In the context of the growing amount of electronic waste, the recycling and utilization of waste circuit boards have become an important issue in environmental protection and resource recycling. Among them, copper extracted from waste circuit boards, with its excellent electrical conductivity, thermal conductivity, and good ductility, has gained a "second life" in multiple fields. It not only alleviates the pressure of copper ore resource shortage but also promotes the development of the green economy.
Industrial Manufacturing Sector: The Core Support of Basic Materials
Recycled copper is an indispensable "cornerstone" in the industrial field. In the power industry, after purification and smelting, recycled copper can be processed into copper wires and copper cables, which are used in urban power grid construction and substation equipment manufacturing. Compared with primary copper, the electrical conductivity of recycled copper is almost the same, and the energy consumption during the production process is only about 10% of that of primary copper. This not only reduces the production cost of enterprises but also decreases carbon emissions. In the mechanical manufacturing field, when recycled copper is alloyed with other metals, it can be made into wear - resistant and corrosion - resistant copper alloy parts, such as radiators of automobile engines and bearing sleeves of mechanical equipment. For example, some automobile manufacturers have begun to use recycled copper to make brake system components, which ensures safety while realizing resource recycling. In addition, in the construction industry, recycled copper can be processed into copper water pipes and copper decorative plates. Its excellent corrosion resistance allows copper water pipes to have a service life of decades, making them the preferred material for high - end buildings.
Electronic and Electrical Appliance Sector: The Value Continuity of Returning to the Origin
As the "original carrier" of circuit boards, the application of recycled copper in the electronic and electrical appliance field is highly "nostalgic". In the consumer electronics production, purified recycled copper can be used to re - make the conductive circuits of circuit boards, which are applied in the production of mobile phones, computers, televisions and other devices. Nowadays, many electronic enterprises have incorporated recycled copper into their raw material procurement systems. For instance, a well - known mobile phone brand reduces the mining of nearly 1,000 tons of primary copper every year by using recycled copper to make circuit boards. In the household appliance manufacturing, recycled copper can be used in the production of air - conditioning compressors and refrigerator condensers. Its high - efficiency thermal conductivity can improve the energy utilization efficiency of household appliances. At the same time, in the new energy equipment field, recycled copper also plays an important role. For example, battery connecting sheets of new energy vehicles and conductive components of charging piles all require a large amount of copper materials. The application of recycled copper provides strong support for the green development of the new energy industry.
Civil Life and Art Sector: The Value Expansion Close to Life
The application of recycled copper in the civil life and art fields makes "waste" more warm. In terms of civil products, recycled copper can be processed into kitchenware (such as copper pots and copper spoons). Its good thermal conductivity ensures uniform heating of food, and copper elements are also beneficial to the human body to a certain extent. It can also be made into hardware accessories (such as copper locks and copper hinges), which have both practicality and decorativeness. In the artistic creation field, recycled copper is a "treasured material" for sculptors and craftsmen. Artists create unique copper sculptures and copper ornaments by forging and carving recycled copper. Some cultural and creative products even combine the texture of waste circuit boards with recycled copper, which not only demonstrates the concept of environmental protection but also endows the works with a unique industrial aesthetic feeling. In addition, in the inheritance of traditional culture, recycled copper can also be used in the production of traditional copperware, such as antique bronze mirrors and copper incense burners, providing low - cost raw material support for the continuation of intangible cultural heritage techniques.
The diverse applications of recycled copper from waste circuit boards are not only a vivid practice of resource recycling but also an important path to promote the realization of the "dual carbon" goal. With the continuous upgrading of recycling technology, the purity and application scope of recycled copper will be further improved in the future, and it will play a role in more emerging fields (such as aerospace and quantum technology), truly realizing the sustainable development vision of "turning waste into treasure".
