ALUMINUM ELECTRICAL CONDUCTOR

• US 3,663,216 A
• Filed: 08/10/1970
• Issued: 05/16/1972
• Est. Priority Date: 08/10/1970
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Harold Y. Hunsicker
• Original Assignee: Harold Y. Hunsicker
• Inventors: Hunsicker, Harold Y.
• Primary Examiner(s): Rutledge, L. Dewayne
• Assistant Examiner(s): Stallard, W. W.
• Application Number:
  US05/062,633
• Time in Patent Office: 645 Days
• Field of Search: 148/11.5,12.7,32.5,159 75/142,147
• US Class Current: 420/533
• CPC Class Codes: C22C 21/00 Alloys based on aluminium
• CPC Class Codes: H01B 1/023 Alloys based on aluminium

Abstract

Aluminum conductor containing 0.25 to 0.5% Cu and 0.05 to 0.20% Mg and having good tensile strength and a minimum electrical conductivity of 60 percent IACS together with good bendability and improved connector conduction stability. A preferred fabrication method contemplates working at temperatures that retain the Cu and Mg is solid solution but also impart strain hardening, a drastic cold reduction to produce a severely strain hardened conductor product followed by a controlled thermal treatment to relax a certain amount of the strain and precipitate a portion of the Cu and Mg.

Claims

2. working said body into a rod suitable for drawing into wire, said working imparting to said rod an amount of strain hardening equivalent to that which would be derived from a cold reduction in cross sectional area of from 15 to 30 percent while maintaining working temperatures at levels which retain essentially all of the Cu and Mg in solid solution,

3. The improved wire produced by claim 1, said wire exhibiting a minimum electrical conductivity of 60 percent IACS and minimum tensile and yield strength levels of 20 ksi and 15 ksi, respectively, and a minimum elongation of 3 percent in 10 inches together with good bendability and with good compressive electrical connectability to facilitate high stability of electrical connection conductance.

4. heating said strain hardened wire to a temperature of from 400* to 500* F. for 15 to 500 minutes to effect a partial relaxation of said strain hardened condition and a partial precipitation of said copper and magnesium.

5. A method of producing improved electrical conductor wire comprising:

6. The method according to claim 5 wherein the strain hardened conductor product is heated at a temperature of from 500* to 750* F. to substantially completely relax said strain hardened condition.

7. An improved electrical conductor product composed of an alloy consisting essentially of 0.25 to 0.5 percent copper, 0.05 to 0.20 percent magnesium, the balance being essentially aluminum with the following maximum limits on impurities:

0.10% Si, 0.25% Fe, 0.04% B, 0.05% Ga, 0.05% Zn, 0.01% Sn, 0.01% Ni, 0.005% Mn, 0.005% Cr, 0.005% Ti, 0.005% V and 0.005% Zr, said conductor exhibiting an electrical conductivity of at least 60 percent IACS and good compressive electrical connectability and good strength and flexibility properties.