Designation:B3–01(Reapproved2007)
Standard Specification for
Soft or Annealed Copper Wire1
This standard is issued under thefixed designation B3;the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of original adoption or,in the ca of revision,the year of last revision.A number in parenthes indicates the year of last reapproval.A superscript epsilon(e)indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
This standard has been approved for u by agencies of the Department of Defen.
1.Scope
1.1This specification covers drawn and annealed or soft round bare copper wire for electrical purpos(e Explanatory Note1).
1.2The values stated in inch-pound or SI units are to be regarded parately as standard.Each system shall be ud independently of the other.Combining values from the two systems may result in non-conformance with the specification. For conductor sizes designated by AWG or kcmil sizes,the requirements in SI units are numerically converted from the corresponding requirements in inch-pound units.For conductor sizes designation by AWG or kcmil,the requirements in SI units have been numerically converted from corresponding values stated or derived in inch-pound units.For conductor sizes designated by SI units only,the requirements are stated or derived in SI units.
1.2.1For density,resistivity and temperature,the values stated in SI units are to be regarded as standard.
2.Referenced Documents
2.1The following documents of the issue in effect at the time of reference form a part of this specification to the extent referenced herein:
2.2ASTM Standards:2
B49Specification for Copper Rod Drawing Stock for Electrical Purpos
B193Test Method for Resistivity of Electrical Conductor Materials
B258Specification for Nominal Diameters and Cross-Sectional Areas of AWG Sizes of Solid Round Wires Ud as Electrical Conductors
2.3National Institute of Standards and Technology:
NBS Handbook100—Copper Wire Tables3
3.Ordering Information
3.1Orders for material under this specification shall include the following information:
3.1.1Quantity of each size,
3.1.2Wire size:diameter in inches(e5.4and Table1), 3.1.3Type of copper,if special(Section4),
3.1.4Package size(e10.1),
3.1.5Special package marking,if required,and
3.1.6Place of inspection(e9.1).
4.Materials and Manufacture
4.1The material shall be copper of such quality and purity that thefinished product shall have the properties and charac-teristics prescribed in this specification.
N OTE1—The following standards define the materials suitable for u: Specification B49.
4.2Copper bars of special qualities,forms,or types,as may be agreed upon between the manufacturer and the purchar, and which will conform to the requirements prescribed in this specification may also be ud.
5.General Requirements(e Section7))
5.1Tensile Strength and Elongation—The wire shall con-form to the requirements for elongation prescribed in Table1 (e Explanatory Note2).No requirements for tensile strength are specified.For wire who nominal diameter is more than 0.001in.(0.025mm)greater than a size listed in Table1,but less than that of the next larger size,the requirements of the next larger size shall apply.
5.2Joints—Necessary joints in the completed wire and in the wire and rods prior tofinal drawing shall be made in accordance with the best commercial practice.
5.3Resistivity—The electrical resistivity20°C shall not exceed875.20V·lb/mile2(0.15328V·g/m2).
5.4Dimensions and Permissible Variations—The wire sizes shall be expresd as the diameter of the wire in decimal fractions of an inch to the nearest0.0001in.(0.001mm)
1This specification is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee B01on
Electrical Conductors and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee B01.04on
Conductors of Copper and Copper Alloys.
Current edition approved March15,2007.Published April2007.Originally
approved in1912.Last previous edition approved in2001as B3–01.
2For referenced ASTM standards,visit the ASTM website,,or
contact ASTM Customer Service at For Annual Book of ASTM
Standards volume information,refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
the ASTM website.
3Available from the National Technical Information Service,5285Port Royal
Rd,Springfield,V A22161.
Copyright©ASTM International,100Barr Harbor Drive,PO Box C700,West Conshohocken,PA19428-2959,United States.
(0.0025mm)(e Explanatory Note 3).For diameters under 0.0100in.(0.2540mm),the wire shall not vary from the specified diameter by more than plus and minus 0.0001in.(0.0025mm),and for diameters of 0.0100in.and over the wire shall not vary from the specified diameter by more than plus and minus 1%,expresd to the nearest 0.0001in.(0.001mm).5.5Finish —The wire shall be free of all imperfections not consistent with the best commercial practice.
