ASTM B49-16

Standard Specification for Copper Rod 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 in diameters from 1/4 to 13/8 in. (6.4 to 35 mm) produced from high conductivity coppers listed in Table 1, namely, electrolytic tough-pitch, oxygen-free, or fire-refined high conductivity 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-2016
• ICS: 29.050 - Superconductivity and conducting materials
• Technical Committee: B05 - Copper and Copper Alloys
• Drafting Committee: B05.07 - Refined Copper

Relations

• Replaces: ASTM B49-15a - Standard Specification for Copper Rod for Electrical Purposes
• Effective Date: 01-Apr-2016
• Replaced By: ASTM B49-17 - Standard Specification for Copper Rod for Electrical Purposes
• Effective Date: 01-Apr-2017
• 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-2016
• Referred By: ASTM B2-13(2018) - Standard Specification for Medium-Hard-Drawn Copper Wire
• Effective Date: 01-Apr-2016
• Referred By: ASTM B355-11(2016) - Standard Specification for Nickel-Coated Soft or Annealed Copper Wire
• Effective Date: 01-Apr-2016
• Referred By: ASTM B272-12(2019) - Standard Specification for Copper Flat Products with Finished (Rolled or Drawn) Edges (Flat Wire and Strip)
• Effective Date: 01-Apr-2016
• Referred By: ASTM B48-00(2021)e1 - Standard Specification for Soft Rectangular and Square Bare Copper Wire for Electrical Conductors
• Effective Date: 01-Apr-2016
• 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-2016
• Referred By: ASTM B1019-21 - Standard Test Method for Determination of Surface Oxides on Copper Rod<brk/>(for Electrical Purposes)
• Effective Date: 01-Apr-2016
• 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-2016
• Referred By: ASTM B1001-17 - Standard Specification for Copper Electrode Wire Used for Welding Seams of Steel Cans
• Effective Date: 01-Apr-2016
• Referred By: ASTM B33-10(2020)e1 - Standard Specification for Tin-Coated Soft or Annealed Copper Wire for Electrical Purposes
• Effective Date: 01-Apr-2016
• 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-2016
• Referred By: ASTM B47-95a(2017) - Standard Specification for Copper Trolley Wire
• Effective Date: 01-Apr-2016
• 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-2016

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:B49 −16
Standard Specification for
1
Copper Rod for Electrical Purposes
ThisstandardisissuedunderthefixeddesignationB49;thenumberimmediatelyfollowingthedesignationindicatestheyearoforiginal
adoptionor,inthecaseofrevision,theyearoflastrevision.Anumberinparenthesesindicatestheyearoflastreapproval.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* B577TestMethodsforDetectionofCuprousOxide(Hydro-
gen Embrittlement Susceptibility) in Copper
1.1 This specification covers the requirements for rod in
B846Terminology for Copper and Copper Alloys
1 3
diameters from ⁄4to 1 ⁄8in. (6.4 to 35 mm) produced from
E8/E8MTest Methods for Tension Testing of Metallic Ma-
highconductivitycopperslistedinTable1,namely,electrolytic
terials
tough-pitch, oxygen-free, or fire-refined high conductivity
E18Test Methods for Rockwell Hardness of Metallic Ma-
coppers, and are suitable for further fabrication into electrical
terials
conductors.
E29Practice for Using Significant Digits in Test Data to
1.2 Thevaluesstatedininch-poundunitsaretoberegarded
Determine Conformance with Specifications
as standard. The values given in parentheses are mathematical
E53Test Method for Determination of Copper in Unalloyed
conversions to SI units that are provided for information only
Copper by Gravimetry
and are not considered standard.
E478Test Methods for ChemicalAnalysis of CopperAlloys
1.3 The following safety hazards caveat pertains only to
E1606Practice for Electromagnetic (Eddy Current) Exami-
Section13.Thisstandarddoesnotpurporttoaddressallofthe nation of Copper andAluminum Redraw Rod for Electri-
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
cal Purposes
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro- E2575Test Method for Determination of Oxygen in Copper
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-
and Copper Alloys
3
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use.
2.3 Other Document:
NBS Handbook 100Copper Wire Tables
2. Referenced Documents
2.1 The following documents in the current issue of the
3. Terminology
BookofStandardsformapartofthisspecificationtotheextent
3.1 For definitions of general terms relating to copper and
referenced herein and define materials suitable for use in rod
copper alloys refer to Terminology B846.
manufacture:
2
2.2 ASTM Standards:
4. Ordering Information
B5Specification for High ConductivityTough-Pitch Copper
4.1 Orders for rod under this specification shall include the
Refinery Shapes
following information:
B115Specification for Electrolytic Copper Cathode
4.1.1 ASTM designation and year of issue,
B170Specification for Oxygen-Free Electrolytic Copper—
4.1.2 Quantity of each size,
Refinery Shapes
4.1.3 UNS designation and requirements of copper (Sec-
B193Test Method for Resistivity of Electrical Conductor
tions5–10),
Materials
4.1.4 Finish (Sections 9 and 10),
B224Classification of Coppers
4.1.5 Package with or without joints (see 5.3),
4.1.6 Rod diameter (see 9.2),
1
ThisspecificationisunderthejurisdictionofASTMCommitteeB05onCopper 4.1.7 Inspection (Section 15),
and Copper Alloys and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee B05.07 on
4.1.8 Package size (see 19.1), and
Refined Copper.
4.1.9 Special package marking as agreed upon between the
Current edition approved April 1, 2016. Published May 2016. Originally
manufacturer and the purchaser (Section 19).
approved in 1923. Last previous edition approved in 2015 as B49–15a. DOI:
10.1520/B0049-16.
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 NationalTechnical Information Service (NTIS), 5301 Shawnee
the ASTM website. Rd., Alexandria, VA 22312, 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 ----------------------
B49−16
A
TABLE 1 Chemical Composition
4.2 The following requirements are optional and should be
UNS Number C11000 C11040 C10100 C10200
specified in the contract or purchase order when required.
B C
Copper Type ETP ETP OFE OF
4.2.1 Certification (Section 17) and
D E E D
Copper, min 99.90 % 99.90 % 99.99 % 99.95 %
4.2.2 Test Report (Section 18).
incl silver incl silver
ppm ppm ppm ppm
Tellurium, max . . . 2 2 . . .
5. Material and Manufacture
Selenium, max . . . 2 3 . . .
Bismuth, max . . . 1.0 1.0 . . .
5.1 The rod shall be fabricated from copper of such quality
Group total, max . 3 . .
and purity that the finished product shall hav
...

