THE COPPER CYCLE
Insulated Copper Wire — Copper wire covered with insulation is shredded and granulated to separate bare copper from the insulation.
Prepared Copper Scrap — After recovery and segregation, copper scrap is processed for mills and foundries, where it is used in the manufacture of new tubing, castings, and sheet alloys.
Copper Cathode — Copper scrap can be refined into pure electrolytic copper cathode, the essential raw material for the manufacture of copper wire.
Copper Rod — Cathodes are melted and cast for preparation for drawing by rod and wire mills. The copper rod is drawn into wire for new electrical applications.
New Copper Products — Copper's conductive properties make it the most widely used metal in electrical wire. Applications for new wire include the power, communications, and automotive industries.
| Steel Cycle | Start Over | Aluminum Cycle |
