Is copper a modern, technologically advanced material?
Because copper has been in use as long as it has, its technological development is much further advanced than that of newer materials. The inherent properties of copper, its performance in various building applications and its effects on the environment have been studied with greater sophistication and depth than more recently developed materials. Research and development in copper technology continue today, bringing continual improvements in mining, manufacturing and technical applications. For example, recent findings in computer-industry R&D activities suggest that copper may soon become much more widely used for super-computer circuitry because of its superior electrical conductivity and heat transfer properties.