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: B49 − 15a B49 − 16
Standard Specification for
1
Copper Rod for Electrical Purposes
This standard is issued under the fixed designation B49; 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 3
1.1 This specification covers the requirements for rod in diameters from ⁄4 to 1 ⁄8 in. (6.4 to 35 mm) produced from high
conductivity coppers listed in Table 1, Table 1, namely, electrolytic tough-pitch, oxygen-free, or fire-refined high conductivity
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.
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/E8M Test Methods for Tension Testing of Metallic Materials
E18 Test Methods for Rockwell Hardness of Metallic Materials
E29 Practice for Using Significant Digits in Test Data to Determine Conformance with Specifications
E53 Test Method for Determination of Copper in Unalloyed Copper by Gravimetry
E478 Test Methods for Chemical Analysis of Copper Alloys
E1606 Practice for Electromagnetic (Eddy Current) Examination of Copper and Aluminum Redraw Rod for Electrical Purposes
E2575 Test Method for Determination of Oxygen in Copper and Copper Alloys
3
2.3 Other Document:
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.
1
This specification is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee B05 on Copper and Copper Alloys and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee B05.07 on Refined
Copper.
Current edition approved Sept. 15, 2015April 1, 2016. Published October 2015May 2016. Originally approved in 1923. Last previous edition approved in 2015 as
B49–15.–15a. DOI: 10.1520/B0049-15A.10.1520/B0049-16.
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’s Document Summary page on the ASTM website.
3
Available from National Technical Information Service (NTIS), 5301 Shawnee Rd., Alexandria, VA 22312, 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 − 16
A
TABLE 1 Chemical Composition
UNS Number C11000 C11040 C10100 C10200
B C
Copper Type ETP ETP OFE OF
D E E D
Copper, min 99.90 % 99.90 % 99.99 % 99.95 %
incl silver incl silver
ppm ppm ppm ppm
Tellurium, max . . . 2 2 . . .
Selenium, max . . . 2 3 . . .
Bismuth, max . . . 1.0 1.0 . . .
Group total, max . . . 3 . . . . . .
Antimony, max . . . 4 4 . . .
Arsenic, max . . . 5 5 . . .
Tin, max . . . 5 2 . . .
Lead, max . . . 5 5 . . .
Iron, max . . . 10 10 . . .
Nickel, max . . . 10 10 . . .
Sulfur, max . . . 15 15 . . .
Silver, max . . . 25 25 . . .
Oxygen . . . 100–650 5 max 10 max
F
Maximum . . . 65 . . . . . .
allowable total
Cadmium, max . . . . . . 1 . . .
Phosphorus, max . . . . . . 3 . . .
Zin
...