The renewable resources industry, unlike other traditional industries, must balance economic, environmental, and social benefits while achieving economic returns. It is an integrated engineering system that combines economics, technology, and social management. We should draw on advanced experiences from developed countries to formulate policies and measures that encourage technological innovation and investment in construction. We should also complement these with rigorous and scientific social management methods to make the recycling and reuse of renewable resources a conscious action for enterprises, agencies, groups, and all citizens. Together, let's create a beautiful world of economic prosperity, a pleasant environment, and harmonious coexistence between people and resources!
Guangzhou Chengyi Recycled Resources Recycling Co., Ltd. is a recycling company with years of experience in the recycling and utilization of recycled resources. We operate with a rich business portfolio, a strong team, substantial capital, and a fleet of trucks for transportation. Our business scope is extensive, primarily involving the recycling of scrap iron, aluminum, copper, waste cables, stainless steel, old equipment, and other non-ferrous metals, as well as whole factory dismantling and electronic circuit board recycling.
1. Copper: Refers to pure copper, mainly including oxygen-free copper, red copper, phosphorus deoxidized copper, and silver copper.
2. Brass: Refers to an alloy based on copper and zinc, which can be further divided into simple brass and complex brass. Complex brass includes varieties such as nickel brass, silicon brass, etc., named after the third component.
3. Bronze: Refers to copper-based alloys other than copper-nickel, copper-zinc alloys, mainly including tin bronze, aluminum bronze, and special bronze (also known as high copper alloys).
4. White Bronze: Refers to copper-nickel alloy.
1. Power Transmission: Large amounts of highly conductive copper are required for power transmission, primarily used in power cables, busbars, transformers, switches, connectors, and terminal blocks, etc.
2. Electrical Machinery Manufacturing: High conductivity and strength copper alloys are widely used in electrical machinery manufacturing. The main copper components include stators, rotors, and shaft heads.
3. Communication Cables: Since the 1980s, due to the advantages of fiber optic cables such as high carrying capacity, they have continuously replaced copper cables in communication trunk lines and have been rapidly推广. However, converting electrical energy into light energy and the transmission lines to the users still require a large amount of copper. With the development of the communication industry, people's dependence on communication is increasing, and the demand for both fiber optic cables and copper wires will continue to rise.
4. Residential electrical wiring
5. Electron Vacuum Devices: Electron vacuum devices primarily include high-frequency and ultra-high-frequency tubes, waveguides, magnetrons, etc., which require high-purity oxygen-free copper and dispersion-strengthened oxygen-free copper.
6. Printed Circuit Boards: Copper printed circuit boards involve using copper foil as the surface, bonded to a plastic board that serves as the support. The circuit layout is then photolithographically printed onto the copper foil. Excess material is removed through etching, leaving interconnected circuits. Holes are punched in the printed circuit board at points for external connections, and the terminals of discrete components or other parts are inserted and soldered into these holes, completing the assembly of the entire circuit.
7. Integrated Circuit
8. Lead Frame: Copper alloy is cost-effective with high strength, conductivity, and thermal conductivity, as well as excellent machinability, solderability, and corrosion resistance. Through alloying, its properties can be controlled over a wide range, making it a suitable material for lead frames and an important material in the industry. It is currently the most widely used material for copper in microelectronic devices.
9. Energy Industry: The utilization of solar energy also requires a significant amount of copper piping. For instance, a hotel pool near London, UK, equipped with a solar heater, can maintain water temperatures between 18~24°C during summer. This solar heater contains 784 pounds (3,56 kg) of copper piping.
10. Petrochemical Industry: Copper and many copper alloys exhibit excellent corrosion resistance in solutions, non-oxidizing acids (such as acetic acid, citric acid, fatty acids, lactic acid, oxalic acid, etc.), various alkalis except ammonia, and non-oxidizing organic compounds (such as oils, phenols, alcohols, etc.). Therefore, they are widely used in the petrochemical industry for manufacturing various devices like containers, piping systems, filters, pumps, and valves that come into contact with corrosive media. They are also utilized for their thermal conductivity to produce evaporators, heat exchangers, and condensers. Due to copper's excellent plasticity, it is particularly suitable for manufacturing complex heat exchangers with intricate copper tube weaving in modern chemical industries. Additionally, bronze is used to produce tools in oil refining factories; it is non-sparking upon impact, preventing fires from occurring.
