By: Mr. Souvik Bhattacharjya, Associate Director, The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI)
Copper’s glorious history needs no introduction. History books are replete with incidents and examples of how the oldest metal known to man, discovered some 10,000 years ago, became an effective substitute for stone during the Neolithic age. That vaunted tradition of copper and its alloys– bronze and brass – has played a major role in sustaining and improving society over centuries, which continues even today.
The discovery of metallurgy—the art of heating and moulding the metal into different shapes and sizes—in Ancient Egypt, helped its citizens create various items of everyday use such as hand mirrors, chisels, razors, agricultural tools like copper hoes among others. By the 6th Century BC, copper had already become the metal of choice for currency and for artists to create sculptural and architectural masterpieces. Even today countries are replacing lower denomination bills with copper-based coins because they can last much longer.
Records also reveal that by 2500 BC, bronze – an alloy of copper and tin—ensured the production of weapons, tools and cast objects (1) resulting in the birth of the Bronze Age after the end of the Stone Age. Its use on the tips of the lance and arrows, daggers and knives made it the deadliest weapon in the first millennium BC.
However, it was the advent of the Industrial Revolution – between1760 and 1840– that saw the application of copper skyrocket. Copper’s unique properties, including excellent thermal and electrical conductivity, corrosion resistance, durability, and ductility—allowing it to be hammered and shaped into various forms—make it an ideal material for a wide range of applications from utensils to ship building. Equipping ships with copper bottoms (copper better known as sheathing) significantly extended their lifespan in seawater.
The discovery of the first electric generator by Michael Faraday in 1866, which used copper to generate electricity, permanently transformed its significance. The metal became an integral part of power generation, switchgear, cables for telegraphy and the telephone. Copper wiring and plumbing became part and parcel of appliances, heating and cooling systems, and telecommunications links used every day in homes and businesses.
Copper is also an essential component in the motors, wiring, radiators, connectors, brakes, and bearings used in cars and trucks—the electrical and electronic industry. The average car contains 1.5 kilometres (0.9 mile) of copper wire, and the total amount of copper ranges from 20 kilograms (44 pounds) in small cars to 45 kilograms (99 pounds) in luxury and hybrid vehicles, (2).
With time and the advent of copper alloys with their differentiated characteristics have also played a major role in the history of mankind. Being more malleable than copper, brass has better acoustic properties than pure copper or zinc; consequently, it is used in a variety of musical instruments, including trumpets, trombones, bells, and cymbals.
With the whole world now transiting towards a green future, the role copper in helping countries achieve their net zero target and other climate goals, has assumed even greater importance. Copper remains the metal of electrification and electrification of the transport system and industries, are important element driving the decarbonisation journey.
Alongside government entities like Hindustan Copper Limited, private players such as Sterlite Copper and Hindalco are well-equipped to address India’s growing copper demand and bolster key sectors like renewable energy, electric mobility, and power infrastructure.
Solar photovoltaic (PV) modules, wind turbines, lithium-ion and other storage batteries, new transmission grids, data centres and electric transportation—the different pillars in the transformation from fossil fuels to green energy–will require enhanced integration of this important metal with the overall system. Copper is also used extensively in new generation aviation and high speed railways. These high- speed trains can use anywhere between 2 to 4 tonnes of copper which is significantly higher than the 1 to 2 tonnes used in traditional trains.
Its antimicrobial properties– reducing the transfer of germs and disease– in the healthcare industry especially in hospitals, food packaging, agriculture and air conditioning has made it the go-to-metal for both the developed and developing world. Semiconductor manufacturers have also begun using copper for circuitry in silicon chips, which enables microprocessors to operate faster and use less energy. Copper heat sinks help remove heat from transistors and keep computer processors operating at peak efficiency, it can also control earthquake damage using copper-based devices that absorb energy to limit building motions.
These qualities of copper and its alloys have made it the material of choice for a variety of domestic, industrial, and high-technology applications, whose consumptions in the 21st century and in future is only going to rise exponentially.