Copper-Aluminum Bi-metalic Composites

Copper, the third largest metal species after iron & steel and aluminum, possesses excellent electrical and thermal conductivity and strong corrosion resistance, is considered as electrical and thermal conductor of choice, but limited by resource-poor and high-cost. Aluminum, the second largest metal species after iron & steel, possesses small density, good electrical and thermal conductivity, and mechanical ductility, its reservation in the earth is ranked three only preceded by oxygen and silicon, resource-rich and low-cost. Copper cladding aluminum bi-metalic composite (“CCAC”), possesses physical, chemical and mechanical properties of copper and aluminum, is characterized by good electrical and thermal conductivity, good corrosion resistance, anti-blast, superior intensity and strength of anti-vibration fatigue, light weight and affordability. The multi-layer CCAC, possesses many excellent physical and mechanical properties beyond a single metal which make up the lack of by a single metal, is an excellent overall performance material.

By utilizing solid-phase, isothermal and hot-rolling technology to produce CCAC of which the bimetallic interface possesses the properties of low transitional electrical and thermal resistance, strong bonding strength, good ductility and formability. The produced CCAC, structured as three layers comprising of cladding copper, aluminum core and metallurgical bonding layer, the bimetallic interface achieves metallurgical bonding, not only provides solutions to aluminum in welding, ceasing-arc, wearable, and less electrical and thermal conductivity than copper, but also solves the issue of copper in heavy mass, low intensity, resource-poor and high-cost to the application limitation. CCAC is gradually replacing copper in electrical conductivity, thermal conductivity and specific industrial products and beyond copper in some performance aspects.

CCAC Benefits

• Light weighted metal
• High electrical and thermal conductivity;
• Superior heat dissipation;
• Excellent soldering and electroplating properties;
• Highly malleable, easy to fabricate;
• Provides classic appearance and superior conductivity of copper with the intensity and light weight of aluminum alloy;
• Two individual metal layers are metallically and permanently joined by passing through the isothermal, solid phase and roll-bonding processing which assures the absence of void, oxide and its compound inclusion;
• Formability: sufficiently malleable to permit fabricating operations such as forming, deep drawing, and spinning;
• Tempers are available from “annealed soft” to “hard”.

Prospects for applications

Development of modern CCAC fabrication line characterized as high efficiency, system automation, low energy consumption and short-flow processing provides capable metallic material to the rapid growth industries of electronic, electrical, metallurgy, machinery, automobile, energy, defense, aeronautic and aerospace, and generates significant economic benefits. Due to the rational of utilizing resources, it also ensures sustainable economic growth and social benefits.

CCAC have been adopted by European Airbus Corp. and applied to Airbus 380 aircraft. CCAC conductors have been applied in industrial fields such as rail transit, large buildings, ships and warships sectors. CCAC thermal conductivity pipes are also used in refrigeration equipment. CCAC, as a special bulk metal material, can be widely used in modern industrial fields such as automobiles, airplanes, and aerospace.