11. Ocean Industry: With the ocean covering over 70% of the Earth's surface, the rational development and utilization of marine resources are increasingly gaining attention. Seawater contains chloride ions that are corrosive, making many engineering metals like steel, aluminum, and even stainless steel susceptible to corrosion. Additionally, marine organisms can foul the surfaces of these materials, as well as non-metals like wood and glass. Copper, however, stands out as it is not only resistant to seawater corrosion but also has antibacterial properties due to the copper ions dissolved in water, preventing marine biofouling. Therefore, copper and its alloys are crucial materials in the ocean industry, widely used in desalination plants, offshore oil and gas platforms, and other coastal and underwater facilities. This includes piping systems, pumps, and valves used in desalination processes, as well as equipment on oil and gas platforms, such as bolts and drilling tools for splash zones and underwater use, anti-biofouling covers, pump valves, and piping systems. The application of copper and copper alloys in ships will be discussed in the following section.
12. Vessels: Due to their excellent resistance to seawater corrosion, many copper alloys, such as aluminum bronze, manganese bronze, aluminum brass, gunmetal (tin-zinc bronze), beryllium copper, and nickel copper alloys (Monel alloys), have become standard materials for shipbuilding. Generally, copper and copper alloys account for 2% to 3% of the merchant ship's own weight. Most large merchant ship propellers are made of aluminum bronze or brass. The propellers of large ships weigh 20 to 25 tons each. The propellers of the Queen Elizabeth and Queen Mary weigh up to 35 tons each.
13. Automobiles: Copper used in cars ranges from 10 to 21 kilograms per vehicle, varying with the type and size, accounting for approximately 6 to 9% of the car's self-weight in compact cars. Copper and copper alloys are primarily used in radiators, brake system piping, hydraulic equipment, gears, bearings, brake pads, electrical distribution and power systems, washers, as well as various fittings, accessories, and ornaments. Radiators consume the most copper, with modern tubular radiators constructed from copper strips brazed into radiator pipes and thin copper strips bent into fins.
14. Railways: The electrification of railways requires a significant amount of copper and copper alloys. Over two tons of special-shaped copper wire are needed per kilometer of overhead conductor. To enhance its strength, a small amount of copper (about 1%) or silver (about 0.5%) is often added. Moreover, the motors, rectifiers, and control, braking, electrical, and signaling systems on trains all rely on copper and copper alloys for operation.
15. Aircraft: The flight of aircraft also cannot do without copper. For example, copper materials are used in wiring, hydraulic, cooling, and pneumatic systems within the aircraft. Aluminum bronze tubes are used for bearing retainers and landing gear bearings, navigation instruments utilize antimagnetic copper alloys, and many instruments incorporate copper elastic elements, etc.
16. Mechanical Engineering: Copper components can be found in almost all types of machinery. In addition to the extensive use of copper in motors, circuits, hydraulic and pneumatic systems, and control systems, there are numerous transmission and fastening parts made from brass and bronze, such as gears, worm gears, worm shafts, connectors, fasteners, bolts, and nuts, which are widely used.
17. Metallurgical Equipment: The metallurgical industry is a major consumer of electrical power, often referred to as "the electricity." In the construction of metallurgical plants, it is typically necessary to have a large-scale transmission and distribution system, as well as power operation equipment, that rely on copper for operation. Additionally, in fire metallurgy, continuous casting technology has taken a leading position, with the key component, the crystallizer, mostly made of high-strength and high-conductive copper alloys like chrome copper and silver copper. In electro-metallurgy, vacuum electric arc furnaces and electric slag furnaces use copper tubing for their water-cooled crucibles, and various induction heating coils are wound from copper tubes or shaped copper tubes, with water circulation for cooling.
