Copper is an excellent electrical conductor, bettered only by silver. That is why it has been used in domestic electrical wiring for many years.
The next most conductive metals are gold and aluminium. Gold is used in circuits and connectors, while aluminium is used in industrial wiring because it costs significantly less. Among non-precious metals, copper has the highest conductivity, so it can carry more electrical current than any other non-precious metal.
Why alloying reduces conductivity
Any impurities, or deliberate alloying additions, greatly reduce electrical conductivity compared with the pure metal. Hiduron® 130 (DTD 900/4805, 2.1504) has an electrical conductivity of 1.71 (mOhm/mm2), around 10% of the conductivity of pure copper.
When tin, magnesium, chromium, iron or zirconium is added to make copper alloys, strength increases but conductivity drops.
High-conductivity copper alloys
Manufacturing copper alloys with high conductivity means producing alloys that resist overheating when they carry an electrical current. This is crucial in energy transmission, where higher heat affects resistance.