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copper & brass sales

Solid Copper Rod for Sale to Use as a Conductive Element for Your Earthing Electrode

Have you ever woken up to the sound of a whistling kettle and wondered how it does that? The process is actually simpler than you probably think. When the water inside the kettle boils, it creates steam, which instantly flows out of the spout. Most kettles are designed with a covered spout, and the cover has a tiny opening that controls the amount of escaping steam, which in turn produces whistle.

Why You Should Use a Solid Copper Rod for Sale in a Grounding System

The electrical circuit in your building is quite similar to this boiling water scenario. When electricity is fed into your building through the high-voltage transmission lines that stretch across your neighborhood, it immediately looks for every possible outlet. Even if its voltage is reduced to a safe level as it passes through transformers, it is still high enough to cause fire and electrocution. Like a kettle that could explode if you block all passage of steam, your electric circuit can shatter when you don’t release excess static discharge. That’s where earthing systems come in.

What is an earthing system?

Earthing, more commonly known as grounding, is simply the inclusion of the earth in an electrical system as a point of reference or common return path for electric current. While other parts of the electrical system may function as a ground, nothing compares to earth when it comes to absorbing dangerous amounts of electrical charge. In fact, it is vast enough to ground all the lightning strikes around the world combined.

Apart from triggering protective mechanisms in an electrical system when internal insulation fails, earthing has several other purposes. It also limits the buildup of static electricity in applications that involve flammable products. Sparks of static electricity is notorious for igniting fire and explosion. Same goes true with electrostatic-sensitive devices, which easily break and burn when overcharged.

What metals are used for earthing?

An earthing system or electrode consists mainly of a conductive rod driven into the earth. As it is called, a conductive rod has to be made from a highly conductive metal. Even the slightest resistance can affect the circuit’s potential and may render the ground useless. There’s a wide range of options but the most commonly used are copper-bonded steel, copper clad ground rods, and galvanized steel. While all of these options show a remarkable conductive property, the one that proves to be the most efficient is copper-bonded steel. In fact, pure copper might just exceed its capacity, except pure copper rods are not easy to come by, unless you know of a trusted supplier like Rotax Metals where you can find a solid copper rod for sale in your area.

Why is copper the perfect conductive rod for an earthing system?

When choosing a material for an earthing system, you have to take into account not just conductivity but other factors as well, such as longevity and hardness. As it turns out, copper possesses all major properties necessary for this application.

Corrosion Resistance.

The conductive rod will be driven into the earth, which is usually outside your building. It will be exposed to all sorts of natural forces, and the ground itself isn’t particularly a safe haven for your rod. You probably know that most metals are not very good at resisting corrosion when exposed to moisture. Certain metals like copper, however, react to moisture differently, specifically forming patina instead of rust, which makes it perfect for any application that involves direct contact with nature.

Strength.

Copper is a ductile and malleable metal, which means it can easily be bent or twisted when applied with minimal force. When strategically alloyed, however, it becomes stronger and tougher while only giving away an insignificant portion of its corrosion resistance. This allows copper-based conductive rod to be driven nicely into the earth. Of course, some conductive rods for earthing systems are made of copper bonded steel. The steel provides the rod’s strength while the copper protects it from corrosion.

Long Service Life.

The only enemy of ground rods is corrosion due to moisture. It is the reason why they have to be constantly checked and replaced when rust has already significantly reduced their conductivity. With copper-bonded ground rods, however, you can expect it to stay in great condition for a very long time. Some immediately dismiss the idea of using copper-bonded ground rods because of the high initial cost. What they don’t realize is that these rods cost less in the long run and extend the overall life of the earthing system, eventually saving them more money than they would with other options.

If you are a contractor and grounding system installation is part of your services, don’t hesitate to offer copper rods for the electrodes and other copper & brass sales. They can be a huge boost in the quality of your service, which definitely translates into higher demand down the line. Then again, you also have to know where to buy copper rod, as not all copper products are of the same quality. Top metal suppliers in North America, such as Rotax Metals are your best option.

Copper & Brass Sales: Why the Metal Manufacturing Process Maybe More Complicated than You Think

When the hit sci-fi film, The Terminator, aired in 1984, it gave a chilling clue on what could possibly happen when machines become self-aware. As expected, many took it seriously and raised concerns about the potential drawbacks of artificial intelligence.

copper and brass sales

Although the concept of the film seems likely, it’s riddled with gray areas. For instance, if the machines indeed become self-aware, it would still take them many years to set up the processes that could allow them to multiply. Even if they succeed to shut down human defense systems, they need an army of epic proportions to completely wipe out all humans, and that’s supposing humans don’t fight back.

To achieve that, they have to build at least one large manufacturing facility on each major country where they can build the first wave of machines to take over the world. But where will they get the materials? Surely, there are leftover supplies they can use during the initial phase of their invasion, but those will soon run out because the supply chain would have been disrupted by then.

They also have to remember that it takes more than just a material or two to build the machines. The classic humanoid T-100 alone consists of hundreds of different types of metal, each of which is provided by a different supplier and quarried from a different mining site. So they have to find and invade those places, too.

Unfortunately, before they could pull off their plots, humans will have already begun preliminary retaliation, destroying many of them in the battle. With very small manpower left, it’s very hard for them to regroup and continue manufacturing their own kind, so the whole concept is interesting but far-fetched. Thanks to the complexity of metal manufacturing, apocalypse can be prevented without humans having to do anything.

To help you better understand how complicated the metal manufacturing process is, here’s an overview.

Mining

The smooth and shiny metal tubes and sheets you see around you did not come as they are but rather started as a rugged ore. This ore comes from underground or within mountains. To extract them, the ground is dug to access the layers where the ores can be found. If the ore is just a feet from the surface, it is easily blasted off and hauled toward the processing facility.

Specifically, mining performed by blasting off the surface of the earth is called surface mining, while the one performed by extracting ore from the ground through shafts and tunnels is called underground mining. To expedite such a tedious process, heavy equipment are commonly used in the process. Perhaps the most popular of these machines is the Bagger 288, which is a bucket-wheel excavator used in strip mining. It is also the largest land vehicle in the world.

Processing

Successfully extracted ores are immediately delivered to mill facilities to be processed. These facilities are usually built close or within the mining site to save on hauling cost. This is where the metals are separated from the rocks. Depending on the type of metal being mined, the processing may involve more than the standard procedure. However, it normally begins with grinding the ore into powder. From this powder, the metal is separated through a combination of several mechanical and chemical techniques.

Metalworking

As soon as the metal is fully removed from the ore, it is ready for metalworking in which it will be manufactured into individual parts, assemblies, or large-scale structures. Sometimes, the metal is alloyed with other metals before being worked into the needed products to improve its mechanical properties.

The metalworking process varies according to the desired product. When making tubes and bars, for instance, hammering and bending are the basic processes required. For better speed and precision, though, most metal manufacturers prefer extrusion. This involves pressing a workpiece into a die.

It’s not just the machines and processes that may vary when working metals. Manipulating the metal’s temperature may also influence the result of metalworking. When the metal is worked while it is above its recrystallization temperature, the process is called hot-working. On the other hand, if it is worked at a room temperature, the process is cold-working.

Fabrication

The whole process of making specific forms and shapes of metal, such as parts of machines and devices is called metal fabrication. This requires the use of specialized equipment, often custom-built for each specific design. Most of the world’s largest manufacturers design and use their own machinery to aid mass production.

This is only an overview of the metal manufacturing and supply process. There are other steps in between that are just as intricate and critical to the production of the metal supplies you see in top distributors like Rotax Metals. So the next time you buy metal supplies for your projects, you already know what it took before those supplies become available for sale.

Whether you are in the market for copper & brass sales or other types of metal, you’ll have a better chance at getting what you need and ready to pay for at the most trusted copper sheet supplier. Just make sure to conduct a proper search before shopping around so that you can cross out suppliers that haven’t met your standards.

How to Distinguish between Brass and Bronze—Copper & Brass Sales Facts

copper alloy

If you’ve ever experienced winning third place in a contest, chances are you’re familiar with bronze. That’s what they usually call the medal or trophy they give third bests. It is used to symbolize prestige just like gold and silver. Because of this, bronze enjoys some kind of fame, which is not enjoyed by other metals of the same classification. Brass, for instance, is a metal that is in the same league as bronze in terms of properties but not as popular.

This could pose a problem to those who are buying bronze or brass metals for the first time as they can mistake one for the other. Although some of their variants look the same, they have differences that limit they use for certain applications. Here’s a quick guide to distinguishing between brass and bronze, which can help you pick the right metal for your projects.

Composition   

Brass and bronze have the same base element—copper—so in a number of ways they can look and feel similar. However, their alloying elements are different—brass has zinc, while bronze has tin. Other elements are added to create variants that perform well in specific applications. For instance, bronze can be further alloyed with phosphorus, manganese, aluminum, or silicon, while brass can be alloyed with iron. In spite of the changes made in their composition, both metals preserve the qualities that are distinct to them, which is why they do not transform into completely different materials.

Color

Perhaps the best way to distinguish between brass and bronze is through their color. Brass usually has a muted yellow shade, much like dull gold, which makes it a good material for furniture and fixtures. Bronze, on the other hand, looks almost always a reddish brown. This characteristic may slightly change when other elements are added into the mixture, but it’s still easy to tell them apart.

Properties

If you really want to be sure that you’re using the right material, then there’s no better way than to test their properties. Brass is more malleable and ductile than bronze, and that’s simply because tin does a better job of pinning the copper lattice than zinc. Meaning, the lattices that make up brass can slide more freely on top of each other when the metal is rolled, pressed, or hammered. Because of this, bronze is also much more brittle than brass but it’s more durable as brass oxidizes much faster.

Applications

The main reason why bronze and brass were made is that there are many applications in which copper can’t be used for simple because it lacks certain critical properties. By combining with zinc to form brass, it becomes suitable for making musical instruments, plumbing fittings, and zippers. And by combining with tin to form bronze, it becomes a good material for making bells, ship fittings, ship propellers, submerged bearings, and weather-stripping among many others.

Knowing how to differentiate between brass and bronze will help you save huge sums of money. If you’re quite not confident with your choice, though, you can always ask for expert advice. This is why if you need metal supplies for your project, you should go to a reputable supplier. They will not only provide you with the highest quality copper & brass sales from their arsenal but they can also give you advice on what’s best for your project.

Sources:

Difference between Brass and Bronze, differencebetween.info

Why is brass more malleable than bronze?, quora.com

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