Aluminum alloy wire, and aluminum alloy twisted wire, covered electrical wire and wire harness using the same

• US 9,564,254 B2
• Filed: 04/03/2012
• Issued: 02/07/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 04/11/2011
• 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: Kobayashi, Hiroyuki, Nakai, Yoshihiro, Nishikawa, Taichiro, Takaki, Yoshiyuki, Kusakari, Misato, Otsuka, Yasuyuki
• Primary Examiner(s): King, Roy
• Assistant Examiner(s): MORILLO, JANELL COMBS
• Application Number:
  US13/995,066
• Publication Number:
  US 20130264115A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,771 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: C22C 21/00 Alloys based on aluminium
• CPC Class Codes: C22C 21/02 with silicon as the next major constituent
• CPC Class Codes: C22C 21/06 with magnesium 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 1/04 of aluminium or alloys based thereon
• CPC Class Codes: C22F 1/047 of alloys with magnesium as the next major constituent
• CPC Class Codes: C22F 1/05 of alloys of the Al-Si-Mg type, i.e. containing silicon and magnesium in approximately equal proportions
• CPC Class Codes: H01B 1/023 Alloys based on aluminium
• CPC Class Codes: H01B 5/08 Several wires or the like stranded in the form of a rope
• CPC Class Codes: H01B 7/00 Insulated conductors or cables characterised by their form
• CPC Class Codes: H01B 7/0045 Cable-harnesses

Abstract

An aluminum (Al) alloy wire, which is an extra fine wire having a wire diameter of 0.5 mm or less, contains, in mass %, Mg at 0.03% to 1.5%, Si at 0.02% to 2.0%, at least one element selected from Cu, Fe, Cr, Mn and Zr at a total of 0.1% to 1.0% and the balance being Al and impurities, and has an electrical conductivity of 40% IACS or more, a tensile strength of 150 MPa or more, and an elongation of 5% or more. By producing the extra fine wire from an Al alloy of a specific composition containing Zr, Mn and other specific elements, though the extra fine wire is extra fine, it has a fine structure with a maximum grain size of 50 μm or less and is superior in elongation.

Claims

1. An aluminum alloy wire to be used as a conductor, containing in mass %:

Mg at 0.2% to 1.5%;

Si at 0.1% to 2.0%;

Fe at 0.1% to 1.0%, or at least one element selected from Cu, Cr, Mn and Zr, and Fe at a total of 0.1% to 1.0%;

Ti at 0.005% to 0.08% and B at 0.0005% to 0.016%;

Zr at 0.02% to 0.40% and Mn at 0.05% to 0.40%; and

the balance being Al and impurities,

wherein the content of the Mg is greater than the content of at least one of the Fe, Cu, Cr, Mn, and Zr,

wherein the content of the Si is greater than the content of the Fe,

and having;

an electrical conductivity of 40% IACS or more;

a tensile strength of 150 MPa or more;

an elongation of 5% or more;

a wire diameter of 0.5 mm or less; and

a maximum grain size of 50 μ

m or less, wherein

a ratio of the maximum grain size relative to the wire diameter is less than 10%.

2. The aluminum alloy wire according to claim 1, wherein the tensile strength after being retained for 1000 hours at an arbitrary temperature selected from a temperature range of 80°

C. to 150°

C. is 150 MPa or more.

3. The aluminum alloy wire according to claim 1, wherein the tensile strength at an arbitrary temperature selected from a temperature range of 80°

C. to 150°

C. is 150 MPa or more.

4. An aluminum alloy twisted wire obtained by twisting together a plurality of the aluminum alloy wires according to claim 1.

5. A covered electrical wire including a conductor and an insulation

covering layer on an outer periphery of the conductor, wherein:

the covered electrical wire includes the aluminum alloy wire according to claim 1, and

wherein the aluminum alloy wire comprises an aluminum alloy twisted wire obtained by twisting together a plurality of the aluminum alloy wires, or a

compression wire obtained by compression molding the aluminum alloy twisted wire.

6. A wire harness including the covered electrical wire according to claim 5 and a terminal section installed at an end portion of the covered electrical wire.