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Post subject:Copper XT
 Posted: Sep 11, 2008 - 01:08 AM #7811
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Power User
Joined: Apr 04, 2007
Posts: 93
Location: Florida
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I had a customer order a pan roof system made from this product called Copper XT. It is supposidly stainless steel sandwiched between copper coating; bonded, according to the manufacturer, at a moleculer level. We got the stock in and immediatly questioned its reliability. It was supposed to be 24 guage and obviously fell short of that, it also just did not feel or behave like copper. Now then, today I was making some file folder boxes out of this XT scrap I had around and low and behold my scribe, which has a little magnet on the end, kept sticking to this XT stuff!
Our question is: Stainless is not typically magnetic is it? If so how low of a grade of stainless steel would in fact have magnetic qualities? Is this XT a bid farce and just a fancy version of Galvalume in copper?
http://copper-xt.com/ |
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Post subject:RE: Copper XT
Posted: Sep 11, 2008 - 04:10 AM #7812
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Power User
Joined: Nov 13, 2007
Posts: 129
Location: Omaha, NE
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Stainless steel refers only to an alloy of steel that contains more than 11% chromium in its makeup. The electrical field has been coating steel with copper in their transmission lines for around a century. Adding copper to something doesn't magically give it copper properties.
The magnetic properties of stainless directly correlate to the non-chromium filler metals, usually nickel. Lower nickel levels means it is generally magnetic, higher levels removes the magnetic properties. So you have low nickel content in the steel, great! The nickel makes it crystalline in nature meaning it becomes more stiff and brittle and difficult to work with. You got the right stuff.
Galvalume. That's a blast from the recent past. Ewwwwww.... |
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Post subject:RE: Copper XT
Posted: Sep 12, 2008 - 01:26 AM #7813
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Power User
Joined: Apr 04, 2007
Posts: 93
Location: Florida
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Galvalume uggh! Hate the stuff!
Ok so The XT probably has a low nickle level since it is magnetic. Its still not copper. It is far more well workable and user friendly than stainless and cheaper than copper but is it reliable in the field of roofing? Wires and such I understand but pan roofs...The product is or just seems chincy.
I downloade the company's info I need to read it.
Thanks! |
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Post subject:RE: Copper XT
Posted: Sep 14, 2008 - 04:10 PM #7821
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Power User
Joined: Apr 17, 2004
Posts: 260
Location: Central Ohio
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If by pan roof you mean soldered flat lock roofing, I could see where since all of the cut edges would be turned into the locks and soldered, that the finished roof would have the same look as copper flat lock and be soldered copper to copper. I wonder about a couple of things though. Will the coating hold on in a 180 degree bend? Especially after being pounded flat before soldering. Would one have to be so cautious about scratches and abrasion to the roof surface? Did you ever see where someone painted something and then caulked against the paint, only to have the paint let loose even with the caulk still firmly adhered to it? I wonder if the same thing might happen with the copper film letting go of the stainless and oops! failed solder joint. Seems to me it might be like a new coat of paint on an old tractor---looks real good but has problems down inside!
PS: I hate galvalume too. |
_________________
Steve
Blissfully Ignorant Copperhead
www.copperthings.com
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Post subject:RE: Copper XT
Posted: Sep 15, 2008 - 03:32 AM #7825
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Power User
Joined: Nov 13, 2007
Posts: 129
Location: Omaha, NE
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Most likely the copper is clad on with electrolyzing. Not anything revolutionary most likely.
I'm more curious if it solders like copper or more like stainless. The flux is easy to decide, but how about the method!? |
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