2024.10.07
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Special feature : Evolving copper Vol.1
Copper is said to be the first metal used by humankind, and it has evolved significantly over its long history.
Throughout the history, humankind has evolved its superior electrical and thermal conductivity, among other characteristics, to advance society. Mitsubishi Materials provides high-performance, high-quality copper products to society, leveraging its strengths in processing technologies that evolve copper into copper alloys and oxygen-free copper.
Throughout the history, humankind has evolved its superior electrical and thermal conductivity, among other characteristics, to advance society. Mitsubishi Materials provides high-performance, high-quality copper products to society, leveraging its strengths in processing technologies that evolve copper into copper alloys and oxygen-free copper.
Semiconductors
Semiconductor manufacturing involves several processes, including shape processing, where copper’s ease of processing is fully utilized. Semiconductors that incorporate Mitsubishi Materials’ copper support the rapid evolution of automobiles and electronics, as they are often used in automotive components and various electronic applications.
Lead frames, which are components in IC chips that attach and connect them to external wiring, use a copper alloy created with Mitsubishi Materials’ precision rolling technology. They utilize the characteristics of “evolved” copper, which include a superior balance between strength and conductivity, heat resistance, and ease of processing.
Automobiles
The electrification of automobiles is accelerating, and the percentage of xEV sales is increasing. As electrification advances, so does the need for copper products that are more precise than ever and can perform in tougher conditions for use in the parts and components that serve as the electric pathways in automobiles.
Mitsubishi Materials’ copper products are used in busbars and automotive terminals, where the shift to higher currents is advancing. Electric vehicles in particular use a significant amount of electricity for power and electronic control, so superior conductivity and heat resistance are necessary. “Evolved” copper is over- coming these challenges.
Copper is this versatile
As processing technologies have advanced, the appearance and characteristics of copper have changed through trial and error by people, such as the creation of copper alloys by combining copper with other metals and the creation of oxygen-free copper by reducing the amount of oxygen to the minimum. We will introduce the evolution of copper, which is truly versatile.
Cu (Copper)
Copper is an excellent metal that has the potential for evolution. It is an indispensable material for electronics as it conducts electricity well. It is also used in heat exchangers for air conditioners and in cookware, such as pots, as it conducts heat well. Copper has excellent processability and its shape can easily be changed by rolling it out or forging it. Furthermore, various strengths can be added to it by alloying it.
Cu (Copper)＋Mg(Magnesium)＝MSP series
The MSP series of copper and magnesium alloys balances conductivity and strength. These materials are indispensable for electric vehicles, which are equipped with many conductive components. Among them, MSP5, which has excellent strength, heat resistance, and bendability and contains the largest amount of magnesium in the series, meets the need for an even more lightweight product.
Cu(Copper)＋Cr(Chromium)＋Zr(Zirconium)＝Chromium- zirconium copper
The alloy of copper, chromium, and zirconium is a material that is indispensable in casting molds and the aerospace field, which require high levels of heat resistance and conductivity. It is also utilized in movable parts for relays (part that switches between contacts on a switch). Moreover, it is expected to be useful in preventing heat generation caused by electrical current in high conductivity applications.
Cu(Copper)＋Zn(Zinc)－Pb(Lead)＝GloBrass®、ECO BRASS®
GloBrass® and ECO BRASS®, which are lead-free, free-cutting brass alloys of copper and zinc, have high strength and excellent machinability while being lead free. They are expected to be utilized in automotive components, metal fittings for water faucets, and other applications. They are expected to be expanded to a wider range of applications as they are corrosion resistant and have a high degree of electrical conductivity.
Cu(Copper)－O(Oxygen)＝Oxygen-free copper(MOFC®-HR etc.)
This is copper in which oxygen concentration has been reduced to the minimum. Mitsubishi Materials developed MOFC®-HR, an oxygen-free copper with the highest level of strength and heat resistance in the world. With the excellent electrical and thermal conductivity possessed by conventional oxygen-free copper, it has also achieved strength and heat resistance that is on par with other copper alloys. It is utilized in components that need high currents and high levels of heat dissipation, such as high-voltage terminals for automobiles.
