Copper, the traditional material for wire and cable conductors, has the highest electrical conductivity of any metal except silver. Copper also has one of the lowest tensile strengths when soft. When cold worked to a hard temper the mechanical strength of copper wire doubles, but softens readily when exposed to elevated processing or operating temperatures. As an electrical conductor copper is excellent. When mechanical properties are required, copper is found wanting.

Copper alloys combine copper as the dominant element with other elements in lesser amounts resulting in an engineered set of properties. Copper alloys for electrical conductors are designed to balance several competing engineering attributes: tensile strength, electrical conductivity, elongation, thermal stability and mechanical processing. Currently available conductor alloys each possess specific properties suited to different conductor demands and applications.

Alloy Characteristics

PERCON^® 24 or C18135
High strength, high conductivity, high elongation, and excellent resistance to thermal softening.

PERCON^® 11
High conductivity, moderate strength, low elongation, and very good resistance to thermal softening.

PERCON^® 17 or Cadmium Copper C162 (Soft Temper):
Good strength, good conductivity, good elongation and good resistance to thermal softening.

PERCON^® 19 or Cadmium Copper C162 (Hard Temper):
High strength, good conductivity, low elongation and good resistance to thermal softening.

Hard 40% Copper Clad Steel:
High strength, low conductivity, low elongation and good resistance to thermal softening.