Abstract: System and method for charging a furnace for melting and refining copper scrap, comprising at least one shredder intended to receive copper scrap to be refined, associated with screening means linked to at least one vibrating feeder table through continuous conveyance means, such that said vibrating feeder table allows shredded copper scrap to be put into the furnace. A furnace is also described which is suitable for receiving a volume of copper scrap from the above charging system and method, characterized by a flat vault with a horizontal charging door, whose opening width for receiving the charge of shredded scrap is less than 0.6 m. The system, method and furnace described make it possible to optimize the process of melting and refining copper scrap, as well as reduce the consumption of energy and the emission of polluting gases.

Abstract: An electrical conductor for transmission of electrical power, having a total cross-section equal to or above 10 mm2 and comprising a plurality of stranded filamentary members, where at least one of the filamentary members is made from microalloyed copper or microalloyed aluminium having annealing temperatures higher than 250° C., and has the side surface thereof totally coated with a fluorinated polymer. The conductor has a better behavior relative to the skin effect and allows operation at high temperatures. Furthermore, if the electrical conductor is suspended, it has a smaller sag and prevents or reduces the accumulation of ice and/or snow.

Abstract: The invention refers to batch casting, semi-continuous casting or continuous casting and rolling of copper, providing the addition of lead or refining the melt copper or the melt microalloyed copper to a lead content equal to or higher than 200 weight ppm. This minimizes the number of pores and defects, decreasing the number of incidences or breaks during casting and in service. However, it does not reduce the electrical conductivity. The addition of lead allows the cast and roll of copper microalloyed with elements such as S, Se, As, Sb, Bi, Sn, Zn, Ni, Fe, Ag and Te, in concentrations of the order of tens of weight ppm. The copper microalloys manufactured in this way have annealing temperatures and strain strengths higher than those obtained from the equivalent tough-pitch copper or the equivalent microalloyed copper with lead content lower than 15-20 weight ppm.

Abstract: We provide a new copper microalloy with high-conductivity, excellent heat resistance and high strain strength, which can be obtained by conventional continuous or semi-continuous casting, which essentially consists of at least one element selected from the following list:______________________________________ 5-800 mg/Kg Pb (lead) 10-100 mg/Kg Sb (antimony) 5-1000 mg/Kg Ag (silver) 5-700 mg/Kg Sn (tin) 1-25 mg/Kg Cd (cadmium) 1-30 mg/Kg Bi (bismuth) 20-500 mg/Kg Zn (zinc) 10-400 mg/Kg Fe (iron) 15-500 mg/Kg Ni (nickel) 1-15 mg/Kg S (sulfur) ______________________________________in all cases, with 20-500 mg/Kg O (oxygen). The alloy is suitable for all the applications that require an electrical conductivity similar to that of pure copper, but with a better heat resistance, better mechanical properties and lower standard deviation values in strain strength.