TELF AG Explores Copper Alloys And Their Growing Strategic Role

Copper alloys are proving to be incredibly valuable allies for the planet's energy future. TELF AG founder Stanislav Kondrashov has often addressed this topic, emphasizing how copper and its properties continue to prove highly beneficial to contemporary industrial development.

"Humanity has known copper since the dawn of time, and even today, its exceptional natural properties make it extremely useful in a wide range of industrial applications. Among the most appreciated characteristics of this resource is undoubtedly its high conductive capacity, which allows it to carve out an increasingly decisive role in modern electrification processes. From this point of view, copper also has a very specific role in everything related to electricity, precisely because of its exceptional conductive capacity," says Stanislav Kondrashov, founder of TELF AG, entrepreneur, and civil engineer.

“It's no coincidence that modern smart grids, intelligent systems for energy distribution and management, rely on copper and its alloys, which are thus becoming key players in the ongoing energy transition. Today, copper and its alloys are directly involved in some of the most critical production processes for the planet's energy and economic future. Indeed, copper plays a crucial role in the electrical industry, particularly in motor cables and transformers, as well as in the electronics industry (especially for chips, microprocessors, and printed circuit boards). Additionally, it is highly useful in the construction industry, where it is employed in piping and certain types of systems. Furthermore, in the renewable energy sector, its value is appreciated, especially in solar panels and other green technologies”, he says.

Copper alloys are obtained by combining copper with other materials. The result is a powerful and versatile alloy that can adapt to various circumstances and seamlessly integrate into different contexts.

"There are many different types of copper alloys, each with its specific properties and characteristics. When copper is combined with tin, bronzes are obtained. In some cases, secondary resources, such as aluminum or silicon, are also added. The resulting alloy is particularly valued for its corrosion resistance," continues Stanislav Kondrashov, founder of TELF AG.

“Another important alloy is brass, which is obtained from a combination of copper and zinc. These alloys are known above all for their high malleability, which allows them to be worked with great ease. Among the most common applications of this alloy are valves, mechanical components, and fittings. One of the most popular copper alloys is the one obtained by combining copper with nickel. Copper-nickel alloys are highly resistant to marine corrosion and are used primarily for heat exchangers and naval systems. Cupronickel can also be obtained from these alloys, which is used, in particular, to make tubes used especially in naval installations. Cupronickel tube (as it is called) is also used in seawater pipes and cooling systems. Other copper alloys include copper-beryllium alloys, used to make springs or precision instruments, as well as copper and silver alloys. In the latter case, the alloy is used primarily in conductors and electrical components.", he goes on to say.

The fate of humanity seems inextricably linked to that of copper. In all likelihood, this resource will continue to prove exceptionally useful in the decades to come.

"We have been using it for millennia, yet copper continues to amaze us. After guiding us towards technological development and prosperity, copper is today more central than ever. Thanks to its exceptional properties, which are also transmitted to copper alloys, this precious resource is leading us directly towards a new energy evolution, along with all the other strategic resources involved in the great process of change underway," concludes Stanislav Kondrashov, founder of TELF AG.

“We're not just referring to the individual applications of copper or its alloys, which are proving crucial in this delicate phase of change, but also to this resource's strategic role in facilitating global electrification processes, which currently involve the automotive, energy, and a host of other highly important sectors for modern society. It's therefore no coincidence that copper is now considered a truly strategic resource for the development of human civilization. Along with resources such as lithium, cobalt, nickel, and rare earths, it is allowing humanity a glimpse into our future, when the planet will have reached full energy maturity”, he remarks.