ASTM B246-15

Standard Specification for Tinned Hard-Drawn and Medium-Hard-Drawn Copper Wire for Electrical Purposes

ABSTRACT
This specification covers tinned hard-drawn and medium-hard-drawn round copper wire for electrical properties. The tinned wire shall be made by coating hard-drawn and medium-hard-drawn copper wire with commercially pure tin. The copper shall be of such quality and purity that the finished product shall have the properties and characteristics prescribed in this specification. The tin coating shall consist of a smooth continuous layer, firmly adhering to the surface of the copper. The wire shall be free from all imperfections not consistent with the best commercial practice. The tinned wire shall conform to the requirements as to the tensile properties prescribed. Tension tests shall be made on representative samples. The elongation of the wire shall be determined as the permanent increase in length due to the breaking of the wire in tension, measured between gage marks. Electrical resistivity shall be determined by resistance measurements made in accordance with the test method prescribed in this specification. The continuity of coating on the wire shall be determined by the sodium polysulfide test. The specimens shall be thoroughly cleaned by immersion in a suitable solvent for the appropriate time required to remove oil or grease from surface; then removed and wiped dry with clean, soft cloth. Mechanical test for adhesion of coating shall be performed. Any cracking or parting of the coating in the area shown by blackening of the copper shall be cause for rejection.
SCOPE
1.1 This specification covers tinned hard-drawn and medium-hard-drawn round copper wire for electrical purposes.  
1.2 The values stated in inch-pound units are to be regarded as standard. The values given in parentheses are mathematical conversions to SI units that are provided for information only and are not considered standard.  
1.2.1 Exception—For density, resistivity and temperature, the values stated in SI units are to be regarded as standard.  
1.3 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use. For hazard statement, see Sections 10 and 13.

General Information

• Status: Historical
• Publication Date: 31-Mar-2015
• ICS: 29.060.10 - Wires
• Technical Committee: B01 - Electrical Conductors
• Drafting Committee: B01.04 - Conductors of Copper and Copper Alloys

Standards Content (Sample)

NOTICE: This standard has either been superseded and replaced by a new version or withdrawn.
Contact ASTM International (www.astm.org) for the latest information
Designation:B246 −15
Standard Specification for
Tinned Hard-Drawn and Medium-Hard-Drawn Copper Wire
1
for Electrical Purposes
This standard is issued under the fixed designation B246; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
This standard has been approved for use by agencies of the U.S. Department of Defense.
3
1. Scope 2.3 National Bureau of Standards:
NBS Handbook 100—Copper Wire Tables
1.1 This specification covers tinned hard-drawn and
medium-hard-drawn round copper wire for electrical purposes.
3. Ordering Information
1.2 The values stated in inch-pound units are to be regarded
3.1 Orders for material under this specification shall include
as standard. The values given in parentheses are mathematical the following information:
conversions to SI units that are provided for information only
3.1.1 Quantity of each size,
and are not considered standard. 3.1.2 Wire size, diameter in inches (see 5.1 and Table 1),
1.2.1 Exception—For density, resistivity and temperature, 3.1.3 Type of copper, if special (see 4.2),
3.1.4 Temper (see 7.1 and Table 1),
the values stated in SI units are to be regarded as standard.
3.1.5 Package size (see 18.1),
1.3 This standard does not purport to address all of the
3.1.6 Special package marking, if required, and
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
3.1.7 Place of inspection (Section 16).
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-
4. Materials
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use. For hazard
4.1 The tinned wire shall be made by coating hard-drawn
statement, see Sections 10 and 13.
and medium-hard-drawn copper wire with commercially pure
tin (see Note 1). For purposes of this specification, the tin shall
2. Referenced Documents
be considered commercially pure if the total of other elements,
2.1 The following documents of the issue in effect on the
exclusive of copper, does not exceed 1 %. Notwithstanding the
dateofmaterialpurchaseformapartofthisspecificationtothe previoussentence,chemicalanalysisofthetincoatingorofthe
extent referenced herein:
tin used for coating shall not be required under this specifica-
2 tion. Adequacy of the tin coating is ensured by the continuity
2.2 ASTM Standards:
of coating and adherence of coating requirements (Sections 9
B5 Specification for High Conductivity Tough-Pitch Copper
and 13, respectively).
Refinery Shapes
B49 Specification for Copper Rod Drawing Stock for Elec- 4.2 The copper shall be copper of such quality and purity
that the finished product shall have the properties and charac-
trical Purposes
B170 Specification for Oxygen-Free Electrolytic Copper— teristics prescribed in this specification.
Refinery Shapes
NOTE 1—Specification B49 defines copper suitable for use.
B193 Test Method for Resistivity of Electrical Conductor
4.3 Copper bars of special qualities, forms, or types, as may
Materials
be agreed upon between the manufacturer and the purchaser,
and which will conform to the requirements prescribed in this
specification may also be used.
1
This specification is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee B01 on
Electrical Conductors and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee B01.04 on
5. Dimensions, Mass, and Permissible Variations
Conductors of Copper and Copper Alloys.
5.1 The wire sizes shall be expressed as the diameter of the
Current edition approved April 1, 2015. Published April 2015. Originally
approved in 1951. Last previous edition approved in 2010 as B246 – 05 (2010).
coated wire in decimal fractions of an inch to the nearest
DOI: 10.1520/B0246-15.
0.0001 in. (0.001 mm) (Explanatory Note 5).
2
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
contact ASTM Customer Service at [e-mail]. For Annual Book of ASTM
3
Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on Available from National Technical Information Service (NTIS), 5301 Shawnee
the ASTM website. Rd., Alexandria, VA 22312, http://www.ntis.gov.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
1

