Widely used in applications such as plumbing and ventilation, copper tubing is strong, durable and naturally rust-resistant; since copper is recyclable, it is an environmentally friendly solution for many applications. Although copper pipes have been around for more than half a century, many people are unfamiliar with how they are manufactured. In this article, we’ll explore the process of manufacturing copper tubing.
Smelting Raw Copper
The first step in the copper pipe manufacturing process is smelting the raw copper. Raw copper is heated in a large furnace to over 1,300 degrees Celsius, where it is transformed from a solid to a liquid.
All untreated copper contains traces of impurities such as nickel and zinc. When smelted, these impurities are separated from the copper and the pure copper is then transferred and used to make pipes.
Forming the pipe
The next step in the copper pipe manufacturing process is forming. After the raw copper is smelted and purified by removing impurities, it is transferred into a pipe casting, which is essentially a tube-shaped shell into which molten copper is poured and then left to cool.
While still in the liquid state, the molten copper will be evenly distributed throughout the casting and, as it cools, will harden to form a pipe the same shape and size as the casting. Once this process is complete, the worker removes the copper pipe from the casting to obtain a rough copper pipe.
Machining Copper Pipes
The final step in the copper pipe manufacturing process is sizing and finishing cleaning. The copper pipe is fed through a series of molds and cut to specific sizes, and then cleaned with water or solvents to make it more polished.
Conclusion
Copper tubes are manufactured in three basic steps: first, crude copper is smelted in a large furnace. Next, it is poured into a casting that has the shape of a tube. Once removed from the casting, it is cut and cleaned, and then prepared for transportation and sale.
