What is "red copper"?

Status
Not open for further replies.
I recently sent several emails to a company called A&B SYSTEMS in HK. They sell a wide variety of audio connectors using what they call "red copper" as conductors. I sent several emails to them asking what the commercial spec is for "red copper", trying to identify it, and got nothing back but a rude reply telling me to look it up in Wikipedia and to not email them any more....Does anyone know what "red copper" is????
 
Red Copper is the first stage of Copper Oxide. Cu2O.

I would wipe A&B SYSTEMS in HK off your list of suppliers as they are obviously being obtrusive to hide the fact that they are selling sub-standard copper.

Pure Cu is commonly sold as 99+% oxygen free copper. Cu20 is less than 60% pure. (The chemists will come up with a better figure)

We are more used to seeing Copper Dioxide 2CuO. The green stuff on church roofs or around your central heating hipes.
 
Last edited:
dont know, but copper turns more red when heating it and cools in water
steel turns harder this way, but copper turns softer
and I have noticed it also turns red

ahh, I remember something now
we also have something we call 'red metal'
I think its mostly used for bearings and such
and harder 'copper/brass', for machining
 
I will definitely not buy from A&B Systems not just because they couldn't answer the most basic question about their products but because they were unbelievable rude. I have never experienced such poor customer relations previously. I would advise everyone to stay away from this company.
 
ahh, I remember something now
we also have something we call 'red metal'
I think its mostly used for bearings and such
and harder 'copper/brass', for machining

well, whatever, I guess thats what it is
brass with higher copper content
but still hard enough to machine

as a conductor, probably not a lot different from brass

but for highend stuff, maybe good, in terms of :$::$::$:
 
I have ordered from these folks several times, and have always been pleased with the product and found them helpful. I think we may be dealing with a language problem here. I do not think their English is good. Regards
I agree with this. I have three products ordered from this shop that are just fine, arrived fast with recommended post (tracking number).
But just don't understand threads like this, and the purpose of it.

cheers
 
Here's a pic of the speaker binding posts with "red" copper.

An externally hosted image should be here but it was not working when we last tested it.


And here are some branded Golden Gun

An externally hosted image should be here but it was not working when we last tested it.


And here is a pic of some RCA's six months on with the same "red" copper that now looks brown and dull.

An externally hosted image should be here but it was not working when we last tested it.
 
Last edited:
Some metal oxides, with the oxide leaving a protective layer that protects the metal from further corrosion.

If you have ever heard the term, "Not one red Cent." that is in direct reference to a sub standard penny.

One of the earlier changes from a pure metal coin to an alloy was these "red Cents". People were weary of them at the time, as they were no longer "pure" copper.

Incidentally these coins are still much more durable then modern copper clad zinc that the last of the Canadian pennies were made from.

I find several coins when I am out metal detecting, the patina can be quite striking as well the preserved condition of these older coins.

Coins are one thing, but there is no need for using anything much less then pure copper for electronics. I mean how far we going to go with this whole cheapness thing. The spin marketing is very cute though.

You can see in the attached pictures some pennies I have found over the past few weeks.

The blue ones on the left are older pennies the one up front is a 1933. Malleable copper like this is good for wires etc.
The pennies in the middle are the "Red Cents", an alloy of copper, OK for coins, brittle for wire and connectors etc.
The ones on the right are zinc pennies from the last 10 years. Nasty.

I suppose it will be a new fad.
 

Attachments

  • DSC07480.JPG
    DSC07480.JPG
    193.6 KB · Views: 406
And here is a photo of Neotech up-occ power cable stripped next to the "red" copper binding post. I bought the Neotech from Soniccraft. Note the binding post is the same colour as the 99.99998% pure up-occ copper.

Ultra Pure Ohno Continuous Cast

Cable made of this copper is great, but I'd still rather have pure silver coated in gold or platinum for the connectors.

7188845603_878bec41f1_b.jpg


I am currenty trying to de-oxidise the rca's in my post above using lemon juice. If that fails, I'll try some baking soda solution....It'll be interesting to see if they respond to typical copper treatment.
 
Last edited:
Ya you can always polish it easy enough.

Then just get a tube of dielectric grease will keep it from corroding further.
The stuff is great for keeping connections "bright".
Most connectors will penetrate the grease fine.

Not suitable to be used in applications where arcs can occur, such as high current switches. The silicone in the grease converts to silicon-carbide which will gum up the works.

http://www.permatex.com/products/au...e/auto_Permatex_Dielectric_Tune-Up_Grease.htm
 
I like petroleum jelly for battery terminals and steel bushes with a bolt through the middle.
Copaslip performs well for these jobs, but costs quite a bit more especially if you have to buy a 1kg can instead of 50g of jelly.

I wonder if either of these would be any good at maintaining an "airtight" joint in the mechanical couplings of interconnects?
Anti-seize Compounds - Molyslip Atlantic Limited
Vaseline | Petroleum Jelly
 
Status
Not open for further replies.