ASTM B961-13

Standard Specification for Silver Coated Copper and Copper Alloy Stranded Conductors for Electronic Space Application

SCOPE
1.1 This specification covers uninsulated silver-coated soft or annealed copper and copper alloy stranded conductors for use in electronic space application.  
1.2 The values stated in either SI units or inch-pound units are to be regarded separately as standard. The values stated in each system may not be exact equivalents; therefore, each system shall be used independently of the other. Combining values from the two systems may result in non-conformance with the 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. This precautionary caveat pertains only to Section 9.

General Information

• Status: Historical
• Publication Date: 31-Mar-2013
• ICS: 29.060.20 - Cables
• Technical Committee: B01 - Electrical Conductors
• Drafting Committee: B01.02 - Methods of Test and Sampling Procedure

Relations

• Replaces: ASTM B961-08 - Standard Specification for Silver Coated Copper and Copper Alloy Stranded Conductors for Electronic Space Application
• Effective Date: 01-Apr-2013
• Replaced By: ASTM B961-13(2019) - Standard Specification for Silver Coated Copper and Copper Alloy Stranded Conductors for Electronic Space Application
• Effective Date: 01-Oct-2019

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NOTICE: This standard has either been superseded and replaced by a new version or withdrawn.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:B961 −13
Standard Specification for
Silver Coated Copper and Copper Alloy Stranded
1
Conductors for Electronic Space Application
This standard is issued under the fixed designation B961; 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.A
superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope Copper-Alloy Wire for Electronic Application
E3Guide for Preparation of Metallographic Specimens
1.1 This specification covers uninsulated silver-coated soft
3
or annealed copper and copper alloy stranded conductors for
2.2 European Space Agency (ESA):
use in electronic space application.
ESA/SCC3901Generic Specification No. 3901
2.3 European Cooperation for Space Standardization
1.2 The values stated in either SI units or inch-pound units
3
(ECSS):
are to be regarded separately as standard. The values stated in
ECSS-Q-70-20ADetermination of the Susceptibility of Sil-
each system may not be exact equivalents; therefore, each
ver Plated Copper wire and Cable to “Red Plague”
system shall be used independently of the other. Combining
Corrosion
values from the two systems may result in non-conformance
with the standard.
3. Ordering Information
1.3 This standard does not purport to address all of the
3.1 Ordersformaterialunderthisspecificationshallinclude
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
the following information:
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
3.1.1 Quantity of each size.
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-
3.1.2 Customer specification requirements including con-
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use.This precautionary
ductor size, designation, and construction.
caveat pertains only to Section 9.
3.1.3 Whether silver-coated copper or silver-coated copper-
alloy.
2. Referenced Documents
3.1.4 Package size (Section 12).
2
2.1 ASTM Standards:
3.1.5 Special package marking if required (Section 11), and
NOTE 1—The following documents of the issue in effect on date of 3.1.6 Place of inspection (Section 10).
material purchase form a part of this specification to the extent referenced
herein.
4. Coating of Wires
B193Test Method for Resistivity of Electrical Conductor
4.1 Coating Thickness—The silver coating of wires com-
Materials
posing stranded conductors shall be uniform such that no area
B258 Specification for Nominal Diameters and Cross-
around the strand circumference is covered by less than 80
SectionalAreasofAWGSizesofSolidRoundWiresUsed
micro-inches of silver. Uniform silver coating shall be verified
as Electrical Conductors
by micro-sectioning as outlined in section 9.1.
B298Specification for Silver-Coated Soft orAnnealed Cop-
4.1.1 Single points caused by eccentric strands or minute
per Wire
scratches shall not be less than 60 micro-inches minimum or
B286 Specification for Copper Conductors for Use in
exceed 3 points in number around the micro-sectioned strand
Hookup Wire for Electronic Equipment
circumference.
B624Specification for High-Strength, High-Conductivity
4.2 Thesilvercoatingofwirescomposingstrandedconduc-
tors (before and after stranding) shall conform to the polysul-
1
This specification is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee B01 on
fide test in accordance with Specification B298.
Electrical Conductors and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee B01.02 on
Methods of Test and Sampling Procedure.
4.3 Theaveragesilvercoatingthicknessofwirescomposing
Current edition approved April 1, 2013. Published April 2013. Originally
stranded conductors shall be verified by electronic determina-
approved in 2008. Last previous edition approved in 2008 as B961 – 08. DOI:
tion (Method A) in accordance with Specification B298.
10.1520/B0961-13.
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 ESA Publications Division, ESTEC, P.O. Box 299, 2200 AG Noordwijk, The
the ASTM website. Netherlands (ESA/SCC3901 download available from www.escies.org).
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
1

