ASTM B227-15(2019)

Standard Specification for Hard-Drawn Copper-Clad Steel Wire

ABSTRACT
This specification covers bare hard-drawn round copper-clad steel wire. The surface of the wire shall be smooth and free from imperfections not consistent with good commercial practice. The wire shall conform to the tensile requirements. Specimens shall be twisted to destruction and shall not reveal under test any seams, pits, slivers, or surface imperfections of sufficient magnitude to indicate inherent defects or imperfections in the wire. The electrical resistance of the wire shall be determined by resistance measurements. The finished wire shall contain no joints or splices made at finished size.
SCOPE
1.1 This specification covers bare hard-drawn round copper-clad steel wire for electrical purposes (Note 1).
Note 1: Wire ordered to this specification is not intended for redrawing. If wire is desired for this purpose, consult the manufacturer.  
1.2 Four grades of wire are specified, designated as follows (Note 2): Grade 40 HS, Grade 40 EHS, Grade 30 HS, and Grade 30 EHS.
Note 2: The grades covered by this specification correspond to the following commercial designations:
Grade 40 HS, High Strength, 40 % Conductivity.
Grade 40 EHS, Extra High Strength, 40 % Conductivity
Grade 30 HS, High Strength, 30 % Conductivity.
Grade 30 EHS, Extra High Strength, 30 % Conductivity.  
1.3 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.  
1.4 This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles for the Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.

General Information

• Status: Published
• Publication Date: 30-Sep-2019
• ICS: 77.140.65 - Steel wire, wire ropes and link chains
• Technical Committee: B01 - Electrical Conductors
• Drafting Committee: B01.06 - Bi-Metallic Conductors

Relations

• Replaces: ASTM B227-15 - Standard Specification for Hard-Drawn Copper-Clad Steel Wire
• Effective Date: 01-Oct-2019
• Refers: ASTM B258-18 - Standard Specification for Standard Nominal Diameters and Cross-Sectional Areas of AWG Sizes of Solid Round Wires Used as Electrical Conductors
• Effective Date: 01-Oct-2018
• Refers: ASTM B193-16 - Standard Test Method for Resistivity of Electrical Conductor Materials
• Effective Date: 01-Apr-2016
• Refers: ASTM B193-02(2014) - Standard Test Method for Resistivity of Electrical Conductor Materials
• Effective Date: 01-Apr-2014
• Refers: ASTM B258-02(2008) - Standard Specification for Standard Nominal Diameters and Cross-Sectional Areas of AWG Sizes of Solid Round Wires Used as Electrical Conductors
• Effective Date: 01-Sep-2008
• Refers: ASTM B193-02(2008) - Standard Test Method for Resistivity of Electrical Conductor Materials
• Effective Date: 01-Sep-2008
• Refers: ASTM B258-02 - Standard Specification for Standard Nominal Diameters and Cross-Sectional Areas of AWG Sizes of Solid Round Wires Used as Electrical Conductors
• Effective Date: 10-Apr-2002
• Refers: ASTM B193-00 - Standard Test Method for Resistivity of Electrical Conductor Materials
• Effective Date: 10-Apr-2002
• Refers: ASTM B193-02 - Standard Test Method for Resistivity of Electrical Conductor Materials
• Effective Date: 10-Apr-2002
• Refers: ASTM B193-01 - Standard Test Method for Resistivity of Electrical Conductor Materials
• Effective Date: 10-Apr-2002
• Refers: ASTM B258-01 - Standard Specification for Standard Nominal Diameters and Cross-Sectional Areas of AWG Sizes of Solid Round Wires Used as Electrical Conductors
• Effective Date: 10-Apr-2002
• Referred By: ASTM B229-12(2017) - Standard Specification for Concentric-Lay-Stranded Copper and Copper-Clad Steel Composite Conductors
• Effective Date: 01-Oct-2019
• Referred By: ASTM B228-11a(2021) - Standard Specification for Concentric-Lay-Stranded Copper-Clad Steel Conductors
• Effective Date: 01-Oct-2019
• Referred By: ASTM B193-20 - Standard Test Method for Resistivity of Electrical Conductor Materials
• Effective Date: 01-Oct-2019

Overview

ASTM B227-15(2019), Standard Specification for Hard-Drawn Copper-Clad Steel Wire, is a comprehensive standard developed by ASTM International. This specification covers bare, hard-drawn, round copper-clad steel wires specifically designed for electrical applications. The wire features a steel core with a continuously bonded copper outer layer, providing the benefits of both materials - high tensile strength from steel and electrical conductivity from copper. The standard defines requirements for surface finish, diameter tolerances, tensile strength, electrical resistance, and other critical properties to ensure reliable performance in demanding electrical environments.

