In one of the previous articles we talked about the different types of ignition cable and we discovered that there is a copper ignition cable with resistor. This typology appears the most common precisely because its internal part is formed by copper.
Then the question arises spontaneously. Why copper?
Copper is a chemical element of the periodic table which has the symbol “Cu”. The symbol derives from the word “cuprum”, the name given by the Latin naturalist Pliny the Elder. It was already known since ancient times, as evidenced by ancient remains of the civilization of the Near East and even more ancient artifacts dating back to prehistoric times. For example, the oldest copper find in Italy is a 97% pure copper reed tip found in the Alps. This copper spearhead belonged to Otzi, a prehistoric man whose mummified body dates back to around 3200 BC.
But what are the characteristics of copper?
Copper is a metal and has a pinkish color. It has a high electrical and thermal conductivity and is surpassed only by silver. It is very resistant to corrosion and is easily workable and ductile. It is perhaps the most ductile metal in the world. It has the ability to form many metal alloys and the most common are bronze and brass. Bronze is created thanks to the union of copper and tin while brass comes from the union of copper and zinc. Copper is the best conductor of heat after silver: therefore it offers the best compromise between technological characteristics and economic savings. Its conductivity is about 30 times higher than stainless steel and 1.5 times higher than aluminum.
Great!
For this reason, copper is by far the most popular material for systems that transport hot fluids: as in heat exchangers, solar panels, civil heating and it is not afraid of sudden rises in temperature, as it melts at 1083 ° C: boiling water does not soften it.
But let’s go back to the ignition cable.
All these features make copper a perfect metal for creating the inner part of the ignition cable. Since starting from the assumption that the ignition cable is the medium through which the signal is transmitted and conducted, copper is the best metal that can be used thanks to its high conductivity and great ductility.