Since 7,000 years ago, when man managed to smelt and shape it into a wide range of utensils, tools, and weapons, putting an end to the Stone Age, and into the Industrial Revolution, when its fine threads made transmission of electric currents and telegraphic signals possible, copper has been an irreplaceable material in the development of civilization.

Even with its relatively low mechanical resistance compared with that of other metals, copper presents several properties that make it a highly desirable material. On the one hand, its being so ductile and malleable allows easy shaping of thin sheets that can be bent and folded with little effort. On the other hand, its resistance to oxygen and the fact that its rust forms a protective patina make it very durable, even when exposed to the elements...