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Beyond its traditional use in fixtures like doorknobs and roofing for church domes and spires , copper is now the standard material for portable water and heating systems in many developed countries . This is thanks to copper ’ s bacteriostatic properties , allowing the ability to inhibit the growth of bacterial and viral organisms in water . Copper ’ s malleability and solderability , allied to its resistance to extreme heat and corrosion , makes it ideal for use in saltwater and industrial environments where it is a key component in everything from irrigation sprinkler systems and cement pumps to gas distribution and heat exchanger tubes in chemical plants and steam power stations .

FEBRUARY 2020