Key Topics

• Grades and Conductivity: ASTM B227-15(2019) specifies four grades of copper-clad steel wire:
  • Grade 40 HS (High Strength, 40% conductivity)
  • Grade 40 EHS (Extra High Strength, 40% conductivity)
  • Grade 30 HS (High Strength, 30% conductivity)
  • Grade 30 EHS (Extra High Strength, 30% conductivity)
• Material Composition: The wire is manufactured with a steel core and a uniform, continuous copper cladding thoroughly bonded throughout.
• Dimensions and Tolerances: Sizes are specified by diameter in decimal inches, with permissible variations based on wire diameter, ensuring consistency for electrical conductor applications.
• Mechanical Properties: Minimum tensile strengths are detailed for each grade, and the standard requires twist and tension testing to confirm mechanical integrity.
• Surface Quality: The finished wire must be free of surface imperfections, such as seams or pits, that would indicate internal flaws.
• Electrical Properties: Maximum allowable electrical resistance values are stipulated, with requirements for resistance testing according to standardized methods.
• No Joints or Splices: Finished wire must not contain joints or splices at finished size to maintain mechanical and electrical continuity.
• Packaging and Marking: Wires must be adequately protected and clearly labeled with manufacturer information, size, and grade.

Applications

Hard-drawn copper-clad steel wire manufactured to ASTM B227-15(2019) is essential in electrical and communication infrastructure where both high strength and reliable conductivity are required. Typical applications include:

• Overhead ground wires: Used in electrical transmission and distribution networks for protection against lightning and system grounding.
• Antenna and messenger wires: Ideal for supporting communication lines due to their strength and corrosion-resistant copper surface.
• Utility and signal wire: Deployed in environments where mechanical durability is as critical as electrical performance.
• Industrial installations: Suitable for use in harsh conditions where long-term reliability and resistance to surface degradation are necessary.

The specification ensures that copper-clad steel wire meets rigorous industry requirements, supporting infrastructure projects, utility upgrades, and communication systems.

Related Standards

• ASTM B193: Test Method for Resistivity of Electrical Conductor Materials - referenced for resistance measurement procedures.
• ASTM B258: Specification for Standard Nominal Diameters and Birmingham Wire Gage of the British Standard Wire Gage - provides sizing conventions.
• NIST Handbook 100: Copper Wire Tables - utilized for cross-sectional area and sizing guidance.

ASTM B227 aligns with internationally recognized principles for the development of global standards, as outlined by the WTO Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee, ensuring consistency and interoperability for copper-clad steel wire in worldwide markets.

Keywords: ASTM B227, copper-clad steel wire, hard-drawn, electrical conductor, wire specification, tensile strength, electrical resistance, high strength wire, communication wire, industry standards.

Standards Content (Sample)

