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When the going gets tough, copper gets going
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Photo credit: G. Tiraboschi
The Capanna Osservatorio Regina Margherita – Monte Rosa, Italy
copper gets going to the summit of Europe The Capanna Osservatorio Regina Margherita
Going to the peak Copper has literally reached new heights – 4,554 metres to be exact! That’s the altitude of the Capanna Osservatorio Regina Margherita, or Queen Margherita Observatory and Hut, making it officially the highest building in Europe. This unique copper-clad structure is perched on Punta Gnifetti, one of the peaks of the Monte Rosa Massif in the Italian Alps.
Going to the extreme Low oxygen, extreme cold, wind and weather are commonplace at altitudes above 4,000 metres. However, this shelter, clad with 5.5 tonnes of copper sheet, has got it covered: the copper exterior acts as a giant Faraday cage, which insulates and protects the interior from lightning and atmospheric phenomena. Tough copper can stand up to these extreme conditions – resisting corrosion and electrical discharges – thus keeping the hut and all inside safe from the elements.
Going the alpine route
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Originally constructed in 1893 and rebuilt in 1980, this three-level shelter and scientific research centre can host 70 mountaineers and alpine skiers in summer. Requiring an enduring and extremely challenging glacial trek, or Alpine climb, it is not for beginners or the faint of heart! The hut is also uniquely positioned to conduct high-elevation medical research, plus environmental and climate studies.
Going 360 degrees With stunning views spanning 360 degrees, the Capanna Osservatorio Regina and ice. Not merely a summit to be conquered, but a destination in itself.
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Margherita is a copper-covered beacon – anchored on a 2,000 metre precipice of rock
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When the going gets tough, copper gets going
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pper
Photo credit: CDAA, Advance Africa and the operator of the site, Mozambezi
Copper fish cage, Mozambezi Tilapia Farm – Cahora Bassa, Mozambique
copper gets going to stand up to predator attacks
Going on the attack Imagine a crocodile viciously attacking a cage: not a scene from a horror movie, but a daily reality for the Mozambezi Tilapia Farm in Mozambique. How can they protect the fish in their cages from predators? Somewhat surprisingly, with copper!
Going up against predators The fish farm had a major problem with predator attacks from crocodiles and otters. The usual solution was to install additional predator nets to protect the holding nets from damage. The holding nets were prone to intense biofouling, affecting the health
Copper fish cages in Mozambique
of fish and their mortality. The nets also had to be cleaned weekly after first removing the fish – stress inducing for the fish and their two-legged care-providers alike.
Going for strong copper Copper alloy aquaculture cages were installed at the fish farm – no additional predator nets were required. The fish are protected from predators and the cages themselves are resilient against attacks. Additionally, as copper has high resistance to biofouling,
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the fish are healthier and their mortality rates much lower. Copper is a clear winner, no contest.
Going fierce on crocodiles Tough enough to take on crocodiles – copper alloy cages come out on top compared to traditional nets. With its high resistance to corrosion and biofouling and much easier maintenance, copper is in its element.
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When the going gets tough, copper gets going
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pper Photo credit: LaFarga
Micro-alloyed copper overhead lines withstand severe ice storms – El Teniente Copper Mine, The Andes, Chile
copper gets going to take on the icy Andes challenge
Going to the outer limits The Chilean Andes – known for their extreme weather and desolation – is a place for die-hard adventurers, hardened locals… and copper. In August 2015, micro-alloyed copper overhead lines were installed in the Andes mountains, and have proven that this extreme location is a perfect match for their ultra-tough capabilities.
Going to icy extremes These overhead lines, critical to the country’s high-altitude mining operations, must withstand four to six ice storms each winter. Excessive ice on the lines can lead to a
Copper overhead power lines in Chile
shutdown (due to conductor clashing or arc flash). When a major snowstorm swept across the region in October 2015, the new copper conductors as well as an existing conductor were put to the test. The copper lines, on the left, showed far less ice buildup and ‘sag’ and no arc flash, compared to the traditional lines. An ice-cold winner!
Going high capacity With its smaller cross section and hydrophobic coating, the new micro-alloyed copper conductor sheds ice more quickly and resists wind load – while boasting a 30% increase in the circuit’s current carrying capacity. Many of copper’s characteristics
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pull together to master the icy and windy elements: higher electrical conductivity, significantly lower energy losses and corrosion resistance. Plus, its mechanical strength eliminates the need for an internal steel core reinforcement.
Going for top marks This shows that, in challenging atmospheric environments, micro-alloyed conductors overhead lines. They came to the Andes, they stood the test of severe ice storms, and came out on top.
