ASTM B63-90(2001)
(Test Method)Standard Test Method for Resistivity of Metallically Conducting Resistance and Contact Materials
Standard Test Method for Resistivity of Metallically Conducting Resistance and Contact Materials
SCOPE
1.1 This test method covers the determination, to a precision of 2%, of the electrical resistivity of materials used in resistors, heating elements, and electrical contacts, as well as products of powder metallurgy processes which are used for other purposes.
Note 1--For determining the resistivity of electrical conductors, see Test Method B193.
1.2 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.
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Designation:B63–90(Reapproved2001)
Standard Test Method for
Resistivity of Metallically Conducting Resistance and
1
Contact Materials
ThisstandardisissuedunderthefixeddesignationB 63;thenumberimmediatelyfollowingthedesignationindicatestheyearoforiginal
adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision.Anumber in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval.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 length will have a required resistance. It serves as one basis for
the selection of materials for specific applications and its
1.1 Thistestmethodcoversthedetermination,toaprecision
measurement is a necessary acceptance test for resistance
of 2 %, of the electrical resistivity of materials used in
materials.
resistors, heating elements, and electrical contacts, as well as
4.2 In the case of materials for electrical contacts, the
products of powder metallurgy processes which are used for
measurement of resistivity can serve as a test for uniformity of
other purposes.
materials of nominally the same composition and structure.
NOTE 1—For determining the resistivity of electrical conductors, see
Test Method B 193.
5. Apparatus
1.2 This standard does not purport to address all of the
5.1 Means for applying current and voltage terminals to the
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
specimen are specified in Section 9. An optional suitable
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
specimen holder for nonductile materials is shown in Fig. 1.
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-
5.2 A suitable bridge, potentiometer, digital ohmmeter, or
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use.
equivalent, with necessary accessories for making resistance
measurements with a limit of error of less than 0.5 %.
2. Referenced Documents
5.3 Means for measuring the dimensions of the specimen,
2.1 ASTM Standards:
adequate to determine its length and its mean area of cross
B 193 Test Method for Resistivity of Electrical Conductor
section, each within 0.5 %.
2
Materials
6. Test Specimen
3. Terminology
6.1 Ductile Materials—The test specimen for ductile ma-
3.1 Definitions:
terials, including those used for contacts, shall be in the form
3.1.1 resistivity—that property of a material which deter-
of a wire or a strip. In order to determine the resistivity with a
mines its resistance to the flow of an electric current, expressed
precision of 2 %, it is necessary that the resistance, cross-
as:
sectional area, and length shall be measured with a limit of
error within 0.5 %. To ensure this limit of error each test
r5 RA/L (1)
specimen shall conform to the following:
where R is the resistance in ohms of a specimen of the
6.1.1 It shall have a length of at least 30 cm (1 ft),
material of uniform cross section A and of a length L.In
6.1.2 It shall have a resistance of at least 0.001 V,
reporting values of resistivity under this test A shall be
6.1.3 If the cross section is to be determined by direct
expressed in square centimetres and L in centimetres.
measurement, the diameter of a wire specimen or the thickness
of a strip specimen shall not be less than the limits defined by
4. Significance and Use
the 0.5 % criteria of 6.1, and this dimension throughout the
4.1 In the case of materials for resistors and heating ele-
length of the specimen shall not vary by more than 3 %, and
ments, a knowledge of resistivity is important in determining
6.1.4 It shall show no surface cracks or other defects
whether wire or strip of a specified area of cross section and
observable with normal vision, and shall be free from surface
oxide.
1
6.2 Nonductile Materials—Thetestspecimenfornonductile
This test method is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee B02 on
Nonferrous Metals and Alloys and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee
materials shall be made in accordance with Fig. 2 if the
B02.10 on Thermostat Metals and Electrical Resistance Heating Materials.
material is readily machinable. For materials which are not
Current edition approved May 23, 2001. Published July 1990. Originally
readily machinable, such as those containing graphite, a flat
published as B 63 – 26 T. Last previous edition B 63 – 81.
2
Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 02.03. strip may be used as a test specimen. In order to determine the
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B63–90 (2001)
Description Dimensions, in. (mm) Material Number
Item
Required
1
1 Base block ⁄2 by 3 by 4 (12.7 by 76.2 by 101.6) micarta 1
3
2 Clamp block ⁄4 by 1 by 1 (19.0 by 25.4 by 25.4) copper 2
10 3
...
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