6.Test Methods
6.1Tensile Strength and Elongation —No test for tensile strength shall be required.
6.1.1Determine the elongation of wire who nominal diameter is larger than 0.0808in.(2.052mm)in diameter as the permanent increa in length,expresd in percent of the original length,due to the breaking of the wire in tension,measured between gage marks placed originally 10in.(254mm)apart upon the test specimen (e Explanatory Note 4).The elongation of wire who nominal diameter is 0.0808in.
(2.052mm)and under may be determined as described above or by measurements made between the jaws of the testing machine.When the latter method is ud,the zero length shall be the distance between the jaws at the start of the tension test and be as near 10in.(254mm)as practicable,and the final length shall be the distance between the jaws at the time of rupture.The fracture shall be between gage marks in the ca of specimens so marked or between the jaws of the testing machine and not clor than 1in.(25.4mm)to either gage mark or either jaw.
6.2Resistivity —Determine the electrical resistivity of the material in accordance with Test Method B 193(e Explana-tory Note 5).The purchar may accept certification that the wire was drawn from stock meeting the International Standard for Annealed Copper instead of resistivity tests on the finished wire.
6.3Dimensional Measurements —Make dimensional mea-surements with a micrometer caliper equipped with a vernier graduated in 0.0001in.(0.001mm).Take measurements on at
TABLE 1Tensile Requirements
Diameter
Area at 20°C
Elongation in
10in.(254mm),%min
< cmils in.2mm 20.460011.6842116000.1662107.0350.409610.4041678000.131885.0350.36489.2661331000.104567.4350.32498.2521056000.0829153.5350.28937.348836900.0657342.4300.2576 6.543663600.0521233.6300.2294 5.827526200.0413326.7300.2043 5.189417400.0327821.2300.1819 4.620330900.0259916.8300.1620 4.115262400.0206113.3300.1443 3.665208200.0163510.5300.1285 3.264165100.012978.37300.1144 2.906130900.01028 6.63300.1019 2.588103800.008155 5.26250.0907 2.30482300.00646 4.17250.0808 2.05265300.00513 3.31250.0720 1.82951800.00
407 2.63250.0641 1.62841100.00323 2.08250.0571 1.45032600.00256 1.65250.0508 1.29025800.00203 1.31250.0453 1.15120500.00161 1.04250.0403 1.02416200.001280.823250.03590.91212900.001010.654250.03200.81310200.0008040.517250.02850.7248120.0006380.411250.02530.6436400.0005030.324250.02260.5745110.0004010.259250.02010.5114040.0003170.205200.01790.4553200.0002520.162200.01590.4042530.0001990.128200.01420.3612020.0001580.102200.01260.3201590.0001250.081200.01130.2871280.0001000.065200.01000.2541000.00007850.051150.00890.22679.20.00006220.040150.00800.20364.00.00005030.032150.00710.18050.40.00003960.026150.00630.16039.70.00003120.020150.00560.14231.40.00002460.016150.00500.12725.00.00001960.013150.00450.11420.20.00001590.010150.00400.10216.00.00001260.0081150.00350.08912.20.000009620.0062150.0031
0.079
9.61
0.00000755
0.0049
15
least three places on each unit lected for this test.If accessible,take one measurement on each end and one near the middle.The average of the three measurements shall determine compliance with the requirements.
6.4Surface Finish —Make a surface-finish inspection with the unaided eye (normal spectacles acceptable).
7.Conformance Criteria (e Explanatory Note 6)
7.1Any lot of wire,the samples of which comply with the conformance criteria of this ction,shall be considered as complying with the requirements of Section 5.Individual production units that fail to meet one or more of the require-ments shall be rejected.Failure of a sample group from a lot to meet one or more of the following criteria shall constitute cau for rejection of the lot.The conformance criteria for each of the prescribed properties given in Section 5are as follows:7.1.1Elongation —The lot shall be considered conforming if the average elongation of the four specimens is not less than the appropriate elongation value in Table 1plus 2.5percentage points;however any individual production unit,the specimen from which has an elongation less than the appropriate elongation value in Table 1,shall be rejected.
