7406 20 00 — Copper powders and flakes: powders of lamellar structure; flakes

7406 Powders and scales of copper: 7406 10 – powders of non-laminated structure 7406 20 – powders of layered structure; scales

This heading covers copper powders as defined in Note 8(b) to Section XV and copper scales, excluding cementation copper,

which is a black powder and falls in heading 7401. Subject to the provisions of Note 7 to Section XV, this heading also covers copper powders mixed with other metal powders (e.g., "bronze powder" consisting of a simple mixture of copper and tin powders). Copper powders are obtained mainly by electrolytic deposition or by atomisation (i.e., by injecting a fine stream of molten metal into a high-velocity transverse jet of water, steam, air or other gases). In addition to the two main processes mentioned above, copper powders may also be obtained in smaller quantities by gaseous reduction of finely divided oxides precipitated from solutions, or by fine grinding of solid pieces. Lamellar powders and flakes are usually obtained by grinding foil. The lamellar structure can be seen with the naked eye or, in the case of flakes, through a magnifying glass, but a microscope is required for fine powders. The method of obtaining the powders determines such characteristic parameters as particle size and shape (which may be more or less regular, globular, spherical or lamellar). Lamellar powders often have a polished appearance and may bear traces of lubricant or waxy substances (e.g., stearic acid or paraffin wax) used in their manufacture. After compacting and sintering, the powders are used in bearings, bushes and many other machine parts. They are also used as chemical or metallurgical reagents, for all kinds of brazing and soldering (with hard and soft solder), for making special cements, for coating non-metallic surfaces as a base for electroplating, etc. Flakes are used mainly as a metallic pigment for making inks and paints. Flakes are applied directly as a metallic colouring matter by dusting them, for example, onto a varnished surface to which they adhere. The heading excludes: (a) Certain powders or flakes used in the preparation of paints, sometimes known as "bronzes" or "golds", but which are in fact chemical compounds, such as certain antimony salts, tin disulphides, etc. (Chapter 28, or Chapter 32 if in the form of prepared paints). (b) Powders or flakes put up as colours, paints or similar products (i.e., prepared with other colouring matter or put up as suspensions, dispersions or pastes with a binder or solvent) (Chapter 32). (c) Copper in the form of spherical particles of heading 7403. (d) Spangles cut from copper foil (heading 8308).

Note

Machine translation. The original is the Russian text of the EAEU tariff, and customs goes by it; this translation is for understanding only and has no legal force.

1. The terms used in this chapter mean:

(a) “refined copper” means a metal containing not less than 99.85 % by weight of copper or a metal containing not less than 97.5 % by weight of copper, provided that the content by weight of each other element does not exceed the limits specified in the following table:

Other elements

Element

Maximum content, wt.%

Ag

silver

0.25

As

arsenic

0.5

Cd

cadmium

1.3

Cr

chromium

1.4

Mg

magnesium

0.8

Pb

lead

1.5

S

sulfur

0.7

Sn

tin

0.8

Te

tellurium

0.8

Zn

zinc

1.0

Zr

zirconium

0.3

Other elements* (each of them)

0.3

* Other elements include, for example, Al, Be, Co, Fe, Mn, Ni, Si

(b) "copper alloys" means metal alloys, other than unrefined copper, in which copper is greater in mass than any other element, provided that:

(i) the mass content of at least one of the other elements exceeds the limit indicated in the above table; or

(ii) the total content of other elements exceeds 2.5 % by weight.

(c) "ligatures" means alloys containing, among other elements, more than 10 % by weight of copper, not suitable for deformation in the cold state and used mainly as additives in the manufacture of other alloys or as oxidants, desulphurators or for other similar purposes in non-ferrous metallurgy. However, copper phosphide (copper phosphorus) containing more than 15 % by weight of phosphorus is classified in heading 2853.

Subheading notes

Machine translation. The original is the Russian text of the EAEU tariff, and customs goes by it; this translation is for understanding only and has no legal force.

1. The terms used in this group have the following meanings:

(a) “copper and zinc (brass)-based alloys” means alloys of copper and zinc, whether or not containing other elements. If other elements are present, then:

zinc by weight must exceed each of these other elements.

- in the presence of nickel, its content should not exceed 5 wt.% (see copper-nickel-zinc alloys (neusilbers)); and

- in the presence of tin, its content should not exceed 3 wt.% (see copper-tin alloys (bronzes)).

(b) “alloys based on copper and tin (bronze)” means alloys of copper and tin containing or not containing other elements. In the presence of other elements, the tin content by weight exceeds the content by weight of each of these elements, except when the content of tin 3 wt.% or more zinc content by weight may exceed the content by weight of tin, but it should be less than 10 wt.%.

(c) "alloys based on copper, nickel and zinc (neusilbers)" means alloys of copper, nickel and zinc, whether or not containing other elements. The nickel content is 5 wt.% or more (see copper-zinc alloys (brass)).

(d) “copper and nickel-based alloys” means alloys of copper and nickel containing or not containing other elements, but in any case with a content not exceeding 1% by weight of zinc. In the presence of other elements, the nickel content by weight exceeds the content by weight of each of these elements.