18. Alloy Additives: Copper is an important additive element in alloys such as steel and aluminum. The addition of a small amount of copper (0.2~0.5%) to low-alloy structural steel can enhance its strength and resistance to atmospheric and marine corrosion. Adding copper to corrosion-resistant cast iron and stainless steel further improves their corrosion resistance. High-nickel alloys containing about 30% copper, known as "Monel" alloys, are highly corrosion-resistant and are widely used in the nuclear industry.
19. Air Conditioners and Refrigeration Units: The temperature control function of air conditioners and refrigeration units is primarily achieved through the evaporation and condensation of copper tubes in the heat exchangers. The size and thermal conductivity of the heat exchange tubes greatly determine the overall efficiency and miniaturization of the air conditioning and refrigeration systems. High thermal conductivity copper tubes are used in these machines. By utilizing the excellent machinability of copper, newly developed and produced heat exchange tubes with internal grooves and high fins have been created, which are used in the manufacturing of heat exchangers for air conditioners, refrigeration units, chemical industries, and waste heat recovery systems. These tubes can increase the total thermal conductivity coefficient of the new heat exchangers to 2-3 times that of ordinary tubes and 1.2-1.3 times that of ordinary low-fin tubes. They are already in use domestically, saving 40% of copper and reducing the volume of the heat exchangers by over one-third.
20. Watches: The watches, timers, and devices with clock mechanisms currently produced, most of which are manufactured using "clock brass." This alloy contains 1.5-2% lead and offers good machinability, suitable for mass production.
21. Pulp and Paper: In today's ever-changing information age, paper consumption is substantial. While paper may appear simple on the surface, the papermaking process is quite complex, involving numerous steps and a variety of machines such as coolers, evaporators, pulpers, and paper machines. Many components, including various heat exchangers, rollers, striking rods, semi-liquid pumps, and screens, are mostly made of steel alloys.
22. Printing: Photographic plating is used in the printing process. The polished copper plate is sensitized with light-sensitive emulsion and then photographed to create an image. After sensitization, the plate is heated to harden the emulsion. To prevent softening at lower temperatures, a small amount of silver or arsenic is often added to the copper. The plate is then etched to form a printing surface with a pattern of raised and recessed dots. On an automatic typesetter, type blocks made of leaded brass are arranged to create the plate, which is another important use of copper in printing. Type blocks are typically made of leaded brass, and sometimes copper or bronze.
23. Brewing: Copper plays a significant role in the world of beer brewing. It is commonly used for the interior lining of malt vats and fermentation tanks. Some breweries have as many as a dozen large vats, each with a capacity exceeding 20,000 gallons. In fermentation tanks, water-cooled steel pipes are often used for cooling. Steel pipes are also used to heat the beer during brewing with steam and to transport the liquid. For distilling whiskey and other spirits, steel distillation pots are typically used. Whiskey malt requires two distillations, necessitating two large copper distillation pots.
24. Industrial: Pure copper is used for all types of steam, boiling, and vacuum equipment. Copper alloys are also commonly used in eyeglass frames, etc.
25. Pipe Systems: Copper piping offers numerous advantages such as aesthetic appeal, durability, ease of installation, safety, fire resistance, and hygiene, making it significantly more cost-effective compared to galvanized steel pipes and plastic pipes.
26. Roofing and Home Renovation: The use of steel sheets for roofs and eaves is a traditional practice in Europe, even used as wall decorations in Scandinavian countries. Copper is highly resistant to atmospheric corrosion, durable, recyclable, and can be easily formed into complex shapes with good workability, offering aesthetically pleasing colors. Therefore, it is ideal for home renovation. Its application on the roofs of ancient buildings like churches has a long history, still shining brightly today; and its use in modern large-scale buildings, even apartments and residential complexes, is increasingly common. For instance, the "Commonwealth Club" building in London, representing modern British architectural art, has a complex steel roof weighing about 25 tons; the Crystal Palace sports center, opened in 1966, features a wave-shaped roof made of 60 tons of steel. Statistics show that in Germany, the average annual consumption of copper sheets for roofing per person is 0.8 kg, and in the US, it's 0.2 kg. Moreover, interior renovations such as door handles, locks, blinds, balusters, lighting fixtures, wall decorations, and kitchen utensils, all made of steel, are not only durable and hygienic but also add an elegant touch, making them highly popular.
