Aluminum-iron-nickel alloy electrical conductor
First Claim
1. The method of preparing an aluminum alloy conductor having a minimum conductivity of at least 58 percent IACS comprising the steps of:
- (a) Alloying from about 0.20 to about 1.60 weight percent nickel, from about 0.30 to about 1.30 weight percent iron, more than 0.15 to about 1.00 weight percent silicon, less than 0.10 weight percent magnesium, less than 0.05 weight percent copper, and from about 97.00 to about 99.50 weight percent aluminum with associated trace elements;
(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;
said aluminum alloy conductor having good thermal stability, a tensile strength of at least 12,000 psi, and a yield strength of at least 8,000 psi when measured as a fully annealed wire. cm 2. The method according to claim 1 further including the step of drawing said rod through wire-drawing dies, without annealing between drawing dies, to form wire of finish gauge size.
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Accused Products
Abstract
This disclosure relates to an aluminum alloy electrical conductor which contains from about 0.20% to about 1.60% by weight nickel, from about 0.30% to about 1.30% iron, optionally up to 2.00% of additional specified alloying elements, and the remainder aluminum with associated trace elements. The conductors are processed in a continuous operation which includes continuous casting, hot-rolling in the as-cast condition to form continuous rod, cold-working of the rod by drawing it through a series of wire-drawing dies, without preliminary or intermediate anneals, and thereafter annealing the wire to achieve a minimum electrical conductivity of 58% IACS, an ultimate tensile strength of at least 12,000 psi, a yield strength of at least 8,000 psi and an elongation of at least 12% when measured as a No. 10 AWG wire. The additional alloying elements are precisely controlled in order to facilitate the continuous processing of the cast bar without splitting and cracking of the subsequently rolled and cold-drawn rod.
17 Citations
11 Claims
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1. The method of preparing an aluminum alloy conductor having a minimum conductivity of at least 58 percent IACS comprising the steps of:
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(a) Alloying from about 0.20 to about 1.60 weight percent nickel, from about 0.30 to about 1.30 weight percent iron, more than 0.15 to about 1.00 weight percent silicon, less than 0.10 weight percent magnesium, less than 0.05 weight percent copper, and from about 97.00 to about 99.50 weight percent aluminum with associated trace elements; (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; said aluminum alloy conductor having good thermal stability, a tensile strength of at least 12,000 psi, and a yield strength of at least 8,000 psi when measured as a fully annealed wire. cm 2. The method according to claim 1 further including the step of drawing said rod through wire-drawing dies, without annealing between drawing dies, to form wire of finish gauge size. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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Specification