ASTM B2-13(2018)

Standard Specification for Medium-Hard-Drawn Copper Wire

ABSTRACT
This specification covers medium-hard-drawn round copper wire for electrical purposes. The material shall be copper of such quality and purity that the finished product shall have the properties and characteristics prescribed. Tensile test and electrical resistivity test shall be made to conform to the requirements specified.
SCOPE
1.1 This specification covers medium-hard-drawn round copper wire for electrical purposes (see Explanatory Note 1).  
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, health, and environmental practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.  
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-2018
• ICS: 77.150.30 - Copper products
• Technical Committee: B01 - Electrical Conductors
• Drafting Committee: B01.04 - Conductors of Copper and Copper Alloys

Relations

• Replaces: ASTM B2-13 - Standard Specification for Medium-Hard-Drawn Copper Wire
• Effective Date: 01-Oct-2018
• Refers: ASTM B49-20 - Standard Specification for Copper Rod for Electrical Purposes
• Effective Date: 15-Apr-2020
• Refers: ASTM B49-17 - Standard Specification for Copper Rod for Electrical Purposes
• Effective Date: 01-Apr-2017
• Refers: ASTM B193-16 - Standard Test Method for Resistivity of Electrical Conductor Materials
• Effective Date: 01-Apr-2016
• Refers: ASTM B49-16 - Standard Specification for Copper Rod for Electrical Purposes
• Effective Date: 01-Apr-2016
• Refers: ASTM B49-15a - Standard Specification for Copper Rod for Electrical Purposes
• Effective Date: 15-Sep-2015
• Refers: ASTM B49-15 - Standard Specification for Copper Rod for Electrical Purposes
• Effective Date: 01-May-2015
• Refers: ASTM B193-02(2014) - Standard Test Method for Resistivity of Electrical Conductor Materials
• Effective Date: 01-Apr-2014
• Refers: ASTM B49-10 - Standard Specification for Copper Rod Drawing Stock for Electrical Purposes
• Effective Date: 01-Oct-2010
• Refers: ASTM B49-09 - Standard Specification for Copper Rod Drawing Stock for Electrical Purposes
• Effective Date: 01-Nov-2009
• Refers: ASTM B49-08a - Standard Specification for Copper Rod Drawing Stock for Electrical Purposes
• Effective Date: 01-Nov-2008
• 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 B49-08 - Standard Specification for Copper Rod Drawing Stock for Electrical Purposes
• Effective Date: 01-Apr-2008
• Refers: ASTM B49-98(2004) - Standard Specification for Copper Rod Drawing Stock for Electrical Purposes
• Effective Date: 01-May-2004

Overview

ASTM B2-13(2018), issued by ASTM International, is the standard specification for medium-hard-drawn round copper wire intended for electrical purposes. This standard ensures that copper wire meets rigorous criteria for quality, mechanical properties, and electrical performance, making it a critical reference for manufacturers and purchasers in the electrical wire industry. By providing clear requirements for tensile strength, electrical resistivity, dimensions, and surface finish, ASTM B2-13(2018) supports consistent product quality, reliability, and safety in electrical applications.

Key Topics

• Scope of the Standard: Covers medium-hard-drawn round copper wire in a wide range of diameters for electrical uses.
• Material Quality: Specifies that copper must possess sufficient purity and quality to achieve the prescribed mechanical and electrical characteristics in the finished wire.
• Mechanical Properties: Details requirements for minimum and maximum tensile strength and minimum elongation for various wire diameters.
• Electrical Properties: Outlines maximum allowable electrical resistivity at 20°C to ensure efficient conductivity.
• Dimensional Tolerances: Sets precise permissible variations in wire diameter, to be measured accurately using suitable tools.
• Surface Finish: Requires the wire to be free from imperfections when visually inspected, conforming to the best commercial practices.
• Sampling and Testing: Describes procedures for sampling, testing, and inspection to guarantee batch conformity, including criteria for tensile, elongation, resistivity, and surface quality.
• Packaging and Marking: Establishes requirements for packaging to protect the wire during handling and shipping, with package details agreed upon by manufacturer and purchaser.