27. Statues and Artifacts: No metal in the world is as universally applied in crafting various artifacts as steel, which has been enduringly popular throughout history. Today, in urban construction, various memorials, bells, bronze cauldrons, sculptures, Buddha statues, antique replicas, and more, all extensively use cast copper alloys. Modern musical instruments, such as flutes made from white steel and saxophones from brass, also require different types of copper alloys. Various exquisite gold-plated and simulated gold, silver jewelry, which offer great value for their price, also necessitate a variety of copper alloys.
Coins: Since the ancestors of humanity first used coins, copper and copper alloys have been used for their production, a tradition that has been passed down through the ages. With the development of modern便民活动 such as coin-operated telephones, rides, and shopping, the demand for coinage steel has continued to rise. In the application of copper coins, besides changing sizes, it is convenient to use different alloy compositions and alter alloy colors to manufacture and differentiate coins of various denominations. Common types include "silver coins" containing 25% nickel, brass coins containing 20% zinc and 1% tin, and "copper" coins containing a small amount of tin (3%) and zinc (1.5%). Worldwide, the production of copper coins annually consumes tens of thousands of tons of copper. Just the Royal Mint in London produces 700 million copper coins each year, requiring approximately 7,000 tons of metal.
29. Chinese Computer: Information Technology is the pioneer of high-tech. It relies on the crystallization of modern human wisdom - the computer, this tool, to process and handle the ever-changing and immense amount of information. The heart of the computer is composed of microprocessors (including the arithmetic and control units) and memory. These basic components (hardware) are large-scale integrated circuits, with millions of interconnected transistors, resistors, capacitors, and other elements on a tiny chip, to perform rapid numerical and logical operations, and store a large amount of information. These integrated circuit chips must be assembled with lead frames and printed circuit boards to function. As seen in the previous chapter "Applications in the Electronic Industry," copper and its alloys are not only important materials in lead frames, solders, and printed circuit boards; they also play a crucial role in the interconnection of the tiny components in integrated circuits.
30. Superconductivity and Low Temperature: The resistance of general materials (except for semiconductors) decreases with temperature reduction. When the temperature is lowered sufficiently, the resistance of certain materials can disappear completely, a phenomenon known as superconductivity. The temperature at which superconductivity occurs is called the superconducting critical temperature of the material. The discovery of superconductivity has opened up a new realm for the utilization of electricity. Since the resistance is zero, a very small voltage can generate an extremely large (theoretically infinite) current, resulting in a powerful magnetic field and force; or, when current flows through it, there is no voltage drop and no energy loss. Clearly, its practical applications are expected to bring about significant changes in human production and living, and it has attracted considerable attention.
31. Agricultural and Pastoral Application: Compounds of steel are effective bactericides for eliminating pests and diseases, capable of controlling all diseases caused by molds or fungi. Besides directly using copper-flocked seeds, copper salt mixtures are commonly used in orchards and farmlands. Notable examples include Bordeaux mixture (lime copper solution), named after the French grape-growing region, and Buggendie mixture (soda copper solution), along with other products such as Bactracide.
32. High Energy Physics: Unraveling the mysteries of matter structure is a major fundamental issue scientists strive for. Every step in understanding this issue brings significant impact to humanity. The current utilization of atomic energy is one example. Modern physics research has found that the smallest units of matter are not molecules and atoms, but quarks and leptons, which are billions of times smaller. Research on these fundamental particles often requires reaction energies hundreds of times higher than those of nuclear reactions, known as high energy physics. Such high energy is obtained either by accelerating charged particles through a strong magnetic field over long distances to hit a fixed target (high energy) or by colliding two streams of particles moving in opposite directions (collider). To achieve this, steel is used to create long-distance channels for strong magnetic fields. Additionally, similar structures are needed in controlled thermonuclear reaction devices. To reduce the temperature rise caused by the heating due to high currents, these magnetic channels are wound with hollow, non-standard copper rods to allow for medium flow for cooling.
