Copper Clad Steel Wire
Copper clad steel wire (CCS) combines the high tensile strength of steel as its core and the conductivity properties of copper as its outer layer. The core material is usually low carbon steel and is typically used as either grounding wire or the inner conductor of coaxial cables. Copper clad steel is made to ASTM B-452 standards with 40% conductivity in two tempers: soft and hard drawn.
The steel core alloy can theoretically be any grade suitable for the wire’s end purpose. Copper clad stainless steel (CCSS), in the 300 series as core, may be specified for certain medical applications.
Copper clad steel wire can be produced bare or electroplated with gold, silver, tin, solder, and nickel. Enamel insulations are also an option. See the magnet wire insulation guide for film selections.
Applications of Copper Clad Steel
Medical
Intracardiac ablation catheters, neuro-interventional products, atherectomy systems
Power supplies and conversion
Wireless, heavy duty, and custom
Hardware
Special and nautical applications, torsion springs
Motors and magnetic assemblies
Agriculture, aerospace, oil & gas and other heavy duty applications
Specialty resistors and capacitors
Wireless power transfer systems using inductive coupling through magnetic field
Intelligent pressure and temperature measuring instrumentation
Flowmeters, differential pressure transmitters, thermometers, thermocouples
Copper Clad Steel (40%) Typical Physical and Electrical Properties
| IACS DC Conductivity – 40% | ||
| % Copper by thickness – 10% | ||
| Density – 0.2975 lbs/in3 @ 68°F (8.21 g/cm3 @ 20°C) | ||
| Annealed/Soft Temper | Hard Drawn | |
| Tensile Strength | 50 kPSI | 110 kPSI |
| Elongation | 10% | 1% |
| CCS Advantage | maximum plasticity | maximum strength |