On the direct use of recovered scrap copper and saving copper with aluminum in the Chinese cable industry

The copper consumption by the Chinese cable industry amounted to 354×104 t in 2006, taking over 70 % of the total copper consumption in China in that year. At present, making copper rod directly from recovered scrap copper and saving copper with aluminum have become topics of general interests in the Chinese cable industry. The quality of the copper conductors in the industry is declining, resulting in sharp decrease in the rate of qualified wire and cable products. More and more copper wires are drawn from the rods made directly from scrap copper. The manufacturers know well some of the wires or rods are unqualified products though, they continue to use or produce products not complying with standards in order to make profits. Now the consumption of copper clad aluminum and copper clad steel is growing gradually. In 2006, the consumption of copper clad aluminum in China amounted to ca. 5×104 t. But in some applications, neither the common understanding between buyer and supplier nor the results of feasibility study are achieved in the product orientation and technical/economic feasibility in terms of saving copper with aluminum. This paper presents the status quo, problems arisen and suggestions in terms of making copper rod directly from recovered scrap copper and saving copper with aluminum, in a view to promote these two topics of general interests to go toward a virtuous circle.