Is Cu wire Cu

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I Googled it It's pure for all practical purpose according to the first hit. I didn't go further.
SIL was here and she had copper bracelets to help with arthritis. Supposedly pure Cu.
Looked pretty simple to me, so a piece #10 solid turned into one and I wore it a couple days.
 
I use #4 solid for a bracelet. I got the idea from watching an infomercial with ChiChi Rodriguez. His cost more than a hundred bucks. I wasn't gonna pay that much, but my hand would ache and throb bad enough it would wake me up at night so I was motivated to try the idea out.
 
Just of interest my science teacher said that copper, with oxidation, is salmon pink.
 
According to this link, its actually copper alloyed with oxygen to improve conductivity:

mwswire.com

Copper and Copper Alloy Wire - MWS Wire

MWS Wire / Copper and Copper Alloy Wire Copper Magnet Wire and Copper Alloy Wire Copper is often a top pick for wiring and electrical applications due to its excellent electrical conductivity. Its ability to conduct electrical currents effectively with little resistance makes it a dependable...
mwswire.com mwswire.com

ETP Copper (CDA 11000)​

 
ActionDave said:
I use #4 solid for a bracelet. I got the idea from watching an infomercial with ChiChi Rodriguez. His cost more than a hundred bucks. I wasn't gonna pay that much, but my hand would ache and throb bad enough it would wake me up at night so I was motivated to try the idea out.
Click to expand...
Yes, I beat the ends flat and put some slanted marks in it with a sheetrock hammer. I informed MDSW they were arranged in such a manner to allow the negative ions of arthritic conditions to be discharged into the atmosphere much like lightning rods. Told my SIL it must work because I hadn't been stiff for a couple days.

Did yours do you any good?
 
steve66 said:
According to this link, its actually copper alloyed with oxygen to improve conductivity:
Click to expand...
Not quite. That link says "Electrolytic tough pitch copper is intentionally alloyed with oxygen to achieve the best combination of conductivity, capacity for being cold worked, and economy." I don't think the oxygen by itself increases conductivity. I can believe that it makes the copper cheaper (less refining necessary?) and maybe it makes it easier to work cold; any reduced conductivity could be an acceptable compromise. It sounds like marketing speak to me.
 
steve66 said:
According to this link, its actually copper alloyed with oxygen to improve conductivity:

mwswire.com

Copper and Copper Alloy Wire - MWS Wire

MWS Wire / Copper and Copper Alloy Wire Copper Magnet Wire and Copper Alloy Wire Copper is often a top pick for wiring and electrical applications due to its excellent electrical conductivity. Its ability to conduct electrical currents effectively with little resistance makes it a dependable...
mwswire.com mwswire.com

ETP Copper (CDA 11000)​

Click to expand...
This link seems to be from a producer of specialty wire, probably for high end electronic applications and/or scientific work? There's no indication it refers to THWN-2 and the like.
 
ptonsparky said:
Is our typical building wire pure Cu or an alloy?
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I've not seen it in "typical building wire", but it has become common for many conductors to be "CCA", copper clad/coated aluminum. Others have pointed out that some imported ethernet style cat cables use that technology. Extension cords from cheap sources do, as do many jumper cables. Amazon and others offer speaker cable and "primary wire" for automobile kiddies in the CCA construction.

Its resistance is closer to that of aluminum than copper (by about 2 AWG sizes), it is less flexible, is has poorer fatigue characteristics where that matters. The one or 2 times I tried to solder to it were unsuccessful, but I think the copper thickness varies.

I'd say "be aware, but don't beware".
 
jaggedben said:
This link seems to be from a producer of specialty wire, probably for high end electronic applications and/or scientific work? There's no indication it refers to THWN-2 and the like.
Click to expand...
From the EPT description: "This is the most widely used copper for wire conductors..."
ggunn said:
Not quite. That link says "Electrolytic tough pitch copper is intentionally alloyed with oxygen to achieve the best combination of conductivity, capacity for being cold worked, and economy." I don't think the oxygen by itself increases conductivity. I can believe that it makes the copper cheaper (less refining necessary?) and maybe it makes it easier to work cold; any reduced conductivity could be an acceptable compromise. It sounds like marketing speak to me.
Click to expand...
It does say that now that I look at it again. I thought it specifically said the oxygen alloying was to improve conductance - maybe I read that somewhere else?
Also, I'm not exactly sure what "oxygen alloyed" means. I thought an alloy was a combination of 2 metals.

Edit: I found this searching for "oxygen alloying copper":

Oxygen levels in electrical
conductor wires typically range from 5-10 ppm (OF –
oxygen free, OFE – oxygen-free electronic grades) to
around 650 ppm (ETP – electrolytic tough pitch
grade). Oxygen levels of up to 200 ppm can actually
improve conductivity as it acts as a scavenger
element that forms metal oxides with metal
contaminants. Too much oxygen has been associated
with an increase in hydrogen embrittlement
problems.
 
jaggedben said:
Copper oxide is pink. Copper carbonate hydroxide is blue-green. Copper usually patinas over time to the latter, among other things.
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You are right. And I know the correct colour is salmon pink. Excuse my inaccuracy - yet again.............
 
jaggedben said:
This link seems to be from a producer of specialty wire, probably for high end electronic applications and/or scientific work? There's no indication it refers to THWN-2 and the like.
Click to expand...
I thought the Hi-Fi crowd was after oxygen-FREE copper.
 
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