Copper is one of the many metals used by man. Copper in its purest form is quite spongy and soft and thus is not generally used. There are three different alloys of copper that is generally used.

Maximum amount of copper is sold as an alloy which is specified as C11000. Basically, it is 99.9% pure copper. It is also known as Electrolytic-Tough-Pitch copper. This alloy is an excellent conductor of electricity and used in electric wires and cables. This alloy is also used for making name plates on the front door, rain gutters, and roofs of many buildings.

Copper alloy that is used for making pipes and tubes is specified as C12200. This alloy contains a small amount of phosphorus as alloying element. Addition of phosphorus makes the alloy easier for welding and brazing. But, the alloy is much less conductive of electricity and is rarely used for electrical purpose. This alloy is generally used for those applications that require welding and brazing.

The other important alloy of copper is specified as C14500. This alloy is produced by adding the metal tellurium to it. By adding this alloying element, copper becomes easier to machine. Pure copper has a property which experts call it as 'gummy'. This property makes pure copper very difficult to machine, whereas C14500 alloy is much easier to machine. It is not as highly conductive of electricity as pure copper, but it is nearly as good.

Another important property of any metal is its temper. Basically, temper indicates the toughness of the metal. Copper Development Agency has developed a scale to measure this property. It starts from the level of H01, which means soft, to the level H04 meaning hard. The kind of application would determine the temper of the metal to be used. Softer metal would get deformed easily when weight is placed or pressure is applied. But, for making an etching or making a decorative piece softer alloy would be preferred. Copper sheets are generally available in softer tempers while copper bars would be available in harder temper.

Another most important factor in selection of copper sheets would be its thickness or gauge. Larger the gauge number means thinner copper sheets. 30 gauge would be much thinner than a 20 gauge copper sheet.

Finish is another factor which is to be considered for selecting copper sheets. Generally, copper bars and sheets have dull finish.

These factors have to be kept in mind while buying copper sheets for use in any application.