Copper Coils
Copper coil is a thermally and electrically conductive component in many different systems and machinery. It is made of copper wire or tube that is bent and wound into a rounded spiral shape. Copper coils are almost always manufactured out of copper that is at least 99.9% pure. Copper is a smooth, shiny, malleable metal that is desired for its formability, chemical resistance, low oxidization rate, and conductive properties.
Copper coils are usually sold in large bundles and can be easily shaped, twisted, and bent without the use of heat, tools, or high force. They may be layered, annealed, or coated with plastic resin. Other specifications include temper (the hardness or softness of the copper), thickness, and width.
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Applications of Copper Coils
Copper coils are used as components of many different systems within engineering, heating, cooling, electrical, refrigeration, and heat exchanging applications. One of the most widely used applications for copper coil is as an electromagnetic coil, which is a copper coil that acts as a conductor. It is wound around a core, forming an inductor. Capillary tubing is made of copper coil and is part of refrigeration and air conditioning systems that act as metering devices. Copper coils are found in relay switches as the winding part of the relay that produces a magnetic field to actuate the mechanism. The crafts and jewelry making industries also use thin copper coil to make handmade products.
Manufacturing Process of Copper Coils
All copper coils, whether it has a solid profile or is hollow in the middle, exhibits seamless, uniform wall thickness. They are easy to form from billets, preforms, and copper sheets that have been heated and forced through a mold in the shape of the coil. This process is known as extrusion. Thin copper coil (which is essentially wire that has been wound) is extruded several times through successively smaller and smaller molds until the desired thickness has been obtained. Extrusion produces a moderate amount of waste material, but it can be reused to form other copper products. After the copper material has been extruded, it is annealed or heat treated, depending on how hard or soft it should be. It is then automatically wound into a circular or spiral pattern, cut, and then is ready to ship. A single loop of wire is referred to as a turn, and by definition, coil must be comprised of multiple turns.