2/11/2017 CableConductorMaterialsOpenElectrical

CableConductorMaterials
FromOpenElectrical

Inordertotransmitelectricalcurrentwithasfewlossesaspossible,acableconductorneedstobeoflowresistivity
(orhighconductivity).Therearetwomaincableconductormaterialsusedinpractice,copperandaluminium,
becauseoftheirlowresistivitycharacteristics,coupledwiththeirrelativelylowcost.Silverhasbetterresistivity
characteristicsthaneithercopperandaluminium,butbeingapreciousmetal,isfartoocostly.

Copper
Theresistivityofcopper(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Copper)isintheorderof1.71.8 mm2/m.
Copperisadensermaterialthanaluminiumandhasahighermeltingpoint,hencehasbetterperformanceunder
shortcircuitconditionsandismechanicallystronger.Howeverthehighdensityofcoppermakesitlessflexible
thanaluminium.Copperconductorsalsoneedtobeverypure,andsmalltracesofimpurities(e.g.phosphorous)
cansignificantlyaffectconductivity.

Copperistypicallyusedmorecommonlyinindustrialplants,generatingstationsandportableequipmentbecause
ofitsmechanicalproperties.Furthermore,itisusedinapplicationswherespacerestrictionsabound,e.g.offshore
platformsandaircraft

Aluminium
Theresistivityofaluminium(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aluminium)isaround2.8 mm2/m,which
makesitroughly60%lessconductivethancopper.Therefore,aluminiumconductorsneedtobeoversizedbya
factorof1.6inordertohavetheequivalentresistanceofcopperconductors.Howeveraluminiumisalso50%
lighterinmassthancoppersoithasaweightadvantage.Additionally,itismoremalleableandflexiblethan
copper.

Aluminiumisinherentlycorrosionresistantduetothethinoxidelayerthatisformedwhenaluminiumisexposed
totheair.Aluminiumalsoperformsbetterthancopperinsulfurladenenvironments(intermsofcorrosion
resistance).

Aluminimumistypicallyusedforoverheadaeriallinesbecauseofitslightweightandhighconductivity.Itisalso
usedinapplicationswherespacerestrictionsarenotalargefactor,e.g.undergroundcables

Summary
Thetablebelowsummarisestheprosandconsofcopperandaluminiumasconductormaterials:

Copper Aluminium

Highconductivity Lowerweight
Advantages Highmechanicalstrength Flexibleandmalleable
Goodshortcircuitperformance Corrosionresistant

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2/11/2017 CableConductorMaterialsOpenElectrical

Disadvantages Heavierandlessflexible Lowerconductivitythancopper

Impuritieshavelargeeffectson Lowmechanicalstrength
conductivity

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