material are as follows:

The density of copper in its pure form is 8.94 x 103 kg/m2.
The metal is also distinguished by good electrical conductivity, which at an average temperature of 20 degrees is 55.5 S.
Copper transfers heat well, and this figure is 390 J/kg.
The release of carbon when a liquid material boils starts at 2595 degrees.
Electrical resistance (specific) in the temperature range from 20 to 100 degrees - 1.78 x 10 Ohm/m.

The copper melting schedule has five process steps:

At a temperature of 20-100 degrees, the metal is in a solid state. Subsequent heating promotes a color change that occurs as the top oxide is removed.
When the temperature reaches 1083 degrees, the material turns into a liquid state, and its color becomes completely white. At this moment, the crystal lattice of the metal is destroyed. For a short period, the temperature increase stops, and after reaching a completely liquid stage, it resumes.
The material boils at 2595 degrees. This is similar to the boiling of a thick liquid, where carbon is also released.
When the heat source is turned off, the peak temperature begins to decrease. During crystallization, the temperature decrease slows down.
After reaching the solid stage, the metal cools down completely.

The melting point of bronze is slightly lower due to the presence of tin. The destruction of the crystal lattice of this alloy occurs when it reaches 950-1100 degrees. An alloy of copper and zinc, known as brass, can melt from 900°C. This allows you to work with materials using simple equipment.

Melting at home

Melting copper at home is possible in several ways. To do this you will need a number of devices. The complexity of the process depends on the specific type of equipment used.

The easiest way to melt copper at home is a muffle furnace. Metal craftsmen will have such a device that they can use. The pieces of metal are placed in a special container - a crucible.

It is installed in the oven, on which the required temperature is set. Through the viewing window, you can notice the process of transition to a liquid state, and by opening the door, remove the oxide film. This must be done with a steel hook and wearing a protective glove.

The heat from the stove is quite intense, so you need to act carefully.

Another way to smelt copper at home is with a propane-oxygen flame. It is also well suited for metal alloys with zinc or tin. The working tool in the hands of the master can be a torch or cutter.

An acetylene-oxygen flame will also work, but it will take a little longer to heat the material. Pieces of the alloy are placed in a crucible mounted on a heat-resistant base. The burner performs random movements throughout the entire body of the container.

A quick effect can be obtained if you make sure that the flame torch touches the surface of the crucible with its blue tip. The temperature is highest there.

Another way is a powerful microwave. But in order to increase the heat-saving properties and protect the internal parts of the equipment from overheating, it is necessary to place the crucible in a heat-resistant material and cover it on top. These can be special types of bricks.

The simplest economic method is a layer of charcoal on which a forge with copper is installed. You can increase the heat using a blow-out vacuum cleaner. The tip of the hose aimed at the coals should be metal, and the nozzle should be flat to enhance air flow.

The production of parts and other elements from copper by melting it at home is possible due to the relatively low temperature of destruction of the crystal lattice in the material. Using the devices described above and watching the video, most will be able to achieve this goal.

Source: https://svarkalegko.com/tehonology/plavka-medi-v-domashnih-usloviyah.html

Melting copper at home: step-by-step instructions, video

Melting copper in a homemade stove