ASTM B49-08

Standard Specification for Copper Rod Drawing Stock for Electrical Purposes

ABSTRACT
This specification covers the requirements for rod drawing stock produced from electrolytic tough-pitch or oxygen-free coppers and is suitable for further fabrication into electrical conductors. The rod shall be fabricated from copper of such quality and purity. Copper of special qualities, forms, or types, as agreed upon between the manufacturer and the purchaser and that will conform to the requirements prescribed in this specification may also be used. The specimen shall have the following chemical composition: tellurium, selenium, bismuth, antimony, arsenic, tin, lead, iron, nickel, sulfur, silver, oxygen, cadmium, phosphorus, zinc, and manganese. Embrittlement test shall be performed on the specimen to reflect propensity towards hydrogen embrittlement and shall be performed only on oxygen-free copper. The rod shall be free of defects, but blemishes of a nature that do not interfere with the intended application are acceptable.
SCOPE
1.1 This specification covers the requirements for rod drawing stock in diameters from ¼ to 13/8 in. (6.4 to 35 mm) produced from electrolytic tough-pitch or oxygen-free coppers and are suitable for further fabrication into electrical conductors.  
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.
1.3 The following safety hazards caveat pertains only to Section 13. 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.

General Information

• Status: Historical
• Publication Date: 31-Mar-2008
• ICS: 29.050 - Superconductivity and conducting materials
• Technical Committee: B05 - Copper and Copper Alloys
• Drafting Committee: B05.07 - Refined Copper

Relations

• Replaces: ASTM B49-98(2004) - Standard Specification for Copper Rod Drawing Stock for Electrical Purposes
• Effective Date: 01-Apr-2008
• Replaced By: ASTM B49-08a - Standard Specification for Copper Rod Drawing Stock for Electrical Purposes
• Effective Date: 01-Nov-2008
• Referred By: ASTM B47-95a(2017) - Standard Specification for Copper Trolley Wire
• Effective Date: 01-Apr-2008
• Referred By: ASTM B973-10(2020)e1 - Standard Specification for Tin-Coated Braid and Ribbon Flat Copper Wire intended for use in Electronic Application
• Effective Date: 01-Apr-2008
• Referred By: ASTM B971-10(2020)e1 - Standard Specification for Silver-Coated Braid and Ribbon Flat Copper Wire intended for use in Electronic Application
• Effective Date: 01-Apr-2008
• Referred By: ASTM B1-13(2018) - Standard Specification for Hard-Drawn Copper Wire
• Effective Date: 01-Apr-2008
• Referred By: ASTM B965-09(2018) - Standard Specification for High Performance Tin-Coated Annealed Copper Wire Intended for Electrical and Electronic Application for Solderability
• Effective Date: 01-Apr-2008
• Referred By: ASTM B246-15(2021) - Standard Specification for Tinned Hard-Drawn and Medium-Hard-Drawn Copper Wire for Electrical Purposes
• Effective Date: 01-Apr-2008
• Referred By: ASTM B115-10(2021) - Standard Specification for Electrolytic Copper Cathode
• Effective Date: 01-Apr-2008
• Referred By: ASTM B33-10(2020)e1 - Standard Specification for Tin-Coated Soft or Annealed Copper Wire for Electrical Purposes
• Effective Date: 01-Apr-2008
• Referred By: ASTM B298-12(2017) - Standard Specification for Silver-Coated Soft or Annealed Copper Wire
• Effective Date: 01-Apr-2008
• Referred By: ASTM B1001-17 - Standard Specification for Copper Electrode Wire Used for Welding Seams of Steel Cans
• Effective Date: 01-Apr-2008
• Referred By: ASTM B189-05(2021) - Standard Specification for Lead-Coated and Lead-Alloy-Coated Soft Copper Wire for Electrical Purposes
• Effective Date: 01-Apr-2008
• Referred By: ASTM B116-95(2017) - Standard Specification for Figure-9 Deep-Grooved and Figure-8 Copper Trolley Wire for Industrial Haulage
• Effective Date: 01-Apr-2008
• Referred By: ASTM B972-10(2020)e1 - Standard Specification for Nickel-Coated Braid and Ribbon Flat Copper Wire Intended for use in Electronic Application
• Effective Date: 01-Apr-2008

