Steel vs. Copper — What's the Difference?
By Tayyaba Rehman & Maham Liaqat — Updated on April 15, 2024
Steel is an alloy primarily made of iron and carbon, known for its high strength and durability, whereas copper is a pure element with high conductivity and thermal properties.
Difference Between Steel and Copper
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
Steel is an alloy that combines iron with carbon and other elements to enhance strength and resistance to corrosion. Copper, on the other hand, is a naturally occurring metal with a distinctive reddish-orange color.
Due to its composition, steel is highly valued in construction and manufacturing for its toughness and ability to withstand stress. Copper is preferred in electrical and thermal applications due to its excellent conductivity.
Steel can be magnetized which makes it essential in the production of motors and electrical appliances. Copper, however, is non-magnetic and is used where magnetic interference needs to be avoided.
In terms of cost, steel is generally cheaper and more abundant than copper, which can influence the choice of material in budget-sensitive projects. Copper tends to be more expensive due to its conductivity and other unique properties.
When it comes to environmental impact, both metals are highly recyclable, but copper recycling is more economical due to its higher value and less energy-intensive process compared to steel.
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Comparison Chart
Composition
Alloy of iron and carbon, may include other elements
Pure element, occasionally alloyed
Main Uses
Construction, tools, appliances
Electrical wiring, plumbing, electronics
Conductivity
Poor electrical conductor
Excellent electrical and thermal conductor
Cost
Generally cheaper
More expensive
Magnetic Properties
Magnetic
Non-magnetic
Compare with Definitions
Steel
Used in construction, steel provides structural strength.
Steel beams support the weight of the building.
Copper
Essential for producing electronic components.
Copper is used in the production of circuit boards.
Steel
It can be recycled without degradation of quality.
Recycled steel is used to manufacture new cars.
Copper
Copper is a soft, malleable metal with high conductivity.
Copper wires are commonly used in electrical cables.
Steel
Steel is often coated to prevent rust.
Galvanized steel is used for outdoor structures.
Copper
Copper has antimicrobial properties.
Copper surfaces are utilized in hospitals to reduce the spread of germs.
Steel
Steel is an alloy made primarily of iron and carbon.
The bridge is constructed of steel to ensure durability and strength.
Copper
Often used in plumbing and heating systems.
Copper pipes are preferred for plumbing due to their longevity.
Steel
Steel is essential in manufacturing tools and machinery.
High-speed steel is preferred for making cutting tools.
Copper
It is used in coins and jewelry due to its natural luster.
Copper bracelets are popular for their aesthetic appeal.
Steel
Steel is an alloy made up of iron with typically a few tenths of a percent of carbon to improve its strength and fracture resistance compared to iron. Many other elements may be present or added.
Copper
Copper is a chemical element with the symbol Cu (from Latin: cuprum) and atomic number 29. It is a soft, malleable, and ductile metal with very high thermal and electrical conductivity.
Steel
A hard, strong grey or bluish-grey alloy of iron with carbon and usually other elements, used as a structural and fabricating material
Steel girders
Copper
Symbol Cu A ductile, malleable, reddish-brown metallic element that is an excellent conductor of heat and electricity and is widely used for electrical wiring, water piping, and corrosion-resistant parts, either pure or in alloys such as brass and bronze. Atomic number 29; atomic weight 63.546; melting point 1,085°C; boiling point 2,562°C; specific gravity 8.96; valence 1, 2. See Periodic Table.
Steel
Mentally prepare (oneself) to do or face something difficult
His team were steeling themselves for disappointment
She steeled herself to remain calm
Copper
A coin, usually of small denomination, made of copper or a copper alloy.
Steel
A generally hard, strong, durable, malleable alloy of iron and carbon, usually containing between 0.2 and 1.5 percent carbon, often with other constituents such as manganese, chromium, nickel, molybdenum, copper, tungsten, cobalt, or silicon, depending on the desired alloy properties, and widely used as a structural material.
Copper
Chiefly British A large cooking pot made of copper or often of iron.
Steel
Something, such as a sword, that is made of steel.
Copper
Any of various small butterflies of the subfamily Lycaeninae, having predominantly copper-colored wings.
Steel
A quality suggestive of this alloy, especially a hard, unflinching character.
Copper
A reddish brown.
Steel
Steel gray.