---------------------- Page: 1 ----------------------
B246−15
TABLE 1 Tensile Requirements
Tinned Medium-Hard-Drawn Wire
Tinned Hard-Drawn Wire Tensile Strength, min.
Elongation Elongation
Diameter Area at 20°C Tensile Strength, min. psi Mpa
in 10 in. in 10 in.
(250mm), (250mm),
2 2
in. mm cmil in. mm psi Mpa min. max. min. max.
%min %min
0.2043 5.189 41738 0.03278 21.15 54100 370.6 1.7 42400 55300 290.4 378.8 1.9
0.1819 4.620 33088 0.0
...

This document is not an ASTM standard and is intended only to provide the user of an ASTM standard an indication of what changes have been made to the previous version. Because
it may not be technically possible to adequately depict all changes accurately, ASTM recommends that users consult prior editions as appropriate. In all cases only the current version
of the standard as published by ASTM is to be considered the official document.
Designation: B246 − 05 (Reapproved 2010) B246 − 15
Standard Specification for
Tinned Hard-Drawn and Medium-Hard-Drawn Copper Wire
1
for Electrical Purposes
This standard is issued under the fixed designation B246; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
This standard has been approved for use by agencies of the U.S. Department of Defense.
1. Scope
1.1 This specification covers tinned hard-drawn and medium-hard-drawn round copper wire for electrical purposes.
1.2 The SI values of resistance and density are to be regarded as standard. For all other properties, values values stated in
inch-pound units are to be regarded as the standard. The values given in parentheses are mathematical conversions to SI units that
are provided for information purposes only.only and are not considered standard.
1.2.1 Exception—For density, resistivity and temperature, the values stated in SI units are to be regarded as standard.
1.3 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility
of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory
limitations prior to use. For hazard statement, see Sections 10 and 13.
2. Referenced Documents
2.1 The following documents of the issue in effect on the date of material purchase form a part of this specification to the extent
referenced herein:
2
2.2 ASTM Standards:
B5 Specification for High Conductivity Tough-Pitch Copper Refinery Shapes
B49 Specification for Copper Rod Drawing Stock for Electrical Purposes
B170 Specification for Oxygen-Free Electrolytic Copper—Refinery Shapes
B193 Test Method for Resistivity of Electrical Conductor Materials
3
2.3 National Bureau of Standards:
NBS Handbook 100—Copper Wire Tables
3. Ordering Information
3.1 Orders for material under this specification shall include the following information:
3.1.1 Quantity of each size,
3.1.2 Wire size, diameter in inches (see 5.1 and Table 1),
3.1.3 Type of copper, if special (see 4.2),
3.1.4 Temper (see 7.1 and Table 1),
3.1.5 Package size (see 18.1),
3.1.6 Special package marking, if required, and
3.1.7 Place of inspection (Section 16).
4. Materials and Manufacture
4.1 The tinned wire shall be made by coating hard-drawn and medium-hard-drawn copper wire with commercially pure tin (see
Note 1). For purposes of this specification, the tin shall be considered commercially pure if the total of other elements, exclusive
1
This specification is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee B01 on Electrical Conductors and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee B01.04 on Conductors
of Copper and Copper Alloys.
Current edition approved Oct. 1, 2010April 1, 2015. Published December 2010April 2015. Originally approved in 1951. Discontinued 1993 and reinstated 1994. Last
previous edition approved in 20052010 as B246 – 05.B246 – 05 (2010). DOI: 10.1520/B0246-05R10.10.1520/B0246-15.
2
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or contact ASTM Customer Service at [e-mail]. For Annual Book of ASTM Standards
volume information, refer to the standard’sstandard’s Document Summary page on the ASTM website.
3
Available from National Technical Information Service (NTIS), U.S. Department of Commerce, 5285 Port Royal Rd., Springfield, VA 22161.5301 Shawnee Rd.,
Alexandria, VA 22312, http://www.ntis.gov.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
1

---------------------- Page: 1 ----------------------
B246 − 15
TABLE 1 Tensile Requirements
Tinned Medium-Hard-Drawn Wire
Tinned Hard-Drawn Wire Tensile Strength, min.
Elongation Elongation
Tensile Strenth,Strength,
Diameter Area at 20°C psi Mpa
in 10 in. in 10 in.
min.
(250mm), (250mm),
2 2
in. mm cmil in. mm psi Mpa min. max. min. max.
% min % min
0.2043 5.189 41738 0.03278 21.15 54100 370.6 1.7 42400 55300 290.4 378.8 1.9
0.1819 4.620 33088 0.02599 16.77 55100 377.4 1.6 43300 55700 296.6 381.5 1.7
0.1620 4.115 26244 0.02061 13.30 55900 382.9 1.4 44100 56000 302.1 383.6 1.5
0.1443 3.665 20822 0.01635 10.55 56700 388.4 1.3 44900 56300 307.6 385.6 1.4
0.1285 3.264 16512 0.01297 8.367 57300 392.5 1.3 45500 56700 311.7 388.4 1.3
0.1144 2.906 13087 0.01028 6.632 57900 3
...