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: B 49 – 08
Standard Specification for
1
Copper Rod Drawing Stock for Electrical Purposes
ThisstandardisissuedunderthefixeddesignationB49;thenumberimmediatelyfollowingthedesignationindicatestheyearoforiginal
adoptionor,inthecaseofrevision,theyearoflastrevision.Anumberinparenthesesindicatestheyearoflastreapproval.Asuperscript
epsilon (e) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
This standard has been approved for use by agencies of the Department of Defense.
1. Scope* E8 Test Methods for Tension Testing of Metallic Materials
E18 Test Methods for Rockwell Hardness of Metallic
1.1 Thisspecificationcoverstherequirementsforroddraw-
1 3 Materials
ing stock in diameters from ⁄4 to 1 ⁄8 in. (6.4 to 35 mm)
E29 Practice for Using Significant Digits in Test Data to
produced from electrolytic tough-pitch or oxygen-free coppers
Determine Conformance with Specifications
and are suitable for further fabrication into electrical conduc-
E53 Test Method for Determination of Copper in Unal-
tors.
loyed Copper by Gravimetry
1.2 The values stated in inch-pound units are to be regarded
E478 Test Methods for Chemical Analysis of Copper
as standard. The values given in parentheses are mathematical
Alloys
conversions to SI units that are provided for information only
2.3 Other Document:
and are not considered standard.
3
NBS Handbook 100 Copper Wire Tables
1.3 The following safety hazards caveat pertains only to
Section13.Thisstandarddoesnotpurporttoaddressallofthe
3. Terminology
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
3.1 For definitions of general terms relating to copper and
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
copper alloys refer to Terminology B846.
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use.
4. Ordering Information
4.1 Orders for rod under this specification shall include the
2. Referenced Documents
following information:
2.1 The following documents in the current issue of the
4.1.1 ASTM designation and year of issue,
BookofStandardsformapartofthisspecificationtotheextent
4.1.2 Quantity of each size,
referenced herein and define materials suitable for use in rod
4.1.3 Type and requirements of copper (Sections 5-10),
manufacture:
2 4.1.4 Finish (Sections 9 and 10),
2.2 ASTM Standards:
4.1.5 Package with or without joints (see 5.3),
B5 Specification for High Conductivity Tough-Pitch Cop-
4.1.6 Rod diameter (see 9.2),
per Refinery Shapes
4.1.7 Inspection (Section 15),
B115 Specification for Electrolytic Copper Cathode
4.1.8 Package size (see 19.1), and
B170 SpecificationforOxygen-FreeElectrolyticCopper—
4.1.9 Special package marking as agreed upon between the
Refinery Shapes
manufacturer and the purchaser (Section 19).
B193 Test Method for Resistivity of Electrical Conductor
4.2 The following requirements are optional and should be
Materials
specified in the contract or purchase order when required.
B224 Classification of Coppers
4.2.1 Certification (Section 17) and
B577 Test Methods for Detection of Cuprous Oxide (Hy-
4.2.2 Test Report (Section 18).
drogen Embrittlement Susceptibility) in Copper
B846 Terminology for Copper and Copper Alloys
5. Material and Manufacture
5.1 The rod shall be fabricated from copper of such quality
and purity that the finished product shall have the properties
1
ThisspecificationisunderthejurisdictionofASTMCommitteeB05onCopper
and characteristics prescribed in this specification.
and Copper Alloys and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee B05.07 on
Refined Copper.
NOTE 1—Thefollowingspecificationsdefinematerialssuitableforuse:
Current edition approved April 1, 2008. Published April 2008. Originally
approved in 1923. Last previous edition approved in 2004 as B49–98 (2004).
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), 5285 Port
the ASTM website. Royal Rd., Springfield, VA 22161, http://www.ntis.gov.
*A Summary of Changes section appears at the end of this standard.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959, United States.
1

---------------------- Page: 1 ----------------------
B49–08
SpecificationB5, or SpecificationB115, or Specification B170.
7. Physical Property Requirements
5.2 Copper of special qualities, forms, or types, as agreed
7.1 Electrical Resistivity—Resistivity of the copper in the
uponbetweenthemanufacturerandthepurchaserandthatwill
annealed condition (See Note X1.1) shall not exceed the
conform to the requirements prescribed in this specification
following values at 20°C:
may also be used.
Type
...