Copper
A police officer.
Steel
Made with, relating to, or consisting of steel
Steel beams.
The steel industry.
A bicycle with a steel frame.
Copper
To coat or finish with a layer of copper.
Steel
Very firm or strong
A steel grip.
Copper
(Slang) To bet against, as in faro.
Steel
Of a steel gray.
Copper
(uncountable) A reddish-brown, malleable, ductile metallic element with high electrical and thermal conductivity, symbol Cu, and atomic number 29.
Steel
To cover, plate, edge, or point with steel.
Copper
The reddish-brown colour/color of copper.
Steel
To make hard, strong, or obdurate; strengthen
He steeled himself for disappointment.
Copper
Any of various specialized items that are made of copper, where the use of copper is either traditional or vital to the function of the item.
Steel
An artificial metal produced from iron, harder and more elastic than elemental iron; used figuratively as a symbol of hardness.
Copper
(countable) A copper coin, typically of a small denomination, such as a penny.
Steel
(countable) Any item made of this metal, particularly including:
Copper
A large pot, often used for heating water or washing clothes over a fire. In Australasia at least, it could also be a fixed installation made of copper, with a fire underneath and its own chimney. Generally made redundant by the advent of the washing machine.
Mum would heat the water in a copper in the kitchen and transfer it to the tin bath.
I explain that socks can’t be boiled up in the copper with the sheets and towels or they shrink.
Steel
Bladed or pointed weapons, as swords, javelins, daggers.
Copper
(entomology) Any of various lycaenid butterflies with copper-coloured upperwings, especially those of the genera Lycaena and Paralucia.
Steel
A piece used for striking sparks from flint.
Copper
A police officer.
Steel
Armor.
Copper
Made of copper.
Steel
A honing steel, a tool used to sharpen or hone metal blades.
Copper
Having the reddish-brown colour/color of copper.
Steel
(sewing) Pieces used to strengthen, support, or expand an item of clothing.
Copper
To sheathe or coat with copper.
Steel
(dialectal) A flat iron.
Copper
A common metal of a reddish color, both ductile and malleable, and very tenacious. It is one of the best conductors of heat and electricity. Symbol Cu. Atomic weight 63.3. It is one of the most useful metals in itself, and also in its alloys, brass and bronze.
Steel
A sewing needle; a knitting needle; a sharp metal stylus.
Copper
A coin made of copper; a penny, cent, or other minor coin of copper.
My friends filled my pockets with coppers.
Steel
(printing) An engraving plate:
Copper
A vessel, especially a large boiler, made of copper.
Steel
Projectiles.
Copper
The boilers in the galley for cooking; as, a ship's coppers.
All in a hot and copper sky.
Steel
(sewing) A fringe of beads or decoration of this metal.
Copper
To cover or coat with copper; to sheathe with sheets of copper; as, to copper a ship.
Steel
A type of slide used while playing the steel guitar.
Copper
A ductile malleable reddish-brown corrosion-resistant diamagnetic metallic element; occurs in various minerals but is the only metal that occurs abundantly in large masses; used as an electrical and thermal conductor
Steel
Medicinal consumption of this metal; chalybeate medicine; (eventually) any iron or iron-treated water consumed as a medical treatment.
Copper
A copper penny
Steel
(countable) Varieties of this metal.
Copper
Uncomplimentary terms for a policeman
Steel
The gray hue of this metal; steel-gray, or steel blue.
Copper
A reddish brown the color of polished copper
Steel
(figurative) Extreme hardness or resilience.
Copper
Any of various small butterflies of the family Lycaenidae having copper colored wings
Steel
Made of steel.
Copper
Coat with a layer of copper
Steel
Similar to steel in color, strength, or the like; steely.
Steel
(business) Of or belonging to the manufacture or trade in steel.
Steel
Containing steel.
Steel
(printing) Engraved on steel.
Steel
(transitive) To edge, cover, or point with steel.
Steel
(transitive) To harden or strengthen; to nerve or make obdurate; to fortify against.
Steel
To back with steel.
Steel
To treat a liquid with steel for medicinal purposes.
Steel
To press with a flat iron.
Steel
To cause to resemble steel in appearance.
Steel
(transitive) To steelify; to turn iron into steel.
Steel
(transitive) To electroplate an item, particularly an engraving plate, with a layer of iron.