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are an excellent alternative to steel reinforced aluminium conductors for high voltage
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When the going gets tough, copper gets going
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pper
Transnet’s Phelophepa I and II mobile healthcare trains equipped with copper – South Africa
copper gets going to spread healthcare to rural areas
Going on track for health South Africa’s ‘Miracle Trains’ – Transnet’s Phelophepa I and II – provide healthcare to rural communities across the country. These 19-coach, primary healthcare facilities on rails are fitted with Antimicrobial Copper, essentially stopping the spread of germs in their tracks, while the trains themselves deliver safer healthcare to millions of people. After all, ‘Phelophepa’ means ‘good, clean health’.
Going to deliver local access The trains function as one-stop health facilities, bringing much needed care, medication
South Africa’s ‘Miracle Trains’
and education outreach to rural areas that don’t have local access to healthcare. Travelling 36 weeks a year, the trains serve over 300,000 people annually. Copper is one of the key infection control initiatives to the project – spreading good health whilst helping to prevent the spread of infection.
Going to harness the power of copper
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Antimicrobial Copper door handles, table and countertops and cupboard doors are a first-line defence against germs, helping to provide a more hygienic environment for patients and staff. With powerful inherent antimicrobial efficacy, solid copper touch surfaces are proven to reduce the spread of bacteria and viruses. These trains truly harness the germ-killing power of Antimicrobial Copper.
Going on a path for healthy communities Copper makes an important infection control contribution to these unique ‘miracle trains’ – protecting the health of millions of people and countless communities across 04/12 Year 2016
rural South Africa.
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When the going gets tough, copper gets going
# goco
pper
Kamaz truck with CuproBraze® radiator – Sahara desert, The Dakar Rally
copper gets going on extreme off-road conditions
Going rough and rugged The Dakar Rally is the ultimate off-road rallying event. With rugged terrain, extreme heat and a harsh schedule, the race has been testing the endurance of drivers – and their vehicles – since 1978. It doesn’t get rougher than this. Just the place to put copper’s performance to the test.
Going the distance The 2-week event challenges over 300 drivers on a 9,400 km trek from Paris, France, through Spain and the Sahara Desert, ending in Dakar, Senegal. Only true off-road
Kamaz truck at Dakar Rally
vehicles (cars, motorbikes and trucks) can take the heat: crossing dunes, mud and rocky surfaces, and covering distances up to 900 km a day. The route varies year by year and, since 2009, the rally has taken place in South America.
Going for high performance copper heat exchangers
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For many years, Kamaz has dominated the truck category in this gruelling race. The Kamaz truck relies on a Shaaz radiator made from advanced CuproBraze® heat exchanger technology. Its advantages are the strength and reliability of the core, its smaller size and higher heat exchange rate compared to aluminium. Copper-alloy heat exchangers rev up the performance and put vehicles in high gear!
Going extreme durability Copper is right at home in this punishing world of off-road rally racing. A cool contender, under the challenging conditions of high temperatures and rough terrain, a copper heat exchanger is tough and durable to the extreme. 05/12 Year 2016
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When the going gets tough, copper gets going
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pper Photo credit: NASA
Copper rocket combustion chamber liner made with 3D printing – NASA, USA
copper gets going destination Red Planet NASA’s first 3D-printed copper rocket engine part
Going to 5,000 degrees Fahrenheit NASA engineers achieved a milestone in rocket manufacturing by 3D printing the first full-scale, rocket engine part made of copper. The combustion chamber liner must withstand extreme hot and cold conditions, as inside gas temperatures can soar to over 5,000 degrees Fahrenheit. Not your everyday copper, this is a copper alloy on a mission.
Going to revolutionise rocket building Copper is extremely good at conducting heat, making it an ideal material for lining a combustion chamber. It took over 10 days for the part - made from a special copper alloy created by NASA scientists - to have 8,255 layers of copper powder fused into its 200 intricate cooling channels by a laser machine. This groundbreaking manufacturing process will guide future 3D-printed rocket engines – to space and beyond.
Going to get fired up After the part was manufactured, a nickel super-alloy jacket was deposited onto the exterior surface. Next, the copper liner was tested under simulated conditions to ensure
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it could handle the extreme temperatures and pressures inside the rocket engine during flight. 3, 2, 1 – copper is ready for blast off.
Going on future space endeavours This is not a one-off. The goal is to reduce the time and cost of making rocket parts, and create a repeatable process for manufacturing advanced designs. Such revolutionary technologies are bringing NASA closer to a journey to Mars. The red metal is bound for the Red Planet! 06/12 Year 2016
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When the going gets tough, copper gets going
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pper Photo credit: CERN
The Large Hadron Collider at CERN, the world’s largest and most powerful particle accelerator – Geneva, Switzerland
copper gets going to the origin of the universe Superconducting wire for the CERN particle accelerator
Going to explore the nature of matter Unlocking the unsolved mysteries of the universe... That’s what the CERN particle accelerators aim to achieve. By recreating the conditions right after the Big Bang, scientists are studying the building blocks of matter and forces of nature. And right at the heart of this powerful construction are superconductor strands made of high-tech copper-based filaments.
Going to collide at the speed of light The Large Hadron Collider is the largest science apparatus ever built. Located in a 27-kilometre tunnel between France and Switzerland at CERN (the European Organisation for Nuclear Research), the particle accelerators project particle beams to near the speed of light. When the particles collide, the scientific magic happens, giving physicists clues to the formation of the universe.
Going to the moon and back – 684 times Luvata Group provided the superconducting wire for the dipole and quadrupole magnets, which steer and speed the light-speed particles around the tunnel to their collision. It required 2,280 kilometres of superconducting cable, with 36 strands per cable and 6,400 filaments per strand. That’s over 525 million kilometres of superconducting filament delivered to exact specifications – equalling 684 return trips
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to the Moon!
Going beyond the boundaries of science CERN and the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) continue to search for answers to unsolved questions of the cosmos. The next discovery of rare physics phenomena might just be 07/12 Year 2016
powered by LHC’s copper niobium-titanium wires.
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Photo credit: © Fabianamorosini via Twitter
The monumental bronze statue ‘Flight in mind’ by Olivier Strebelle before the March 22 attacks – Brussels Airport, Zaventem, Belgium
copper gets going as a symbol of hope and strength
Reopening of the airport departures hall After the devastating March 22 terror attacks at Brussels Airport, the departures hall was reconstructed and reopened in time for the busy summer season. Those familiar with the airport, however, may find that the renovated area looks a little different now. The iconic statue ‘Flight in mind’, which greeted millions of travellers over the years, has been removed.
The iconic statue endures Although it withstood the attacks and remained standing amidst the rubble, the statue
‘Flight in mind’ by Olivier Strebelle at Brussels Airport
was scarred by the impact of projectiles used in the bombs. According to airport sources, a decision was made not to fully repair the work of art, in consultation with its creator, Olivier Strebelle. The scars on the robust bronze surface will be left as a reminder; however, the artist confirmed the statue would otherwise be restored, cleaned and polished to its original lustre.
A monumental piece of art The monumental sculpture was a popular meeting place in the airport. Depicting a bird opening its wings, the bronze statue had ornamented the departures hall since 1995. For centuries, bronze has been the first choice of material for sculptors, due to its ease of casting, strength, corrosion resistance and attractive surface patina. In addition
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to the statue ‘Flight in mind’, renowned Belgian sculptor Olivier Strebelle has created more than 300 contemporary works - many in bronze - located in public settings around the world and in private collections.
In commemoration memorial to the victims - and as a symbol of strength, recovery and hope.
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At a later point in time, the statue will likely take a new position at the airport, as a
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When the going gets tough, copper gets going
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pper
Photo credit: NASA/Chris Gunn
Testing of the MIRI thermal shield for the James Webb Space Telescope – NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, MD, USA
copper gets going to observe distant galaxies
Going on a magnified space mission Due to be launched in October 2018, the James Webb Space Telescope will follow up NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope and the Spitzer Space Telescope. This new observatory will feature a larger 6.5-metre diameter mirror – compared to Hubble’s 2.4-metre mirror – making it the most powerful telescope ever built. The expectations for the Webb are also larger: to shed light on the formation of our own solar system, and even the origins of the universe.
Going to use pioneering technologies
copper wire in thermal shield for Webb Telescope
A collaboration between NASA, the European Space Agency and the Canadian Space Agency, this large infrared telescope features some groundbreaking technologies, including 18-segment, ultra-light beryllium mirrors that unfold after takeoff; hypersensitive cameras and spectrometers that record images undetectable to the human eye; and a tennis court sized 5-layer sunshield in order to protect the extremely delicate equipment from intense heat and light.
Going to keep it cool Copper wires are very important to help control the temperature of the Mid-Infrared Instrument under the shield. The equipment has to perform in the extreme cold of outer space, and must be kept at temperatures under −250 °C to avoid being overwhelmed
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by its own infrared radiation. And it’s the telescope’s infrared capabilities that can potentially observe the dim glow of the very first galaxies.
Going back to the Big Bang For the next decade, astronomers all over the world will get a glimpse of never-before the Big Bang. And copper will have played its part in understanding our cosmic history!
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seen images of far-away planets, stars and solar systems – a window all the way back to