High strength, high conductivity copper alloys and electrical conductors made therefrom
A copper base alloy achieves a breakthrough electrical conductor product of strength, flexure and conductivity of minimal inverse in relationship of at least 85% IACS electrical conductivity while providing an 80 to 85 ksi tensile strength, an increase of at least 33% in strength compared to prior art and is made from an alloy containing 0.2-0.5 w/o chromium, 0.02-0.20 w/o silver and 0.04-0.16 w/o of a third metallic component selected from tin, magnesium and tin/magnesium together.
1. A copper base alloy conductor product of hot or cold worked and final heat treated forms made of an alloy composition consisting of:
(a) 0.2-0.6 w/o chromium,
(b) 0.02-0.20 w/o silver,
(c) 0.04-0.16 w/o of a third metallic component selected from the group consisting of tin, magnesium and tin/magnesium combined, and
(d) balance copper,
the product having a tensile strength of at least 80 ksi, at least 6% elongation and at least 85% IACS electrical conductivity.
2. A copper base alloy conductor product of hot or cold worked and final heat treated form as a wire of 30 AWG or smaller diameter made of an alloy composition consisting of:
(a) 0.2-0.6 w/o chromium,
(b) 0.02-0.20 w/o silver,
(c) 0.04-0.16 w/o of a third metallic component selected from the group consisting of tin, magnesium and tin/magnesium combined, and
(d) balance copper,
the product having a tensile strength of at least 80 ksi, at least 6% elongation and at least 85% IACS electrical conductivity.
3. The product of either of claim 1 or 2 wherein the compositional range of component (b) is 0.05-0.15 w/o.
4. The product of either of claim 1 or 2 wherein the compositional range of components (a) and (b) are from 0.3-0.5 w/o for (a) and 0.05-0.15 w/o for (b).
5. The product of either of claim 1 or 2 where component (c) consists essentially of magnesium.
6. The product of either of claim 1 or 2 where component (c) consists essentially of tin.
7. The product of any of claim 1 or 2 where component (c) consists essentially of tin/magnesium combined.
8. The product of any of claim 1 or 2 in single wire form of 30 AWG or smaller diameter.
9. The wire product of claim 8 in stranded, bunched, rope, cable or other multi-conductor forms.
10. The product of either of claim 1 or 2 wherein the compositional range of component (a) is 0.3-0.5 w/o.
11. The conductor product of claim 2 as a wire with a diameter in the range of 30-48 AWG.
12. The wire product of claim 11 with a wire diameter in the range of 30-48 with an electrical conductivity in the range of 85-95% IACS and a tensile strength range of 80-90 ksi.
13. The wire product of claim 11 as a wire with a diameter in the range of 30-48 AWG, an electrical conductivity in the range of 85-95% IACS and a tensile strength range of 80-85 ksi.
14. The wire product of claim 2 with a wire diameter of 30 AWG or smaller, a tensile strength in the range of 80-90 ksi.
15. A wire product made of an alloy consisting of:
(a) 0.2-0.6 w/o chromium,
(b) 0.02-0.20 w/o silver,
(c) 0.08-0.15 w/o of a third metallic component selected from the group consisting of tin, magnesium and tin/magnesium combined, and
(d) balance copper.