ALUMINUM BASE ALLOY ELECTRICAL CONDUCTOR

• US 3,807,016 A
• Filed: 12/01/1970
• Issued: 04/30/1974
• Est. Priority Date: 07/13/1970
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Southwire Company
• Original Assignee: Enrique C. Chia, Roger J. Schoerner
• Inventors: Schoerner, Roger J., Chia, Enrique C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Dean, Richard O.
• Application Number:
  US05/094,192
• Time in Patent Office: 1,246 Days
• Field of Search: 75/138-148 148/32,32.5,2,11.5A 29/193,193.5,527.7 164/76
• US Class Current: 420/538
• CPC Class Codes: C22C 21/00 Alloys based on aluminium
• CPC Class Codes: H01B 1/023 Alloys based on aluminium
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49991 Combined with rolling

Abstract

Aluminum alloy electrical conductors are produced from aluminum base alloys containing from about 0.55 percent to about 0.95 percent by weight cobalt, optionally up to about 2.0 percent of additional alloying elements, and from about 97.45 percent to about 99.45 percent by weight aluminum. The alloy conductors have an electrical conductivity of at least 57 percent, based on the International Annealed Copper Standard (IACS), and improved properties of increased thermal stability, tensile strength, percent ultimate elongation, ductility, fatigue resistance and yield strength as compared to conventional aluminum alloys of similar electrical properties.

Claims

2. Aluminum alloy electrical conductor of claim 1 wherein magnesium is present in an amount ranging from about 0.025 percent to about 0.50 percent, by weight.

3. Aluminum alloy electrical conductor of claim 1 wherein the weight percentages of the constituents are as follows:

4. Aluminum alloy electrical conductor having a minimum conductivity of 57 percent IACS consisting essentially of from about 0.55 to about 0.95 weight percent cobalt, from about 0.05 to about 1.0 weight percent of an additional alloying element taken from the group consisting of copper, silicon, and mixtures thereof, the remainder being aluminum with associated trace elements, said aluminum alloy electrical conductor having the following properties when measured as a No. 10 A.W.G. fully annealed wire:

5. Aluminum alloy electrical conductor according to claim 4 wherein the weight percentages of the constituents are as follows:

6. Aluminum alloy electrical conductor having a minimum conductivity of 57 percent IACS consisting essentially of from about 0.55 to about 0.95 weight percent cobalt, from about 0.01 to about 1.0 weight percent misch metal, the remainder being aluminum with associated trace elements, said aluminum alloy electrical conductor having the following properties when measured as a No. 10 A.W.G. fully annealed wire:

7. Aluminum alloy electrical conductor according to claim 6 wherein the weight percentages of the constituents are as follows:

8. Aluminum alloy electrical conductor having a minimum conductivity of 57 percent IACS consisting essentially of from about 0.55 to about 0.95 weight percent cobalt, from about 0.01 to about 1.0 weight percent of an additional alloying element taken from the group consisting of niobium, tantalum, zirconium, and mixtures thereof, the remainder being aluminum with associated trace elements, said aluminum alloy electrical conductor having the following properties when measured as a No. 10 A.W.G. fully annealed wire:

9. Aluminum alloy electrical conductor according to claim 8 wherein the weight percentages of the constituents are as follows:

10. Aluminum alloy electrical conductor according to claim 8 wherein the weight percentages of the constituents are as follows:

11. The aluminum alloy electrical conductor of claim 1 wherein said conductor is in the form of a rod.

12. The aluminum alloy electrical conductor according to claim 1 wherein said conductor is in the form of a wire.

13. The aluminum alloy electrical conductor of claim 4 wherein said conductor is in the form of a rod.

14. The aluminum alloy electrical conductor according to claim 4 wherein said conductor is in the form of a wire.

15. The aluminum alloy electrical conductor of claim 6 wherein said conductor is in the form of a rod.

16. The aluminum alloy electrical conductor according to claim 6 wherein said conductor is in the form of a wire.

17. The aluminum alloy electrical conductor of claim 8 wherein said conductor is in the form of a rod.

18. The aluminum alloy electrical conductor according to claim 8 wherein said conductor is in the form of a wire.

19. Method of preparing the aluminum alloy conductor of claim 1, comprising the steps of:

A. alloying said named constituents;

B. casting the alloy in a moving mold formed between a groove in the periphery of a rotating casting wheel and a metal belt lying adjacent said groove for a portion of its length; and

C. hot rolling the cast alloy substantially immediately after casting while the cast alloy is in substantially that condition as cast to form a continuous rod.

