Recent patent filings in copper materials and metallurgical processes highlight ongoing breakthroughs in high-performance alloys, green metallurgy, and advanced powder preparation, underscoring the industry’s push toward enhanced material performance, sustainability, and high-end applications.
In the field of high-performance copper alloys, Ningbo Jintian Copper (Group) Co., Ltd. has applied for a patent covering a high-strength, high-toughness copper alloy. The alloy is based on a Cu matrix, with the addition of elements such as Ni, Co, and Sn, and optional Ti or Zr, enabling synergistic effects of precipitation strengthening and grain refinement. Its microstructure is dominated by the α phase (over 95%), with grain size controlled below 15 μm and nanoscale precipitates (≤500 nm), significantly enhancing both strength and toughness. Such materials are expected to see wide application in high-end equipment manufacturing and precision connectors, reflecting the trend toward high-performance and refined copper alloys.
In smelting and resource recycling, Shandong Humon Smelting Co., Ltd. has proposed a process for decopperizing crude lead using hazardous solid waste. The method utilizes arsenic- and sulfur-containing hazardous waste as a decopperizing agent, reacting with molten crude lead at temperatures between 450°C and 900°C. Leveraging preferential elemental affinity, copper is converted into insoluble compounds that float and separate. This approach reduces copper content in lead to below 0.1%, while enabling harmless treatment and resource utilization of hazardous waste—offering both environmental and economic benefits, and representing a key step toward green, low-carbon, and circular nonferrous metallurgy.
Meanwhile, in advanced copper-based material preparation, Shaanxi Sirui Advanced Materials Co., Ltd. has developed a copper-chromium-niobium powder production method based on the FFC Cambridge Process. This molten salt electrolysis process directly reduces composite oxides, offering advantages such as shorter process flow, lower cost, and precise composition control. The resulting powder features oxygen content below 0.3% and uniform particle size distribution, making it suitable for powder metallurgy, thermal spraying, laser directed energy deposition (DED), and hot isostatic pressing. It is particularly well-suited for high-end applications in aerospace and electronic packaging.
Overall, these three patents advance the copper industry across material design, smelting processes, and advanced manufacturing feedstocks. High-performance copper alloys continue to push performance boundaries, green metallurgy improves resource efficiency and reduces environmental impact, and advanced powder technologies provide critical materials for high-end manufacturing. Together, they reflect the industry’s accelerating transition toward high performance, sustainability, and premium applications.
Source： Sina