Applications

The medium-hard-drawn copper wire covered by ASTM B2-13(2018) is widely used in:

• Electrical Conductors: Used in power transmission and distribution lines, electrical wiring, and bus bars due to its balance of strength and conductivity.
• Manufacturing of Cables: Integral for producing stranded and solid copper cables for industrial, commercial, and residential wiring.
• Telecommunications: Suitable for signal transmission where both mechanical durability and electrical performance are crucial.
• Automotive and Aerospace: Applied in systems requiring resilient wire with reliable electrical properties.
• Construction Projects: Used in building infrastructure for grounding and bonding applications.
• Specialty Equipment: Serves in manufacturing electrical devices where medium-hard-drawn specifications are needed for component integrity.

By adhering to ASTM B2-13(2018), manufacturers and end users benefit from improved reliability, product consistency, and compliance with recognized international standards.

Related Standards

For optimal use and full compliance within the electrical industry, ASTM B2-13(2018) should be referenced alongside related standards, including:

• ASTM B49: Specification for Copper Rod for Electrical Purposes, a foundational reference for the copper used in wire production.
• ASTM B193: Test Method for Resistivity of Electrical Conductor Materials, necessary for ensuring electrical properties meet specifications.
• ASTM B258: Specification for Standard Nominal Diameters and Cross-Sectional Areas of AWG Sizes of Solid Round Wires Used as Electrical Conductors, ensuring wire sizes are universally consistent.
• NBS Handbook 100: Copper Wire Tables, providing essential reference data for copper wire properties.

These standards collectively establish a comprehensive framework for the manufacture, testing, and application of high-quality copper wire in electrical installations.

