TPi January 2015

Copper tubes

For the acknowledged aristocrat of industrial metals, copper is a surprisingly obliging material. Rigid or ductile as required by the application, equally corrosion resistant in conditions of heat and cold, admirably trouble-free over a long service life – copper holds appeal for manufacturers of a wide array of tubing products. • Copper-alloy pipes are the first choice for conveying the variety of fluids essential to the oil and gas, chemical, marine, food and beverage, and sanitation industries. • The machinability and high heat-transfer characteristics of copper tubing make it indispensable for air-conditioning and refrigeration systems. • The fastest-growing use for copper tubing is in the fire sprinkler systems and fuel gas distribution systems of residential and office buildings. • Offering ease of installation and related labour savings, copper piping systems adapt readily to ecological imperatives for a reduced building footprint. The list could go on. But a single item is sufficient to make the obvious point: tubing makes the ideal partner for copper – and vice versa.