ASTM B49-15

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 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 Section13. 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: 30-Apr-2015
• ICS: 29.050 - Superconductivity and conducting materials
• Technical Committee: B05 - Copper and Copper Alloys
• Drafting Committee: B05.07 - Refined Copper

Relations

• Replaces: ASTM B49-10 - Standard Specification for Copper Rod Drawing Stock for Electrical Purposes
• Effective Date: 01-May-2015
• Replaced By: ASTM B49-15a - Standard Specification for Copper Rod for Electrical Purposes
• Effective Date: 15-Sep-2015
• Referred By: ASTM B33-10(2020)e1 - Standard Specification for Tin-Coated Soft or Annealed Copper Wire for Electrical Purposes
• Effective Date: 01-May-2015
• Referred By: ASTM B298-12(2017) - Standard Specification for Silver-Coated Soft or Annealed Copper Wire
• Effective Date: 01-May-2015
• Referred By: ASTM B355-11(2016) - Standard Specification for Nickel-Coated Soft or Annealed Copper Wire
• Effective Date: 01-May-2015
• 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-May-2015
• Referred By: ASTM B48-00(2021)e1 - Standard Specification for Soft Rectangular and Square Bare Copper Wire for Electrical Conductors
• Effective Date: 01-May-2015
• 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-May-2015
• 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-May-2015
• Referred By: ASTM B1001-17 - Standard Specification for Copper Electrode Wire Used for Welding Seams of Steel Cans
• Effective Date: 01-May-2015
• Referred By: ASTM B2-13(2018) - Standard Specification for Medium-Hard-Drawn Copper Wire
• Effective Date: 01-May-2015
• Referred By: ASTM B47-95a(2017) - Standard Specification for Copper Trolley Wire
• Effective Date: 01-May-2015
• Referred By: ASTM B246-15(2021) - Standard Specification for Tinned Hard-Drawn and Medium-Hard-Drawn Copper Wire for Electrical Purposes
• Effective Date: 01-May-2015
• Referred By: ASTM B1-13(2018) - Standard Specification for Hard-Drawn Copper Wire
• Effective Date: 01-May-2015
• 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-May-2015

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 −15
StandardSpecification 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 or oxygen-free coppers and are suitable for further
E18Test Methods for Rockwell Hardness of Metallic Ma-
fabrication into electrical conductors.
terials
1.2 Thevaluesstatedininch-poundunitsaretoberegarded
E29Practice for Using Significant Digits in Test Data to
as standard. The values given in parentheses are mathematical
Determine Conformance with Specifications
conversions to SI units that are provided for information only
E53Test Method for Determination of Copper in Unalloyed
and are not considered standard.
Copper by Gravimetry
1.3 The following safety hazards caveat pertains only to E478Test Methods for ChemicalAnalysis of CopperAlloys
Section13. This standard does not purport to address all of the
E1606Practice for Electromagnetic (Eddy-Current) Exami-
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the nation of Copper Redraw Rod for Electrical 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
3. Terminology
2.1 The following documents in the current issue of the
3.1 For definitions of general terms relating to copper and
BookofStandardsformapartofthisspecificationtotheextent
copper alloys refer to Terminology B846.
referenced herein and define materials suitable for use in rod
manufacture:
4. Ordering Information
2
2.2 ASTM Standards:
4.1 Orders for rod under this specification shall include the
B5Specification for High ConductivityTough-Pitch Copper
following information:
Refinery Shapes
4.1.1 ASTM designation and year of issue,
B115Specification for Electrolytic Copper Cathode
4.1.2 Quantity of each size,
B170Specification for Oxygen-Free Electrolytic Copper—
4.1.3 UNS designation and requirements of copper (Sec-
Refinery Shapes
tions5–10),
B193Test Method for Resistivity of Electrical Conductor
4.1.4 Finish (Sections 9 and 10),
Materials
4.1.5 Package with or without joints (see 5.3),
B224Classification of Coppers
4.1.6 Rod diameter (see 9.2),
4.1.7 Inspection (Section 15),
4.1.8 Package size (see 19.1), and
1
ThisspecificationisunderthejurisdictionofASTMCommitteeB05onCopper
4.1.9 Special package marking as agreed upon between the
and Copper Alloys and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee B05.07 on
manufacturer and the purchaser (Section 19).
Refined Copper.
Current edition approved May 1, 2015. Published May 2015. Originally
4.2 The following requirements are optional and should be
approved in 1923. Last previous edition approved in 2010 as B49–10. DOI:
specified in the contract or purchase order when required.
10.1520/B0049-15.
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 ----------------------
B49−15
A
TABLE 1 Chemical Composition
6.3 Silver-bearing tough-pitch copper corresponds to the
UNS Number C11040 C10100 C10200 C11000
designation STP (silver-bearing tough-pitch) as shown in
B C
Copper Type ETP OFE OF ETP
Classification B224 and to coppers having UNS Nos. C11300,
D D E E
Copper, min 99.90 % 99.99 % 99.95 % 99.90 %
C11400, C11500, and C11600.
incl silver incl silver
ppm ppm ppm ppm
6.4 Oxygen Content—Oxygen-free copper as described
Tellurium, max 2 2 . . . . . .
herein is defined as a copper containing not in excess of
Selenium, max 2 3 . . . . .
...

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 − 10 B49 − 15
Standard Specification for
1
Copper Rod Drawing Stock 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 drawing stock in diameters from ⁄4 to 1 ⁄8 in. (6.4 to 35 mm) produced
from high conductivity coppers listed in Table 1, namely, 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 Section13. 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
E8E8/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 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 Oct. 1, 2010May 1, 2015. Published November 2010May 2015. Originally approved in 1923. Last previous edition approved in 20092010 as
B49 – 09.B49 – 10. DOI: 10.1520/B0049-10.10.1520/B0049-15.
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), 5285 Port Royal Rd., Springfield, VA 22161,5301 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 − 15
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,
4.1.3 UNS designation 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.
...