Abstract
IN 1936, the Deutches Kupfer Institut of Berlin published a valuable pamphlet describing carefully the best methods of welding copper and brass. The Copper Development Association of London has now translated this into English. It is pointed out that there are certain differences between German and British welding practice, mainly associated with the general employment in Great Britain of deoxidized copper. But knowing the high standard of excellence which has been achieved in Germany, there is much of it which will be of value to British readers. The hand-made copper and bronze domestic vessels shown in the Berlin State Museum and dating back thousands of years prove that soldering and riveting were in common practice from very early times. In course of time, the necessity arose for a new and improved jointing technique which would produce smooth and strong joints and yet avoid the expense of riveting. This demand is universally met to-day by the adoption of welding. The development of copper welding has been much slower than that of steel, but the difficulties in the way have now been largely overcome, and welded copper appliances of the highest quality are now produced. Deoxidized coppers, which are extensively used in Great Britain, are not discussed in this pamphlet. The thermal conductivity of copper is about six times that of steel. Molten copper readily dissolves other metals and forms the basis of several important alloys. With zinc it produces brass and with tin bronze. The thermal conductivity of brass is two or three times that of steel, and only about one third that of copper. This feature is a decided advantage in welding. For this reason, brass requires a smaller flame for welding than copper. Although gas welding is the one most commonly used, new electrical methods are in process of development which will probably enable arc welding to be profitably employed.
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Copper and Brass Welding in Germany. Nature 141, 507 (1938). https://doi.org/10.1038/141507a0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/141507a0