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REFINED COPPER CATHODES

Like most modern Copper mines, Milpillas produced large, high-purity "Grade A cathodic Copper" sheets, adhering to LME (London Metal Exchange) and ATSM standards (American Society for Testing and Materials). These sheets commonly measured around 914mm x 914mm (36" x 36") with a thickness of about 12mm (0.5") and bundled in stacks of 50 sheets as shown in photograph. Each sheet weighed approximately 90 kilograms (198 pounds), making them efficient to handle and transport in industrial quantities.

Grade “A� cathodic Copper sheets, are the purest form of commercially traded Copper, typically boasting a minimum purity of 99.99%. The physical properties of Grade “A� cathodic Copper sheets are directly linked to their high purity. They exhibit exceptional electrical conductivity, second only to silver, making them indispensable for electrical wiring, cables, and electronic components. They also possess high thermal conductivity, crucial for heat exchangers and refrigeration. Furthermore, these sheets are highly malleable and ductile, allowing them to be easily shaped, drawn into fine wires, or rolled into thin sheets without fracturing. They are also corrosion-resistant, particularly in atmospheric and aqueous environments, due to the formation of a protective oxide layer. Their uniform rectangular shape and consistent composition simplify industrial handling and processing.

Original photos courtesy of Dagoberto Flores (Author: silvia)