thyssenkrupp Materials Copper and Brass Sales is a leading supplier of red metals offering supply chain solutions that are customized to the exact needs of our diverse customer base. We offer a large assortment of copper and copper alloy products that support critical performance applications in many industries. Today we would like to highlight some of the unique features these products offer around the topic of disease prevention.
While we are not an authority regarding this particular use of the product, we thought we would share some very interesting details regarding the antimicrobial benefits of copper and copper alloys from past research performed by several independent organizations. In this post, the first in a four-part series, we take a brief look at How Copper Can Stop the Spread of Viruses.
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) reports that long before the germ theory of disease was developed, civilizations used copper to kill disease-causing organisms. It is ranked as a top metal in terms of quantities consumed in the USA and abroad. Its antimicrobial property is becoming increasingly important to the prevention of infection.
Copper is a mineral and an element essential to our everyday lives. It is a major industrial metal because of its high ductility, malleability, thermal and electrical conductivity and resistance to corrosion. One beneficial use that Copper (Cu) has is its anti-microbial properties.
According to Copper Development – United Kingdom, the Ancient Egyptians, Greeks, Romans and Aztecs used copper-based preparations to treat burns, sore throats and skin rashes, as well as for day-to-day hygiene. Copper holds properties that are sure to kill microorganisms; anti-microbial an agent that kills microorganisms – bacteria, viruses and fungi. Along with inhibiting their further growth.
2018 studies; Copper Development Association-Copper Alliance reports:
Copper Kills Bacteria by the following:
- Copper ions dissolved from the copper surface cause cell damage.
- The cell membrane ruptures, leading to loss of the cell content.
- Copper ions lead to the generation of toxic radicals that cause further damage.
- DNA becomes degraded and leaves the cell.
the study provides that copper is safe to use – it is not harmful to people or the environment. This metal is inherently antimicrobial, with no additional chemicals added and completely recyclable.
For more information you can read our blog article on how Copper Never Wears Out!
Copper and Brass Sales offers a wide range of copper and copper alloy products to choose from. We stock everything from extruded copper round bar products to copper wiring for electrical applications for use in electric cars. To learn more about thyssenkrupp Materials NA, Copper and Brass Sales and our copper selections, you can download our catalog here. or contact us today!
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