Electric wire conductor and a method of producing the same

• US 8,278,555 B2
• Filed: 10/30/2007
• Issued: 10/02/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 10/30/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Autonetworks Technologies, Ltd. (Sumitomo Corporation), Sumitomo Electric Industries Limited (Sumitomo Corporation), Sumitomo Wiring Systems Limited (Sumitomo Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Autonetworks Technologies, Ltd. (Sumitomo Corporation), Sumitomo Electric Industries Limited (Sumitomo Corporation), Sumitomo Wiring Systems Limited (Sumitomo Corporation)
• Inventors: Otsuka, Yasuyuki, Nakai, Yoshihiro, Nishikawa, Taichirou
• Primary Examiner(s): MAYO III, WILLIAM H
• Application Number:
  US12/312,033
• Publication Number:
  US 20100071933A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,799 Days
• Field of Search: 174/36, 174/110.R, 174/120.R, 174/120.C, 174/120.AS, 174/120.SR
• US Class Current: 174/126.1
• CPC Class Codes: C21D 9/60 with induction heating
• CPC Class Codes: C22C 21/02 with silicon as the next major constituent
• CPC Class Codes: C22C 21/08 with silicon
• CPC Class Codes: C22F 1/00 Changing the physical structure of non-ferrous metals or alloys by heat treatment or by hot or cold working apparatus for mechanical working of metal B21, B23, B24
• CPC Class Codes: C22F 1/02 in inert or controlled atmosphere or vacuum adjusting the composition of the atmosphere C21D1/76
• CPC Class Codes: C22F 1/04 of aluminium or alloys based thereon
• CPC Class Codes: H01B 1/023 Alloys based on aluminium
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 10/25 Process efficiency

Abstract

A conductor includes elemental wires made from an aluminum alloy containing Si whose content is 0.3-1.2 mass %, Mg whose content makes an Mg/Si weight ratio in a range from 0.8 to 1.8, and a remainder essentially including Al and an unavoidable impurity. The conductor has tensile strength of 240 MPa or more, breaking elongation of 10% or more, impact absorption energy of 8 J/m or more, and electrical conductivity of 40% IACS or more. The production method includes the step of preparing a strand by bunching elemental wires with the above composition, and the step of subjecting the wire to solution treatment, quenching, and aging heat treatment. Solution treatment temperature is 500-580° C., and aging heat treatment temperature is 150-220° C. Heating in solution treatment is high frequency induction heating.

Claims

1. A conductor comprising a plurality of elemental wires made from an aluminum alloy, the aluminum alloy containing:

Si whose content is 0.3 to 1.2 mass %;

Mg whose content makes an Mg/Si weight ratio in a range from 0.8 to 1.8; and

a remainder essentially including Al and an unavoidable impurity, wherein the conductor has tensile strength of 240 MPa or more, breaking elongation of 10% or more, impact absorption energy of 8 J/m or more, and electrical conductivity of 40% IACS or more, wherein,

the aluminum alloy further contains one or two elements selected from the group consisting of no more than 500 ppm Ti and no more than 50 ppm B.

2. The conductor according to claim 1, wherein the aluminum alloy further contains one or more elements selected from the group consisting of Fe, Cu, Cr, and Mn, where a total content of the one or more elements is 0.5 mass % or less.

3. The conductor according to claim 1, wherein the conductor has a cross-sectional area of 0.75 mm² or less.

7. The conductor according to claim 2, wherein the conductor has a cross-sectional area of 0.75 mm² or less.

8. The conductor according to claim 1, wherein the conductor has a cross-sectional area of 0.75 mm² or less.

4. A method of producing a conductor, the method comprising the steps of:

preparing a strand by bunching a plurality of elemental wires made from an aluminum alloy containing Si whose content is 0.3 to 1.2 mass %, Mg whose content makes an Mg/Si weight ratio in a range from 0.8 to 1.8, and a remainder essentially including Al and an unavoidable impurity; and

subjecting the strand to solution treatment, then subjecting the strand to quenching, and then subjecting the strand to aging heat treatment, wherein

the aluminum alloy further contains one or two elements selected from the group consisting of no more than 500 ppm Ti and no more than 50 ppm B.

5. The method according to claim 4, wherein a heating temperature when subjecting the strand to the solution treatment is 500 to 580°

C., and a heating temperature when subjecting the strand to the aging heat treatment is 150 to 220°

C.

6. The method according to claim 4, wherein heating during the solution treatment is high frequency induction heating.

9. The method according to claim 5, wherein heating during the solution treatment is high frequency induction heating.