This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles for the
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
Designation:B227 −15 (Reapproved 2019)
Standard Specification for
Hard-Drawn Copper-Clad Steel Wire
This standard is issued under the fixed designation B227; 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.
1. Scope Cross-Sectional Areas of AWG Sizes of Solid Round
Wires Used as Electrical Conductors
1.1 Thisspecificationcoversbarehard-drawnroundcopper-
clad steel wire for electrical purposes (Note 1). 2.3 National Institute of Standards and Technology:
NBSHandbook 100—Copper Wire Tables
NOTE 1—Wire ordered to this specification is not intended for redraw-
ing. If wire is desired for this purpose, consult the manufacturer.
3. Ordering Information
1.2 Four grades of wire are specified, designated as follows
3.1 Orders for material under this specification shall include
(Note 2): Grade 40 HS, Grade 40 EHS, Grade 30 HS, and
Grade 30 EHS. the following information:
3.1.1 Quantity of each size and grade,
NOTE 2—The grades covered by this specification correspond to the
3.1.2 Wire size: diameter in inches (see 5.1 and Table 1),
following commercial designations:
Grade 40 HS, High Strength, 40 % Conductivity. 3.1.3 Grade (see 1.2 and Table 1),
Grade 40 EHS, Extra High Strength, 40 % Conductivity
3.1.4 Method of measuring elongation (see 7.3 and 7.4),
Grade 30 HS, High Strength, 30 % Conductivity.
3.1.5 Package size (see 14.1),
Grade 30 EHS, Extra High Strength, 30 % Conductivity.
3.1.6 Specialpackagemarking,ifrequired(Section13),and
1.3 The values stated in inch-pound units are to be regarded
3.1.7 Place of inspection (Section 15).
as standard. The values given in parentheses are mathematical
conversions to SI units that are provided for information only
4. Material
and are not considered standard.
4.1 The wire shall be composed of a steel core with a
1.4 This international standard was developed in accor-
substantially uniform and continuous copper cladding thor-
dance with internationally recognized principles on standard-
oughly bonded to it throughout.
ization established in the Decision on Principles for the
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recom-
4.2 The finished copper-clad steel wire shall conform to the
mendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical
requirements prescribed in this specification.
Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
5. Dimensions and Permissible Variations
2. Referenced Documents
5.1 The size shall be expressed as the diameter of the wire
2.1 The following documents of the issue in effect on date
in decimal fractions of an inch using four places of decimals,
of material purchase form a part of this specification to the
that is, in tenths of mils (Note 3).
extent referenced herein.
NOTE 3—The values of wire diameters in Table 1 are given to the
2.2 ASTM Standards:
nearest 0.0001 in. and correspond to the standard sizes given in Specifi-
B193 Test Method for Resistivity of Electrical Conductor
cationB258.Inspecifyingdiametersofwireorininspectingwire,express
Materials the diameter to the fourth decimal place. The diameters preceded by
asterisks are not in the American Wire Gage series and are also given to
B258 Specification for Standard Nominal Diameters and
four places of decimals. They correspond to certain numbers of the
Birmingham Wire Gage of the British Standard Wire Gage and are used
forcommunicationlines.Theuseofgagenumbersinspecifyingwiresizes
This specification is under the jurisdiction of the ASTM Committee B01 on
is not recognized in these specifications because of the possibility of
Electrical Conductors and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee B01.06 on
confusion. An excellent discussion of wire gages and related subjects is
Bi-Metallic Conductors.
containedinNBSHandbook100oftheNationalInstituteofStandardsand
Current edition approved Oct. 1, 2019. Published October 2019. Originally
Technology.
approved in 1948. Last previous edition approved in 2015 as B227 – 15. DOI:
10.1520/B0227-15R19.
