COPPER BOILER

The exclusive and distinctive feature of some MICHELINI ironing systems is the COPPER BOILER. Among its physical and mechanical properties, high thermal and electrical conductivity, and high corrosion resistance stand out. It does not undergo galvanic corrosion. Copper is the best conductor of electricity and heat after silver. This characteristic allows us to install the resistance outside the boiler, avoiding contact with water and therefore limescale free. Copper (along with gold) is the oldest known metal used by man, and it was cold-worked at the end of the Stone Age. The oldest copper objects are jewels from Egypt, dating back to 4500 BC. Copper was melted around 3500 B.C., and it was obtained by charcoal reduction of its ores: so it was the first metal to be extracted in this way. Copper is often referred to as the ‘coinage’ metal, together with silver and gold; it is an almost 'noble' metal for its lower electrochemical potential. On contact with air, it quickly develops a protective layer called patina. The green layer (patina) that covers copper roofs is a salt of variable stoichiometry, which protects the metal making it virtually "eternal". It is the only one among the pure metals of industrial use, to have a positive electrochemical potential: this allows it not to dissolve in acids. It offers the best compromise between technological features and cost savings. There is no reason to fear the sudden rise in temperature as it has a high melting point (1083°C). It is not surprising that many copper objects from ancient or prehistoric times have come down to us almost intact. These characteristics make copper and its alloys widely suitable both for domestic use, for hot water production, in solar panels, in boilers for domestic heating, in heat pumps coils etc., and for industrial use such as in seawater desalters, in big industrial heat exchangers etc. Copper is 100% recyclable. In Italy, 40% of semi-finished copper and copper alloy products are obtained by recycling scrap. Unlike other materials, recycled copper has the same chemical-physical and technological properties of primary copper and so it does not suffer from limitations of use or decrease in value. Therefore, the contribution of copper to the constant increase of solid and industrial waste is practically insignificant and it also allows a remarkable energy saving. This is due to the fact that the processes of extraction and refining are "bypassed".

More information can be found on the official website of the 'Italian Institute of copper’ www.iir.it.