ISSN: 1945-7553
Page Count: 4

Impurity Variations in Electrolytic Cathode Copper

Medrick, DS
Chief, Metallurgy and Materials Analysis, and manager, Rod Engineering, Wire and Cable Division, Anaconda Industries, Waterbury,Conn.

Teague, JE
Chief, Metallurgy and Materials Analysis, and manager, Rod Engineering, Wire and Cable Division, Anaconda Industries, Waterbury,Conn.

Abstract

This work was conducted to evaluate the effects of segregated impurities (particularly sulfur) in various locations of a randomly selected electrolytic cathode on the fabricability of wires drawn from spikes cast with copper from these regions of the cathode. Results were analyzed by the different performance levels achieved with copper fabricated from these cathode regions. Another aspect of this work was an investigation of a 340 200-kg (750 000-lb) copper lot consisting of a 154 700-kg (341 000-lb) section of sheared cathodes (top and bottom 102-mm [4-in.] wide strip sheared off each cathode) and a comparison 185 500-kg (409 000-lb) section of unsheared regular cathodes for reference purposes. This split lot was fabricated into magnet wires, and the results between these two sections were compared as to performance levels obtained in the finished wire products.

Keywords:
copper, impurities, wire, cathode segregations, sheared cathodes, copper nodules

Paper ID: JTE11606J
DOI: 10.1520/JTE11606J
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