Wire and Cable Conductors - The Difference Between Oxygen-Free Copper, Low-Oxygen Copper, and Electrolytic Copper(1)

The Difference Between Oxygen-Free Copper, Low-Oxygen Copper, and Electrolytic Copper:

1. Purity: Oxygen-free copper: Extremely pure, typically with an oxygen content below 20 ppm, minimal impurities, and a copper content exceeding 99.99%. Low-Oxygen Copper: Oxygen content is generally around 200-400 ppm, slightly lower in purity than oxygen-free copper. Electrolytic Copper: Higher in purity, reaching 99.95%-99.98%, but still contains a certain amount of oxygen and other impurities such as lead, bismuth, and antimony.

2. Production Process: Oxygen-free copper: Typically produced using the top-draw or continuous casting and rolling methods, strictly controlling oxygen content during production and utilizing specialized smelting equipment and processes to ensure copper purity and performance. Low-Oxygen Copper: Typically produced using the continuous casting and rolling process, with relatively loose control over oxygen content during production. Targeted performance requirements are achieved through controlled oxygen content during the smelting process and the use of additives. Electrolytic copper: Produced through electrolytic refining, using crude copper as the anode and pure copper as the cathode, electrolysis occurs in a copper sulfate electrolyte. Impurities in the crude copper are removed during the electrolysis process, resulting in high-purity electrolytic copper.