Copper Millberry Scrap is a high-grade form of copper wire scrap consisting of clean, bare, bright, uncoated and unalloyed copper wire. It is commonly known in the international scrap-metal trade as Bare Bright Copper and is associated with the ISRI “Barley” specification.
Because Millberry copper contains very little contamination and requires minimal processing before recycling, it is widely used by copper recyclers, smelters, refineries, rod mills and manufacturers of copper products.
Millberry Copper vs. Other Copper Scrap
Copper scrap is available in several grades, and the distinction usually depends on factors such as copper content, physical form, coatings and contamination.
High-quality Millberry copper generally has the following characteristics:
Bare and bright copper wire
Uncoated and unalloyed
Free from insulation and plastic
Free from tin, solder and other coatings
Free from brass, steel and other attachments
Free from burnt or brittle wire
Low levels of foreign material
High copper content
The exact specification can vary according to the applicable trading standard and contract. For example, Fastmarkets references bare bright copper wire, also called barley/millberry, under the RCu-1A specification with a minimum copper content of 99.7% for that particular market specification.
Where Does Millberry Copper Come From?
Millberry copper scrap is commonly recovered from electrical cables, copper wire processing, manufacturing offcuts, electrical equipment and other sources where copper conductors can be separated from insulation and other materials.
After the insulation and unwanted materials are removed, the remaining clean copper wire can be sorted and prepared according to the buyer’s required grade.
Why Is Millberry Copper Valuable?
Millberry copper is valuable because of its high copper content, cleanliness and recyclability. Clean bare copper wire can generally be recycled with considerably less preparation than mixed or contaminated copper scrap.
For manufacturers and recyclers, consistent material quality can help improve recovery and reduce the amount of additional sorting or processing required before melting.
Buy or Source Copper Millberry Scrap
For businesses involved in copper recycling, manufacturing and metal trading, selecting consistently graded material is important for maintaining predictable processing and recovery.
Copper & Scraps provides information and solutions for businesses looking to source and trade copper scrap and other recyclable metals. For Millberry copper requirements, buyers should confirm the grade, purity, quantity, packaging, inspection requirements and delivery terms before finalizing a transaction.