This document is not anASTM standard and is intended only to provide the user of anASTM 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:B49–98 (Reapproved2004) Designation: B 49 – 08
Standard Specification for
1
Copper Rod Drawing Stock for Electrical Purposes
ThisstandardisissuedunderthefixeddesignationB49;thenumberimmediatelyfollowingthedesignationindicatestheyearoforiginal
adoptionor,inthecaseofrevision,theyearoflastrevision.Anumberinparenthesesindicatestheyearoflastreapproval.Asuperscript
epsilon (e) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
This standard has been approved for use by agencies of the Department of Defense.
1. Scope*
1 3
1.1 This specification covers the requirements for rod drawing stock in diameters from ⁄4 to 1 ⁄8 in. (6.4 to 35 mm) produced
from electrolytic tough-pitch or oxygen-free coppers and are suitable for further fabrication into electrical conductors.
1.2The values stated in inch-pound units are the standard. The values given in parentheses are for information only.
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.
1.3 The following safety hazards caveat pertains only to Section 13. This standard does not purport to address all of the safety
concerns,ifany,associatedwithitsuse.Itistheresponsibilityoftheuserofthisstandardtoestablishappropriatesafetyandhealth
practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.
2. Referenced Documents
2.1 The following documents in the current issue of the Book of Standards form a part of this specification to the extent
referenced herein and define materials suitable for use in rod manufacture:
2
2.2 ASTM Standards:
B5 Specification for High Conductivity Tough-Pitch Copper Refinery Shapes
B115 Specification for Electrolytic Copper Cathode
B170 Specification for Oxygen-Free Electrolytic Copper—Refinery Shapes
B193 Test Method for Resistivity of Electrical Conductor Materials
B224 Classification of Coppers
B577 Test Methods for Detection of Cuprous Oxide (Hydrogen Embrittlement Susceptibility) in Copper
B846 Terminology for Copper and Copper Alloys
E8 Test Methods for Tension Testing of Metallic Materials
E18TestMethodsforRockwellHardnessandRockwellSuperficialHardnessofMetallicMaterials TestMethodsforRockwell
Hardness of Metallic Materials
E29 Practice for Using Significant Digits in Test Data to Determine Conformance with Specifications
E53 Test MethodsMethod for Determination of Copper in Unalloyed Copper by Gravimetry
E478 Test Methods for Chemical Analysis of Copper Alloys
2.3 Other Document:
NBS Handbook 100
3
NBS Handbook 100 Copper Wire Tables
3. Terminology
3.1 For definitions of general terms relating to copper and copper alloys refer to Terminology B846.
4. Ordering Information
4.1 Orders for rod under this specification shall include the following information:
4.1.1 ASTM designation and year of issue,
4.1.2 Quantity of each size,
1
This specification is under the jurisdiction ofASTM Committee B05 on Copper and CopperAlloys and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee B05.07 on Refined
Copper.
Current edition approved MayApril 1, 2004.2008. Published May 2004.April 2008. Originally approved in 1923. Last previous edition approved in 19982004 as
B49–98e2 . (2004).
2
ForreferencedASTMstandards,visittheASTMwebsite,www.astm.org,[e-mail]ards
volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on the ASTM website.
3
Available from the National Technical Information Service (NTIS), 5285 Port Royal Rd., Springfield, VA 22161, http://www.ntis.gov.
*A Summary of Changes section appears at the end of this standard.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959, United States.
1

---------------------- Page: 1 ----------------------
B49–08
4.1.3 Type and requirements of copper (Sections 5-10),
4.1.4 Finish (Sections 9 and 10),
4.1.5 Package with or without joints (see 5.3),
4.1.6 Rod diameter (see 9.2),
4.1.7 Inspection (Section 15),
4.1.8 Package size (see 19.1), and
4.1.9 Special package marking as agreed upon between the manufacturer and the purchaser (Section 19).
4.2 The following requirements are optional and should be specified in the contract or purchase order when required.
4.2.1 Certification (Section 17) and
4.2.2 Test Report (Section 18).
5. Material and Manufacture
5.1 The rod shall be fabricated from copper of such quality and purity that the finished product shall have the properties and
...