copper can be classified in several ways as follows:
(1) According to the form existing in nature. Natural copper, the copper content is more than 99%, but the reserves are very small; copper oxide ore, there are not many; copper sulfide ore, the copper content is very low, generally 2% to 3%. More than 80% of the world's copper is refined from copper sulfide ores.
(2) According to the production process. Copper concentrate, ore with higher copper content selected before smelting; blister copper, the product after smelting of copper concentrate, with a copper content of 95% to 98%; pure copper, with a content of 99% after smelting or electrolysis % copper. Fire refining reaches 99%~99.9%, and electrolysis reaches 99.95%~99.99%.
(3) According to the main alloy composition. Red copper is industrial pure copper without alloys; brass is a copper-zinc alloy; white copper is a copper-cobalt-nickel alloy; bronze is an alloy with other elements in addition to zinc and nickel. In hydropower stations, copper and brass are the most used.
(4) Classification by product form. It can be divided into copper tube, copper rod, copper wire, copper plate, copper strip, copper strip, copper foil, etc.
