Copper and copper alloy rods are used in a number of electrical and heat treatment equipment and subsequent processes. Pure copper is an excellent conductor of heat and electricity and hence is used in electrical wires, contacts and terminals.

A number of alloys are available and these make copper stronger and tougher. When zinc is used, it produces brass, an ideal material for use in pipefittings, heaters and decorative items. Small amounts of tin and nickel are also used. Bronze is produced using tin as an alloying element with copper. Cuprous nickel alloys have small amounts of nickel. Other copper alloys include aluminum bronze, which is an alloy of copper and aluminum; beryllium copper made of copper mixed with beryllium; copper silicon; chromium copper and many others.

Copper alloys are specified by the ASTM nomenclature and there are a number of alloys with grades such as B16, B96, B441, B121, B138 and many others. Bars and rods are extruded from billets and are available in a number of diameters and lengths such as rounds, hexagonal, squares and other shapes. They are also available as rolled products.