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Keywords: medium-hard-drawn copper wire, ASTM B2-13, electrical copper wire specification, wire tensile strength, copper wire resistivity, electrical conductor standards, copper wire packaging, ASTM copper 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:B2 −13 (Reapproved 2018)
Standard Specification for
Medium-Hard-Drawn Copper Wire
This standard is issued under the fixed designation B2; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of original
adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision.Anumber in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval.Asuperscript
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 2.3 Other Documents:
NBS Handbook 100 —Copper Wire Tables of the National
1.1 This specification covers medium-hard-drawn round
Bureau of Standards
copper wire for electrical purposes (see Explanatory Note 1).
1.2 The values stated in inch-pound units are to be regarded
3. Ordering Information
as standard. The values given in parentheses are mathematical
3.1 Orders for material under this specification shall include
conversions to SI units that are provided for information only
the following information:
and are not considered standard.
3.1.1 Quantity of each size;
1.2.1 Exception—For density, resistivity and temperature,
3.1.2 Wire size: diameter in inches (see 5.3 and Table 1);
the values stated in SI units are to be regarded as standard.
3.1.3 Type of copper, if special (see Section 4);
1.3 This standard does not purport to address all of the
3.1.4 Package size (see 10.1);
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
3.1.5 Special package marking, if required; and
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
3.1.6 Place of inspection (Section 7).
priate safety, health, and environmental practices and deter-
mine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use. 4. Materials
1.4 This international standard was developed in accor-
4.1 The material shall be copper of such quality and purity
dance with internationally recognized principles on standard-
that the finished product shall have the properties and charac-
ization established in the Decision on Principles for the
teristics prescribed in this specification.
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recom-
NOTE 1—Specification B49 defines copper suitable for use.
mendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical
Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
4.2 Copper bars of special qualities, forms, or types, as may
be agreed upon between the manufacturer and the purchaser,
2. Referenced Documents
and which will conform to the requirements prescribed in this
specification, may also be used.
2.1 The following documents of the issue in effect at the
time of reference form a part of this specification to the extent
5. General Requirements (see Section 8)
referenced herein:
5.1 Tensile Strength and Elongation—The wire shall con-
2.2 ASTM Standards:
form to the requirements as to tensile properties prescribed in
B49 Specification for Copper Rod for Electrical Purposes
Table 1 (Explanatory Note 3 and Note 4). For wire whose
B193 Test Method for Resistivity of Electrical Conductor
nominal diameter is more than 0.001 in. (0.025 mm) greater
Materials
than a size listed in Table 1, but which is less than that of the
B258 Specification for Standard Nominal Diameters and
next larger size, the requirements of the next larger size shall
Cross-Sectional Areas of AWG Sizes of Solid Round
apply.
Wires Used as Electrical Conductors
5.1.1 Tests on a specimen containing a joint shall show at
least 95 % of the minimum tensile strength given in Table 1.
This specification is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee B01 on
Elongation tests shall not be made on a specimen containing a
Electrical Conductors and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee B01.04 on
joint.
Conductors of Copper and Copper Alloys.
Current edition approved Oct. 1, 2018. Published October 2018. Originally
5.2 Resisitivity—Electrical resistivity at 20°C shall not ex-
approved in 1912. Last previous edition approved in 2013 as B2 – 13. DOI:
ceed the following values (see Explanatory Note 5):
10.1520/B0002-13R18.
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
B2−13 (2018)
TABLE 1 Tensile Requirements
Diameter Area at 20°C Tensile Strength Elongation, min,
% in 10-in.
psi MPa
2 2
in. mm cmil in. mm (250 mm)
Min Max Min Max
0.4600 11.684 211 600 0.1662 107.0 42 000 49 000 290 340 3.8
0.4096 10.404 167 800 0.1318 85.0 43 000 50 000 295 345 3.6
0.3648 9.266 133 100 0.1045 67.4 44 000 51 000 305 350 3.2
0.3249 8.252 105 600 0.08291 53.5 45 000 52 000 310 360 3.0
0.2893 7.348 83 690 0.06573 42.4 46 000 53 000 315 365 2.8
0.2576 6.543 66 360 0.05212 33.6 47 000 54 000 325 370 2.5
0.2294 5.827 52 620 0.04133 26.7 48 000 55 000 330 380 2.2
0.2043 5.189 41 740 0.03278 21.2 48 330 55 330 335 380 1.9
0.1819 4.620 33 090 0.02599 16.8 48 660 55 660 335 385 1.7
0.1620 4.115 26 240 0.02061 13.3 49 000 56 000 340 385 1.5