Steel
(transitive) To sharpen with a honing steel.
Steel
Coldbath Fields Prison in London, closed in 1877.
Steel
A variety of iron intermediate in composition and properties between wrought iron and cast iron (containing between one half of one per cent and one and a half per cent of carbon), and consisting of an alloy of iron with an iron carbide. Steel, unlike wrought iron, can be tempered, and retains magnetism. Its malleability decreases, and fusibility increases, with an increase in carbon.
Steel
An instrument or implement made of steel
Steel
A weapon, as a sword, dagger, etc.
While doubting thus he stood,Received the steel bathed in his brother's blood.
Steel
Fig.: Anything of extreme hardness; that which is characterized by sternness or rigor.
Steel
An instrument of steel (usually a round rod) for sharpening knives.
Steel
A chalybeate medicine.
Steel
A piece of steel for striking sparks from flint.
Steel
To overlay, point, or edge with steel; as, to steel a razor; to steel an ax.
Steel
To make hard or strong; hence, to make insensible or obdurate.
Lies well steeled with weighty arguments.
O God of battles! steel my soldiers' hearts.
Why will you fight against so sweet a passion,And steel your heart to such a world of charms?
Steel
To cause to resemble steel, as in smoothness, polish, or other qualities.
These waters, steeledBy breezeless air to smoothest polish.
Steel
To cover, as an electrotype plate, with a thin layer of iron by electrolysis. The iron thus deposited is very hard, like steel.
Steel
An alloy of iron with small amounts of carbon; widely used in construction; mechanical properties can be varied over a wide range
Steel
A cutting or thrusting weapon with a long blade
Steel
Knife sharpener consisting of a ridged steel rod
Steel
Get ready for something difficult or unpleasant
Steel
Cover, plate, or edge with steel
Common Curiosities
How does the cost of copper compare to steel?
Copper generally costs more than steel, reflecting its superior conductivity and other unique properties.
Can steel be used in electrical applications like copper?
While steel can be used in certain electrical applications, it is not as efficient as copper due to its lower conductivity.
What is steel primarily used for?
Steel is primarily used in construction, automotive, and appliance manufacturing due to its strength and durability.
Are there environmental benefits to using steel or copper?
Both steel and copper are highly recyclable, which conserves resources and reduces environmental impact, though copper recycling is more energy-efficient.
What are the environmental impacts of mining steel and copper?
Mining for both metals can have significant environmental impacts, including habitat destruction and pollution, but copper mining tends to have a higher environmental footprint due to the processes used.
Can steel be used in place of copper for plumbing?
Steel can be used for plumbing, but it is susceptible to corrosion unless specifically treated or stainless steel is used, whereas copper is naturally corrosion-resistant and more durable for plumbing.
Why is copper used in electrical wiring?
Copper is used in electrical wiring because of its excellent electrical conductivity, which ensures efficient power distribution.
Is copper stronger than steel?
No, copper is softer and less durable than steel, which is known for its strength and resistance to wear.
What role does copper play in sustainable technology?
Copper is crucial in sustainable technologies such as electric vehicles and renewable energy systems (like solar panels and wind turbines) due to its excellent conductivity and efficiency.
Which is more corrosion resistant, steel or copper?
Copper is more corrosion resistant than most types of steel, although stainless steel is an exception with its high corrosion resistance.
How are steel and copper recycled?
Both steel and copper can be recycled repeatedly without losing their properties. Steel is melted and reformed, while copper is purified and remelted.
What type of steel is comparable to copper in terms of electrical conductivity?
No common steel types match copper in electrical conductivity; however, certain alloy elements like chromium and nickel can improve steel's electrical properties to some extent.
Why is copper preferred in electronics over steel?
Copper's superior electrical conductivity makes it the preferred choice for electronic circuits, as it reduces the amount of energy lost as heat and increases the efficiency of electronic devices.
What are some common alloys of steel and copper, and their uses?
Common steel alloys include stainless steel (used in cutlery and medical instruments) and tool steel (used in cutting and machinery). Common copper alloys include brass (used in musical instruments and fittings) and bronze (used in sculptures and bearings).
How does the weight of steel compare to copper?
Steel is generally denser than copper, which means for the same volume, steel will weigh more than copper.
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Written by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
Co-written by
Maham Liaqat