7.1.1.1The lot shall be considered to have failed to meet the elongation conformance criterion if the average of the four specimens is less than the elongation in Table 1plus 2.5percentage points and elongation of any of the individual specimens is less than the value in Table 1.
7.1.1.2If the average of the four specimens is less than the elongation in Table 1plus 2.5percentage points and the elongation of each of the individual specimens is equal to or more than the value in Table 1,six additional specimens from six production units,other than the four originally sampled shall be tested.The lot shall be considered conforming if the elongation of each of the ten specimens is not less than the appropriate elongation value in Table 1,and the average of the ten specimens is not less than that value plus 2.5percentage points.The lot shall be considered to have failed to meet the elongation requirement if any of the ten specimens is less than the appropriate elongation value in Table 1or if the average of the ten specimens is less than that value plus 2.5percentage points.
7.1.2Resistivity —The electrical resistivity of each of the four specimens shall conform to the requirements of 5.3.Failure to meet the requirements shall constitute failure to meet the resistivity conformance criterion.
7.1.3Dimensions —The dimensions of the first sample (Table 2)shall conform to the requirements of 5.4.If there are
no failures,the lot conforms to this requirement.If there are failures but the number of the does not exceed the allowable defect number,c 2(Table 2),for the respective number of units in the sample,a cond sample equal to n 2shall be taken and the total defects of the n 1plus n 2units shall not exceed the allowable defect number,c 2.Failure to meet this requirement shall constitute failure to meet the dimensional conformational criterion.
7.1.4Surface Finish —The surface finish of the samples taken in accordance with Table 3shall conform to the require-ments of 5.5.The number of units in the sample showing surface defects not consistent with commercial practice shall not exceed the allowable defect number,c ,in Table 3.Failure to meet this requirement shall constitute failure to meet the surface-finish conformance criterion.
7.1.5Packaging —Conformance to the packaging require-ments specified by the purchar shall be determined in accordance with Table 3.The number of units in the sample showing nonconformance to the requirement shall not exceed the allowable defect number,c ,in Table 3.Failure to meet this requirement shall constitute failure to meet the packaging conformance criterion.
8.Density
8.1For the purpo of calculating mass per unit length,cross-ctions,etc.,the density of the copper shall be taken as 8.89g/cm 3(0.32117lb/in.3)at 20°C (e Explanatory Note 7).9.Inspection
9.1General (e Explanatory Note 6)—All tests and in-spections shall be made at the place of manufacture unless agreed upon between the manufacturer and the purchar at the time of purcha.The manufacturer shall afford the inspector reprenting the purchar all reasonable facilities to satisfy him that the material is being furnished in accordance with this specification.
9.1.1Unless otherwi agreed upon between the purchar and the manufacturer,conformance of the wire to the various requirements listed in Section 5shall be determined on samples taken from each lot of wire prented for acceptance.
9.1.2The manufacturer shall,if requested prior to inspec-tion,certify that all wire in the lot was made under such conditions that the product as a whole conforms to the requirements of this specification as determined by regularly made and recorded tests.
9.2Inspection and Testing Terms :
TABLE 2Sampling for Dimensional Measurements
Number of Units in Lot
First Sample
Second Sample Number of Units in
Sample,n 1
Allowable Number of Defects in First Sample,c 1
Number of Units in
Sample,n 2
n 1plus n 2
Allowable Number of Defects in Both Samples,c 2
1to 30,incl .15to 50,.51to 100,incl 19023421101to 200,incl 24046702201to 400,incl 290761053401to 800,incl 3301121454Over 80034
116
150
4
9.2.1Lot —A lot is any amount of wire of one type and size prented for acceptance at one time,such amount,however,not to exceed 100000lb (45000kg)(e Explanatory Note 8).9.2.2Sample —A sample is a quantity of production units (coils,reels,etc.)lected at random from the lot for the purpo of determining conformance of the lot to the require-ments of this specification.
9.2.3Specimen —A specimen is a length of wire removed for test purpos from any individual production unit of the sample.
9.3Sample Size —The number of production units in a sample (e Explanatory Note 6)shall be as follows:
9.3.1For elongation and resistivity determinations,the sample shall consist of four production units.From each unit,one test specimen of sufficient length shall be removed for the performance of the required tests.