20. Method of preparing the aluminum alloy conductor in accordance with claim 19 including the further step of drawing said conductor to form wire, without carrying out any annealing step.

21. The method according to claim 19 wherein the alloying step also includes the addition of magnesium in an amount sufficient to yield an alloy having the following weight percentages:

22. Method of preparing the aluminum alloy conductor of claim 4, comprising the steps of:

A. alloying said named constituents;

B. casting thE alloy in a moving mold formed between a groove in the periphery of a rotating casting wheel and a metal belt lying adjacent said groove for a portion of its length; and

C. hot rolling the cast alloy substantially immediately after casting while the cast alloy is in substantially that condition as cast to form a continuous rod.

23. Method of preparing the aluminum alloy conductor in accordance with claim 22 including the further step of drawing said conductor to form wire, without carrying out any annealing step.

24. Method of preparing the aluminum alloy conductor of claim 6, comprising the steps of:

A. alloying said named constituents;

B. casting the alloy in a moving mold formed between a groove in the periphery of a rotating casting wheel and a metal belt lying adjacent said groove for a portion of its length; and

C. hot rolling the cast alloy substantially immediately after casting while the cast alloy is in substantially that condition as cast to form a continuous rod.

25. Method of preparing the aluminum alloy conductor in accordance with claim 24 including the further step of drawing said conductor to form wire, without carrying out any annealing step.

26. Method of preparing the aluminum alloy conductor of claim 8, comprising the steps of:

A. alloying said named constituents;

B. casting the alloy in a moving mold formed between a groove in the periphery of a rotating casting wheel and a metal belt lying adjacent said groove for a portion of its length; and

C. hot rolling the cast alloy substantially immediately after casting while the cast alloy is in substantially that condition as cast to form a continuous rod.

27. Method of preparing the aluminum alloy conductor in accordance with claim 26 including the further step of drawing said conductor to form wire, without carrying out any annealing step.

28. The method according to claim 22 wherein the alloying step also includes the addition of copper and silicon in an amount sufficient to yield an alloy having the following weight percentages:

29. The method according to claim 24 wherein the alloying step also includes the addition of misch metal in an amount sufficient to yield an alloy having the following weight percentages:

30. The method according to claim 26 wherein the alloying step also includes the addition of niobium and tantalum in an amount sufficient to yield an alloy having the following weight percentages:

31. The method according to claim 26 wherein the alloying step also includes the addition of zirconium in an amount sufficient to yield an alloy having the following weight percentages:

32. Aluminum alloy electrical conductor having a minimum conductivity of 57 percent IACS consisting essentially of from about 0.55 to about 0.95 weight percent cobalt, from about 0.001 to about 1.0 weight percent magnesium, the remainder being aluminum with associated trace elements, said aluminum alloy electrical conductor having the following properties when measured as a fully annealed wire:

33. Aluminum alloy electrical conductor having a minimum conductivity of 57 percent IACS consisting essentially of from about 0.55 to about 0.95 weight percent cobalt, from about 0.05 to about 1.0 weight percent of an additional alloy element taken from the group consisting of copper, silicon, and mixtures thereof, the remainder being aluminum with associated trace elemEnts, said aluminum alloy electrical conductor having the following properties when measured as a fully annealed wire:

34. Aluminum alloy electrical conductor having a minimum conductivity of 57 percent IACS consisting essentially of from about 0.55 to about 0.95 weight percent cobalt, from about 0.01 to about 1.0 weight percent misch metal, the remainder being aluminum with associated trace elements, said aluminum alloy electrical conductor having the following properties when measured as a fully annealed wire:

35. Aluminum alloy electrical conductor having a minimum conductivity of 57 percent IACS consisting essentially of from about 0.55 to about 0.95 weight percent cobalt, from about 0.01 to about 1.0 weight of an additional alloying element taken from the group consisting of niobium, tantalum, zirconium, and mixtures thereof, the remainder being aluminum with associated trace elements, said aluminum alloy electrical conductor having the following properties when measured as a fully annealed wire: