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Copper is one of the most widely used metals on the planet, and has been for
more than 10,000 years. Today, it’s the nervous system of our society – of our cities, homes, tools and toys. The simple truth is that the western lifestyle is completely dependent on copper. Here’s why as depicted in the infographic below.
So says an infographic from www.visualcapitalist.com which is made available by Lorimer Wilson, editor of www.munKNEE.com (Your Key to Making Money!) and www.FinancialArticleSummariesToday.com (A site for sore eyes and inquisitive minds).
What Makes Copper Different?
- Ductile – it can be easily stretched and shaped into different forms
- Highly conductive – copper conducts heat and electricity more effectively than all other metals save one: silver.
- 100% Recyclable – 80% of copper ever mined is still in use today.
- Highly Alloyable – there are currently more than 570 different known copper alloys, and 350 have been acknowledged as antimicrobial.
- Unique Colour: it’s reddish-orange hue is beautiful and easily identifiable. In fact, gold and osmium are the only other elemental metals with colours other than silver/grey.
- No Substitutes – only silver is a better conductor, and is over 100x times more expensive.
- 195 pounds – building wire
- 151 pounds – plumbing tube, fittings, valves
- 24 pounds – plumbers’ brass goods
- 47 pounds – built-in appliances
- 12 pounds – builders’ hardware
- 10 pounds – other wire and tube
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*http://www.visualcapitalist.com/portfolio/copper-the-essential-metal
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