Mercedes-Benz Copper and aluminum are two completely separate elements, with their own separate traits, yet they've both played a key role in the same automotive application: radiators. Of course, you might think that the metals' different attributes would create differences in radiator performance, and you'd be right. The unique density, heat conductivity, and strength characteristics of the two metals — and brass, which is an alloy of copper and zinc often used instead of pure copper — can have a significant impact on how long they last and how well they work. The starting point may be familiar to history buffs, as it involves some pretty big names from the early auto industry, like Wilhelm Maybach. His name now graces some of the most luxurious vehicles in the world, including the V12-powered 2027 Mercedes-Maybach S-Class, but the engineer once known as "King of the Constructors" is considered the inventor of the modern automotive radiator, too. It was a major advance, made in 1900 with the assistance of Gottlieb Daimler, and it worked by, basically, cooling the engine with water, which flowed through brass tubes to the radiator, where the heat was transferred from the water to radiator fins and then into the surrounding air. The reasoning here was that copper (and brass), being excellent conductors of heat, would boost the radiator's cooling efficiency. They did, but this is where the metals' unique characteristics come into play. For example, copper is a relatively heavy and dense material that can add unnecessary weight to a vehicle. As that became more important to the auto industry, a race went on to find a replacement, and aluminum came out the winner. Diving into the details Yanik88/Getty Images Perhaps the most important difference between an aluminum and a copper radiator comes down to their weight — or, to be more exact, their density. For instance, a common aluminum alloy for car radiators can be three times less dense than even a relatively low-density brass, giving aluminum radiators a real-world weight advantage of up to 60% for the same size component. With that in mind, it's no surprise that among the earliest cars with an aluminum radiator was the 1960 Chevrolet Corvette – a vehicle for which saving weight to boost performance was a high priority. Aluminum radiators can be more resistant to corrosion as well, although copper itself is actually pretty corrosion-resistant. The problem is that copper radiators are often soldered together with lead — and that creates a high risk for galvanic corrosion. True, galvanic corrosion may operate differently than corrosion caused by water, yet it can still seriously damage your radiator. It's also worth pointing out that despite copper being much better at conducting heat than aluminum, using lead solder takes its toll here by working as an insulator, reducing the radiator's overall conductivity. Aluminum radiators extend their benefits by being better able to handle the higher pressures often found in high-performance cars and stand up to the constant vibrations from the engine, plus – while it's not a performance issue — they cost less than their copper counterparts. (Note that copper and aluminum are subject to Trump's tariffs, which, by the way, have cost automakers $10 billion solely from importing cars from Mexico and Canada. Counterpoints for copper radiators Aaron Lemay/Getty Images All that said, copper radiators are still preferred by at least two groups of owners. For one, many folks with classic cars, which originally came with copper radiators, prefer to replace like with like – and there are a number of aftermarket suppliers that can help. These newly made copper units do still have the same issues as the old ones, but they offer the benefit of being easier to fix while providing a more authentic look to the vehicle. A larger market for copper radiators can be found in the heavy-duty trucking arena, where a little added weight is less of a concern. As a result, copper/brass radiators can still make sense in these machines. Their ease of service is certainly helpful when trying to avoid downtime, and their durability can help reduce the need for repair in the first place. Yes, we did say that copper/brass radiators don't do well in a high-vibration setting, but much of that has to do with their multipiece construction and weight. Checking the numbers, brass can actually be much harder than aluminum (when measured on the Rockwell B-scale of material strength). Additionally, copper has a much higher melting point (1000 degrees centigrade) than aluminum (660 degrees centigrade). Chances are that your engine will never get that hot, but some folks believe that the differences in this measure mean copper radiators are better at resisting heat over the long haul. Nor should you forget that, radiators aside, there's still more copper in the average new car than you might think.