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’s Document Summary page on Available from National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), 100
the ASTM website. Bureau Dr., Stop 1070, Gaithersburg, MD 20899-1070, http://www.nist.gov.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
B227−15 (2019)
TABLE 1 Tensile Requirements
Nominal
A
Area at 20°C Tensile Strength, min, psi (MPa)
Diameter
in. (mm) Grade 40 Grade 40 Grade 30 Grade 30
2 2 A
cmil in. (mm )
HS EHS HS EHS
0.2043 (5.189) 41 740 0.03278 (21.15) 108 000 (745) . . . 120 000 (828) 142 500 (983)
0.1819 (4.620) 33 090 0.02599 (16.77) 113 000 (780) . . . 125 000 (863) 150 500 (1038)
B
0.1650 (4.191) 27 230 0.02138 (13.79) 118 000 (814) . . . 130 000 (897) 157 500 (1087)
0.1620 (4.115) 26 240 0.02061 (13.30) 118 000 (814) . . . 130 000 (897) 157 500 (1087)
0.1443 (3.665) 20 820 0.01635 (10.55) 123 000 (849) . . . 135 000 (932) 164 000 (1132)
0.1285 (3.264) 16 510 0.01297 (8.368) 128 000 (883) . . . 140 000 (966) 170 000 (1173)
B
0.1280 (3.251) 16 380 0.01287 (8.303) 128 000 (883) . . . 140 000 (966) 170 000 (1173)
0.1144 (2.906) 13 090 0.01028 (6.632) 133 000 (918) . . . 145 000 (1001) 174 100 (1201)
B
0.1040 (2.642) 10 820 0.008495 (5.481) 138 600 (956) 156 000 (1076) 151 000 (1042) 175 000 (1208)
0.1019 (2.588) 10 380 0.008155 (5.261) 138 600 (956) . . . 151 000 (1042) 179 000 (1235)
0.0808 (2.052) 6 530 0.005129 (3.309) 115 000 (794) . . . 120 000 (828) 179 000 (1235)
B
0.0800 (2.032) 6 400 0.005027 (3.243) 115 000 (794) . . . 120 000 (828) 179 000 (1235)
B
0.0640 (1.626) 4 096 0.003217 (2.076) 125 000 (863) . . . 130 000 (897) 179 000 (1235)
0.0403 (1.024) 1 624 0.001276 (0.8232) 130 000 (897) . . . 135 000 (932) 179 000 (1235)
B
0.0390 (0.9906) 1 521 0.001195 (0.7710) 130 000 (897) . . . 135 000 (932) 179 000 (1235)
0.0320 (0.8128) 1 024 0.000804 (0.5187) 135 000 (932) 161 000 (1111) 145 000 (1001) 179 000 (1235)
A 2 2
Metric equivalents: 1 in. = 25.4 mm (round to four significant figures); 1 in. = 645.16 mm (round to four significant figures); 1 psi = 6.9 kPa (round to significant figure
of U.S. customary units).
B
ThesediametersareoftenemployedbypurchasersforcommunicationlinesbutarenotintheAmericanWireGage(B&SWireGage)series,asaretheotherdiameters
listed (Note 3).
TABLE 2 Approximate Properties of Hard-Drawn Copper-Clad Steel Wire
(For Information Only)
Nominal
A
Breaking Strength, min lbf (N) Mass/Unit Length
Diameter
A
in. (mm) Grade 40 HS Grade 40 EHS Grade 30 HS Grade 30 EHS lb/1000 ft lb/mile kg/km
0.2043 (5.189) 3435 (15280) . . . 3817 (16979) 4532 (20159) 115.8 611.6 172.3
0.1819 (4.620) 2849 (12673) . . . 3152 (14021) 3795 (16881) 91.86 485.0 136.7
0.1650 (4.191) 2448 (10889) . . . 2697 (11997) 3267 (14532) 75.55 398.9 112.4
0.1620 (4.115) 2360 (10498) . . . 2600 (11565) 3150 (14012) 72.85 384.6 108.4
0.1443 (3.665) 1952 (8683) . . . 2142 (9528) 2602 (11574) 57.77 305.0 85.97
0.1285 (3.264) 1611 (7166) . . . 1762 (7838) 2139 (9515) 45.81 241.9 68.17
0.1280 (3.251) 1598 (7108) . . . 1748 (7775) 2122 (9439) 45.47 240.1 67.67
0.1144 (2.906) 1326 (5898) . . . 1446 (6432) 1736 (7722) 36.33 191.8 54.06
0.1040 (2.642) 1142 (5080) 1286 (5720) 1245 (5538) 1442 (6414) 30.01 158.5 44.66
0.1019 (2.588) 1097 (4880) . . . 1195 (5316) 1416 (6299) 28.81 152.1 42.87
0.0808 (2.052) 578 (2571) . . . 603 (2682) 900 (4003) 18.12 95.68 26.97
0.0800 (2.032) 567 (2522) . . . 591 (2629) 882 (3923) 17.76 93.77 26.43
0.0640 (1.626) 394 (1753) . . . 410 (1824) 564 (2509) 11.37 60.03 16.92
0.0403 (1.024) 163 (725) . . . 169 (752) 224 (996) 4.507 23.80 6.707
0.0390 (0.9906) 152 (676) . . . 158 (703) 210 (934) 4.221 22.29 6.282
0.0320 (0.8126) 106 (472) 127 (565) 114 (507) 141 (627) 2.842 15.00 4.229
A
Metric equivalents: 1 lbf = 4.4482 N (round to significant figure of customary units); 1 lb/1000 ft = 1.48816 kg/km (round to four significant figures).
5.2 Within the range of diameters included in Table 1, the or spools fail to conform to the requirements for diameter as
wire shall not vary from the specified diameter by more than prescribed in 5.2, all coils or spools shall be gaged in the
the following amounts rounded off to the nearest 0.1 mil manner specified.
(0.0001 in.):
6. Workmanship,
...