Copper Heat Exchangers Offer Smaller, Lighter, More Environmentally Friendly Alternative to Aluminum

    NEW YORK--April 3, 2002--With concerns about size, weight and environmental-friendliness in cars and trucks growing each year, the benefits of copper heat exchangers have become even more apparent.
    When placed side by side with aluminum, copper units are noticeably smaller and lighter. Utilizing a revolutionary process called CuproBraze(R), a technology developed by the International Copper Association for a wide a variety of heat exchange applications, great strides have been made in manufacturing time, energy efficiency and waste reduction. CuproBraze technology incorporates the inherent superiority of copper over aluminum in thermal conductivity, internal corrosion resistance, durability and ease of fabrication with simpler joining techniques.
    Not only are copper heat exchangers more efficient in vehicles because of their size and weight, but they are more efficient to manufacture. It takes only 30 megawatt-hours of electrical energy to produce one ton of copper, compared with 75 megawatt-hours for a ton of aluminum. When multiplied through the production process, changing 50 million radiators from copper to aluminum could save one million tons of CO2 annually from entering the environment. In addition, copper has the added benefit of being virtually 100 percent recyclable.
    According to sales manager Zach Riddlesperger of Astro Air, an American heat exchange manufacturer that recently made the switch from aluminum, "The CuproBraze process has resulted in a 10 to 15 percent increase in performance, a 5 to 10 percent reduction in cost and a 50 to 70 percent reduction in weight."
    Other recent converts include Japanese manufacturer, NAJICO, and Russian manufacturer, Shaaz.
    CuproBraze technology was developed by the International Copper Association and is licensed without charge to qualified manufacturers. The ICA CuproBraze consulting services are available to manufacturers upon request. ICA currently sponsors more than 80 projects in 50 countries. For more information contact Alea@copper.org.
    The International Copper Association, Ltd. (ICA) is the leading organization for the promotion of the use of copper worldwide. The Association's twenty-nine members represent about 80 percent of the world's refined copper output, and its six associate members are among the world's largest copper and copper alloy fabricators. ICA is responsible for guiding policy, strategy and funding of international initiatives and promotional activities. With headquarters in New York City, ICA operates in 28 worldwide locations through a network of regional offices and copper development associations.