Copper stands out because of its thermal and electrical conductivity. That makes it attractive for power electronics, energy systems, high-current hardware, and custom thermal components that cannot rely on standard aluminum performance alone.
From a machining perspective, copper often needs more attention to workholding, burr control, and surface protection than easier general-purpose materials. That tradeoff is worthwhile when conductivity or heat transfer sits at the center of the design requirement.
Pure copper (C11000) delivers roughly 100% IACS electrical conductivity — about 4× better than aluminum and vastly better than any steel. For thermal management, copper's ~390 W/m·K thermal conductivity makes it the preferred substrate for high-power heat exchangers and liquid-cooled cold plates. The main limitation is structural: copper is relatively soft and gummy during machining, so sharp tooling and conservative feed rates are essential for clean edges and accurate features.