---------------------- Page: 1 ----------------------
B961−13
4.4 Red Plague Corrosion Test—Representative samples of 9. Test Methods
thesilvercoatedconductorsshallconformtocodes0–3ofthe
9.1 Micro-Sectioning of Strands:
accelerated corrosion test for un-insulated silver-plated con-
9.1.1 The silver coating shall be evaluated for uniform
ductors as outlined in section 9.2 (Explanatory Note 1).
coating requirements using the following p
...

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: B961 − 08 B961 − 13
Standard Specification for
Silver Coated Copper and Copper Alloy Stranded
1
Conductors for Electronic Space Application
This standard is issued under the fixed designation B961; 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
1.1 This specification covers uninsulated silver-coated soft or annealed copper and copper alloy stranded conductors for use in
electronic space application.
1.2 The values stated in either SI units or inch-pound units are to be regarded separately as standard. The values stated in each
system may not be exact equivalents; therefore, each system shall be used independently of the other. Combining values from the
two systems may result in non-conformance with the 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. This precautionary caveat pertains only to Section 9.
2. Referenced Documents
2
2.1 ASTM Standards:
NOTE 1—The following documents of the issue in effect on date of material purchase form a part of this specification to the extent referenced herein.
B193 Test Method for Resistivity of Electrical Conductor Materials
B258 Specification for Nominal Diameters and Cross-Sectional Areas of AWG Sizes of Solid Round Wires Used as Electrical
Conductors
B298 Specification for Silver-Coated Soft or Annealed Copper Wire
B286 Specification for Copper Conductors for Use in Hookup Wire for Electronic Equipment
B624 Specification for High-Strength, High-Conductivity Copper-Alloy Wire for Electronic Application
E3 Guide for Preparation of Metallographic Specimens
3
2.2 European Space Agency (ESA):
ESA/SCC 3901 Generic Specification No. 3901
3
2.3 European Cooperation for Space Standardization (ECSS):
ECSS-Q-70-20A Determination of the Susceptibility of Silver Plated Copper wire and Cable to “Red Plague” Corrosion
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 Customer specification requirements including conductor size, designation, and construction.
3.1.3 Whether silver-coated copper or silver-coated copper-alloy.
3.1.4 Package size (Section 12).
3.1.5 Special package marking if required (Section 11), and
3.1.6 Place of inspection (Section 10).
1
This test method specification is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee B01 on Electrical Conductors and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee B01.04B01.02
on ConductorsMethods of CopperTest and Copper AlloysSampling Procedure.
Current edition approved Sept. 1, 2008April 1, 2013. Published October 2008April 2013. Originally approved in 2008. Last previous edition approved in 2008 as B961
– 08. DOI: 10.1520/B0961-08.10.1520/B0961-13.
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
ESA Publications Division, ESTEC, P.O. Box 299, 2200 AG Noordwijk, The Netherlands (ESA/SCC 3901 download available from www.escies.org).
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
1

---------------------- Page: 1 ----------------------
B961 − 13
4. Coating of Wires
4.1 Coating Thickness—The silver coating of wires composing stranded conductors shall be uniform such that no area around
the strand circumference is covered by less than 80 micro-inches of silver. Uniform silver coating shall be verified by
micro-sectioning as outlined in section 9.1.
4.1.1 Single points caused by eccentric strands or minute scratches shall not be less than 60 micro-inches minimum or exceed
3 points in number around the micro-sectioned strand circumference.
4.2 The silver coating of wires composing stranded conductors (before and after stranding) shall conform to the polysulfide test
in accordance with Specification B298.
4.3 The average silver coating thickness of wires composing stranded conductors shall be verified by electronic determination
(Method A) in accord
...