0.1443 3.665 20 820 0.01635 10.5 49 330 56 330 340 390 1.4
0.1285 3.264 16 510 0.01297 8.37 49 660 56 660 340 390 1.3
0.1144 2.906 13 090 0.01028 6.63 50 000 57 000 345 395 1.3
0.1019 2.588 10 380 0.00816 5.26 50 330 57 330 345 395 1.2
0.0907 2.304 8 230 0.00646 4.17 50 660 57 600 350 400 1.2
0.0808 2.052 6 530 0.00513 3.31 51 000 58 000 350 400 1.1
0.0720 1.829 5 180 0.00407 2.63 51 330 58 330 355 400 1.1
0.0641 1.628 4 110 0.00323 2.08 51 660 58 660 355 405 1.0
0.0571 1.450 3 260 0.00256 1.65 52 000 59 000 360 405 1.0
0.0508 1.290 2 580 0.00203 1.31 52 330 59 330 360 410 1.0
0.0453 1.151 2 050 0.00161 1.04 52 660 59 660 365 410 1.0
0.0403 1.024 1 620 0.00128 0.823 53 000 60 000 365 415 1.0
6.2 Resistivity—Determine the electrical resistivity of the
Nominal Diameter, in. Resistivity at 20°C,
2 2
Ω·lb/mile Ω·g/m
material in accordance with Test Method B193 (see Explana-
tory Note 5). The purchaser may accept certification that the
0.460 to 0.325 (11.684 to 8.255 mm), incl 896.15 0.15694
wire was drawn from rod stock meeting the International
Under 0.325 to 0.0403 (8.255 to 1.024 mm), incl 905.44 0.15857
Standard forAnnealed Copper instead of resistivity tests on the
5.3 Dimensions and Permissible Variations—Within the
finished wire.
range of diameters included in Table 1 the wire shall not vary
from the specified diameter by more than 61 %, expressed to
6.3 Dimensional Measurements—Dimensional measure-
the nearest 0.0001 in. (0.001 mm) (see Explanatory Note 2).
ments shall be made with a micrometer caliper equipped with
a vernier graduated in 0.0001 in. (0.0025 mm). Measurements
5.4 Joints—No joints shall be made in the completed wire
shall be made on at least three places on each unit selected for
(Explanatory Note 7). Joints in wire and rods, prior to final
this test. If accessible, one measurement shall be taken on each
drawing,shallbemadeinaccordancewiththebestcommercial
end and one near the middle. The average of the three
practice and shall conform to the requirements prescribed in
measurements shall determine compliance with the require-
5.1.
ments.
5.5 Finish—The wire shall be free of all imperfections not
6.4 Surface Finish—Make a surface-finish inspection with
consistent with the best commercial practice.
the unaided eye (normal spectacles accepted).
6. Test Methods
7. Inspection
6.1 Tensile Strength and Elongation:
7.1 General (Explanatory Note 8 and Note 9)—Unless
6.1.1 Obtain the tensile strength, expressed in pounds per
otherwise specified in the contract or purchase order, the
square inch, by dividing the maximum load carried by the
manufacturer shall be responsible for the performance of all
specimenduringthetensiontest,bytheoriginalcross-sectional
inspection and test requirements specified.
area of the specimen. Tensile strength and elongation may be
7.1.1 All inspections and tests shall be made at the place of
determined simultaneously on the same specimen (see Ex-
manufacture unless otherwise especially agreed upon between
planatory Note 4).
the manufacturer and the purchaser at the time of purchase.
6.1.2 Determine the elongation of the wire as the permanent
7.1.2 The manufacturer shall afford the inspector represent-
increase in length due to the breaking of the wire in tension,
measured between gage marks placed originally 10 in. (250 ing the purchaser all reasonable manufacturer’s facilities to
satisfy him that the material is being furnished in accordance
mm) apart upon the test specimen.
6.1.3 If any part of the fracture takes place outside the gage with this specification.
marks or in the jaws of the testing machine, or if an examina- 7.1.3 Unless otherwise agreed upon between the purchaser
tion of the specimen indicates a flaw, the value obtained may and the manufacturer, conformance of the wire to the various
not be representative of the material. In such cases the test may requirementslistedinSection5shallbedeterminedonsamples
be discarded and a new test made. taken from each lot of wire presented for acceptance.
B2−13 (2018)
TABLE 2 Sampling for Dimensional Measurements
First Sample Second Sample
Number of Units
Number of Units in Allowable Number of Number of Units in
in Lot
Sample, n Defects in First Sample, n n plus n Allowable Number of Defects in Both Samples, c
1 2 1 2 2
Sample, c
1 to 14, incl all 0 . . .
15 to 50, incl 14 0 . . .
51 to 100, incl 19 0 23 42 1
101 to 200, incl 24 0 46 70 2
201 to 400, incl 29 0 76 105 3
401 to 800, incl 33 0 112 145 4
Over 800 34 0 116 150 4
7.1.4 The manufacturer shall, if requested prior to production units that fail to meet one or more of the require-
inspection, certify that all wire in the lot was made under such ments shall be rejected. Failure of a sample group from a lot to
conditions that the product as a whole conforms to the meet one or more of the following criteria shall constitute
requirements of this specification as determined by regularly cause for rejection of the lot.The conformance criteria for each
made and recorded tests. of the prescribed properties given in Section 5 are as follows:
8.1.1 Tensile and Elongation—
...