Following the dramatically rising price of Copper, refrigerant aluminium pipes are quickly becoming one of the most desirable materials in air conditioning. Just a few years ago your only option when it came to refrigerant tubing was copper. Due to the high heat conductivity of copper it makes a perfect material for any kind of heat exchanger. As prices have steadily increased though manufacturers have been encouraged to become more innovative and to consider other options.

Between 2009 and 2010, the price of copper rose a staggering 27% and it continues to inflate as the demand for it grows. It was an unpleasant surprise for many manufacturers when the price of a tonne of copper reached more than £6000 for the first time earlier in 2011. So great is the current cost of copper that we are now seeing buildings and railways robbed of copper to be sold for scrap. In the US, 50 pounds of recycled copper can fetch upward of $100.

Many different factors have affected the price of copper, but most agree that the demand from growing economies (particular China) is the most important influence. One third of the copper produced in 2010 was sold to China and last year alone they increased their consumption by 38%

For many people the increasing demand has meant that they can no longer afford copper. Simple products like air conditioning no longer warrant the massive cost of using copper in their manufacture. That isnt necessarily bad news though, because new products like refrigerant aluminium tubing have been developed that are arguably proving to be superior to copper.

While copper is in unsustainably high demand, a huge amound of aluminium exists. Many people are surprised at just how much aluminium there is in the world, its actually the 3rd most common element. Aluminium is a stable material and although less rigid than copper this can be counterbalanced with increased thickness. As the material is less rigid it can actually be shaped more easily, which is a big advantage. Pure aluminium also lasts longer than other metals if you use it correctly and once it has come to the end of its life it can also be easily recycled. This means that there will always be aluminium available and a similarly dramatic price increase can be avoided.

A final massive benefit of refrigerant aluminium tubing is that it can be easily repaired increasing the life span of units where it is used in the manufacture.