Due to their physical and mechanical properties (plasticity, flexibility, high thermal conductivity, pressure resistance) that do not change in time, copper tubes are widely applied:
- water supply installations,
- gas and heating systems,
- fire protection systems,
- cooling facilities and appliances,
- various branches of industry (shipbuilding, production of machinery, chemical and food industry).
Water limestone cannot deposit (incrustation) on the inner walls of copper tubes.
When water passes through new copper tubes, a permanent protective layer is formed on the inner wall surface (in thickness of several tenths of a millimeter), which ensures their free use for potable water supply installations. Moreover, the above-mentioned permanent protective layer prevents erosion of the inner wall surface.
Copper tubes in water supply systems endure more full water frosting-defrosting cycles (without losing their properties), that is, hard copper tubes can be frosted-defrosted twice without any damage, while soft and half-hard tubes can endure this even three times (they are operative in the temperature range -196°C - +205°C).
Copper tubes are highly resistant to internal pressures and hydrodynamic shocks.
They are easy and safe to install (they are flexible and can be shaped both manually and using tools, in cold and hot condition), resistant to corrosion and have a long useful service life.
Increased interest in energy saving and use of alternative sources of energy has made copper tubes a dominant material for the production of hot water and other pertaining installations, and of solar energy collectors.
Advantages of copper tubes with respect to plastic and aluminium-plastic tubes are as follows:
- copper is a natural material recommended for conveyance of potable water;
- biological properties of copper additionally protect the quality of potable water preventing spread of various bacteria
- copper is an environment-friendly material easy to recycle (many times without changing its properties);
- resistant to very high pressures and temperatures;
- insusceptible to UV radiation, penetration of hydrocarbonates and oxygen.
Numerous reports by institutes specialized in research of quality and durability of copper tubes highlight their stability in environments where they are installed. The lower limit of their stability is proved for the minimum period of 50 years, not only regarding the external environment (when they are installed into earth, wall, mortar, concrete, plaster ...) but also to the effect of fluids transported through them. They are particularly resistant to water (hot and cold) and to numerous industrial liquids, solutions and gasses.
Copper tubes are joined together using fittings. Professional pipe fitters usually opt for one of the following methods to join copper tubes:
- soft soldering;
- hard soldering;
- mechanical fittings;
- combined fittings.
Straight pieces can be joined together without fittings, so as to widen the pipe end with suitable tool, i.e. to make a bell and insert the end of another tube into it and solder them together.
Copper tube joints are compact, solid and resistant to high pressures, dynamic shocks and vibrations.