9.3.2For dimensional measurements,the sample shall con-sist of a quantity of production units shown in Table 2under the heading “First Sample.”
9.3.3For surface-finish inspection and for packaging in-spection (when specified by the purchar at the time of placing the order)the sample shall consist of a quantity of production units shown in Table 3.
10.Packaging and Package Marking
10.1Package sizes shall be agreed upon between the manu-facturer and the purchar in the placing of individual orders.10.2The wire shall be protected against damage in ordinary handling and shipping.
11.Keywords
11.1copper electrical conductor;copper wire;electrical conductor;electrical conductor—copper;soft or annealed cop-per wire
EXPLANATORY NOTES
N OTE 1—Soft or annealed copper wire is wire which has been drawn to size by customary operations and then annealed.When necessary it is finished by cleaning to remove scale or oxide.The wire is soft and ductile,easily marred,and even stretched by careless handling.It is therefore necessary that the requirements of this specification relating to elongation properties and resisitivity refer to the wire as it is put up by the manufacturer,and before being put through process incident to its u by the purchar.
N OTE 2—Other tests than tho provided in this specification have been considered at various times,such as twist tests,wrap tests,tests for elastic limit,etc.It is the opinion of the committee that twist and wrap tests on soft wire do not rve a uful purpo and should be regarded as undesirable,as well as inconclusive as to results and significance.Tests for values of elastic limit are likewi indefinite as to results.
N OTE 3—The values of the wire diameters in Table 1are given to the nearest 0.0001in.(0.001mm)and correspond to the standard sizes given in Specification B 258.The u of gage numbers to specify wire sizes is not recognized in this specification becau of the possibility of confusion.An excellent discussion of wire gages and related subjects is contained in NIST Handbook 100.
N OTE 4—In general,tested values of tensile strength are incread and tested values of elongation are reduced with increa of speed of the moving head of the testing machine in the tension testing of copper wire.In the ca of tests on soft or annealed copper wire,however,the effects of speed of testing are not pronounced.Tests of soft wire made at speeds of moving head which under no-load conditions are not greater than 12in./min (305mm/min)do not alter the final results of tensile strength and elongation determinations to any practical extent.
N OTE 5—“Resistivity”is ud in place of“percentage conductivity.”The value of 0.15328V ·g/m 2at 20°C is the international standard for the resistivity of annealed copper equal to 100%conductivity.This term
means that a wire 1m in length and weighing 1g would have a resistance of 0.15328V .This is equivalent to a resistivity value of 875.20V ·lb/mile 2which signifies the resistance of a wire 1mile in length weighing 1lb.It is also equivalent,for example,to 1.7241µV /cm of length of a bar 1cm 2in cross-ction.A complete discussion of this subject is contained in NBS Handbook 100.Relationships which may be uful in connection with the value of resistivity prescribed in this specification are shown in Table 4.N OTE 6—Cumulative results cured on the product of a single manu-facturer,indicating continued conformance to the criteria,are necessary to ensure an over-all product
meeting the requirements of this specification.The sample sizes and conformance criteria given for the various charac-teristics are applicable only to lots produced under the conditions.N OTE 7—The value of density of copper is in accordance with the International Annealed Copper Standard.The corresponding value at 0°C is 8.90g/cm 3(0.32150lb/in 3.).
N OTE 8—A lot should compri material taken from a product regularly meeting the requirements of this specification.Inspection of individual lots of less than 5000lb (2270kg)of wire cannot be justified economi-cally.For small lots of 5000lb or less,the purchar may agree to the manufacturer’s regular inspection of the product as a whole as evidence of acceptability of such small lots.
TABLE 3Sampling for Surface Finish and Packaging Inspection
Number of Units in Lot
Number of Units in Sample,n
Allowable Number of Defective Units,c
1to 30,incl all 031to 50,incl 30051to 100,incl 370101to 200,incl 400201to 300,incl 701301to 500,incl 1002501to 800,incl 1303Over 800
155
4
TABLE 4Resistivity Relationships
Conductivity at (20°C),%100.00V ·lb/mile 2875.20V ·g/m 20.15328V ·cmil/ft 10.371V ·mm 2/m 0.017241µV ·in.0.67879µV ·cm
1.7241
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