ASTM SOLID

ASTM Solid Conductor defines performance tiers for solid (unstranded) copper conductors, establishing material, mechanical, and electrical requirements for critical electrical applications. Governed by ASTM B3 and related standards, it categorizes conductors into distinct classes based on conductivity and reliability benchmarks.

Technical Specifications

• Conductor Type: Single solid round wires (Ø 0.5 mm–10 mm)
• Material Grades:
  • Class AA: Ultra-High Purity Copper
  • Class A: Premium Commercial Grade
  • Class B: Standard Industrial Grade
• Dimensional Compliance:
  • Diameter tolerance: ±0.5%
  • Ovality: ≤1% deviation
• Pre-Fabrication Mandate: Tests conducted on wire samples before final processing

Core Requirements

• Material Composition:
  • Class AA: ≥99.99% Cu, oxygen ≤10 ppm
  • Class A: ≥99.95% Cu, oxygen ≤50 ppm
  • Class B: ≥99.90% Cu, oxygen ≤300 ppm
• Electrical Performance:
  
  • Class AA: ≥102% IACS
  • Class A: ≥101% IACS
  • Class B: ≥100% IACS
• Mechanical Integrity:
  • Tensile Strength:
    • Hard Drawn: 350–450 MPa (AA/A), 300–400 MPa (B)
    • Annealed: 200–250 MPa (all classes)
  • Bend Test: Zero fractures after 180° wrap (4xø mandrel)

Where It’s Used

• Class AA Applications:
  • Superconducting magnet leads
  • Particle accelerator components
  • Cryogenic sensor wiring
• Class A Applications:
  • Implantable medical devices
  • Satellite power distribution
  • Nuclear reactor instrumentation
• Class B Applications:
  • Residential circuit breakers
  • EV battery interconnect tabs
  • Industrial motor commutators