Plated Wire
Electroplated Wires, Gold, Nickel, Silver, Tin, Tin/Lead
MWS offers a complete line of electroplated wire in round and ribbon shapes. Wires inventoried include those meeting QQ-W-343, AA59551, Mil Std 1276, ASTM B298, ASTM B355, and ASTM B488 requirements.
These wires were developed for applications where severe operating environments may degrade conventional conductor materials. Conventional copper wires are plated with gold, silver, or nickel in a variety of plating thicknesses, and then are film-insulated.
At elevated temperatures, these wires can operate for extremely long periods of time, as the plated constructions prevent high-temperature chemical migration and conductor oxidation. Tin and copper plated wires are insulated for lower temperature applications.
Plated Wire | MWS Industries In addition to conductor protection, these plated constructions can improve a wire’s solderability, conductivity, and overall strength. Film thicknesses can range from single to extra heavy special builds. See Magnet Wire Insulations for a complete list of insulations. Sizes 14-56 AWG can be produced in single end, parallel bonded, and twisted constructions. Also offered is braided and stranded constructions.
At MWS, we use electroplating to create specialty wire to provide a solderable, conductive or corrosion-resistant surface. The effect of electroplating depends on the material used.
Benefits of Electroplating with Tin alloys, Nickel, Silver, and Gold
Tin and tin-lead provide corrosion resistance and improved soldering characteristics.
Nickel prevents oxidation and corrosion and is specified when high temperatures are encountered or where wire is used in high reliability insulation systems which require high curing temperatures.
Silver likewise offers superior thermal resistance, enhanced solderability, and lubricity plus best electrical conductivity compared to other metals.
Gold does not oxidize like most metals, so it is recommended for high reliability electrical components to avoid loss of conductivity due to oxide layer buildup. It is particularly effective on fine and ultrafine wires where even slight loss of cross-sectional area can cause significant loss of wire’s capacity.

Base Metals
Copper -CDA 11000, CDA 10200, CDA 10100
Brass -CDA 26000
Phosphor Bronze -CDA 51000
Beryllium Copper – CDA 17200
Nickel -200, 201, 205, 270
Copper Clad Steel
Constantan
Dumet
Kovar
Monel
Stainless Steel (various grades)
Plating Finishes
Tin -Mil T 10727, ASTM B545
Tin/Lead -ASTM B579, Mil P 81728 (95/5, 90/10, 60/40)
Nickel -QQ N 290, ASTM B689, ASTM B355
Silver -ASTM B700, ASTM B298
Gold -Mil G 45204, Mil DTL 45204D, ASTM B488
Plating Thickness
10-750 microinch (.000010 – .000750 inch)
Base Metals
1-5 microinch (.000001-.000005 inch)
Round Sizes
.102-.0007 inch
Round Sizes
thickness .001 inch and larger; width up to .250 inch
Packaging
Packaging on spools or cut to length as required
Nickel, Silver and Gold electroplated wires are also available with film insulation
Plated Wire Data
Size (AWG) | DIA. (Inches) | CIR. MILS | DCR (Ω / KFT AT 20° C) | Pounds Per 1000 FT | THICKNESS OF COATING (MICROINCHES) | |||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Silver Plated | Nickel Plated | |||||||||||||||
NOM. | NOM. | NOM. | 1.25% | 2% | 2.5% | 3% | 4% | 5% | 6.1% | 2% | 4% | 7% | 10% | 27% | ||
14 | .0641 | 4109 | 2.542 | 12.4 | 170 | 272 | 343 | 417 | 551 | 692 | 846 | 322 | 647 | 1142 | 1645 | 4670 |
15 | .0571 | 3260 | 3.181 | 9.87 | 151 | 243 | 305 | 371 | 491 | 617 | 754 | 282 | 577 | 1018 | 1465 | 4160 |
16 | .0508 | 2581 | 4.019 | 7.81 | 135 | 216 | 272 | 330 | 437 | 549 | 671 | 255 | 513 | 905 | 1304 | 3700 |
17 | .0453 | 2052 | 5.054 | 6.21 | 120 | 193 | 242 | 294 | 390 | 489 | 598 | 228 | 458 | 807 | 1162 | 3300 |
18 | .0403 | 1624 | 6.386 | 4.92 | 107 | 171 | 216 | 262 | 347 | 435 | 532 | 202 | 407 | 718 | 1034 | 2930 |
19 | .0359 | 1289 | 8.047 | 3.90 | 95 | 153 | 192 | 233 | 309 | 388 | 474 | 180 | 363 | 640 | 921 | 2610 |
20 | .0320 | 1024 | 10.13 | 3.10 | 85 | 136 | 171 | 208 | 247 | 346 | 422 | 161 | 323 | 570 | 821 | 2330 |
21 | .0285 | 812.3 | 12.77 | 2.46 | 76 | 121 | 152 | 185 | 245 | 308 | 376 | 143 | 288 | 508 | 731 | 2070 |
22 | .0253 | 640.1 | 16.20 | 1.94 | 67 | 1008 | 135 | 164 | 218 | 273 | 334 | 127 | 255 | 451 | 649 | 1850 |
23 | .0226 | 510.8 | 20.31 | 1.55 | 60 | 96 | 121 | 147 | 194 | 244 | 293 | 114 | 228 | 403 | 580 | 1640 |
24 | .0201 | 404.0 | 25.67 | 1.22 | 53 | 85 | 108 | 131 | 173 | 217 | 265 | 101 | 203 | 358 | 516 | 1460 |
25 | .0179 | 320.4 | 32.37 | .970 | 47 | 76 | 96 | 116 | 154 | 193 | 236 | 90 | 181 | 319 | 459 | 1300 |
26 | .0159 | 252.8 | 41.02 | .765 | 42 | 68 | 85 | 103 | 137 | 172 | 210 | 80 | 161 | 283 | 408 | 1160 |
27 | .0142 | 201.6 | 51.43 | .610 | 38 | 60 | 76 | 92 | 122 | 153 | 187 | 71 | 143 | 253 | 364 | 1030 |
28 | .0126 | 158.8 | 65.33 | .481 | 33 | 54 | 67 | 82 | 108 | 136 | 166 | 63 | 127 | 224 | 323 | 920 |
29 | .0113 | 127.7 | 81.22 | .387 | 30 | 48 | 60 | 73 | 97 | 122 | 149 | 57 | 114 | 201 | 290 | 820 |
30 | .0100 | 100.0 | 103.7 | .303 | 27 | 43 | 54 | 65 | 86 | 108 | 132 | 50 | 101 | 178 | 256 | 730 |
31 | .0089 | 79.21 | 130.9 | .240 | 24 | 38 | 48 | 58 | 77 | 96 | 117 | 45 | 90 | 159 | 228 | 650 |
32 | .0080 | 64.00 | 162.0 | .194 | 21 | 34 | 43 | 52 | 69 | 86 | 106 | 40 | 81 | 143 | 205 | 580 |
33 | .0071 | 50.41 | 205.7 | .153 | 19 | 30 | 38 | 46 | 61 | 77 | 94 | 36 | 72 | 126 | 182 | 520 |
34 | .0063 | 39.69 | 261.3 | .120 | 17 | 27 | 34 | 41 | 54 | 68 | 83 | 32 | 64 | 112 | 162 | 460 |
35 | .0056 | 31.36 | 330.7 | .0949 | 15 | 24 | 30 | 36 | 48 | 60 | 74 | 28 | 57 | 100 | 144 | 410 |
36 | .0050 | 25.00 | 414.8 | .0757 | 13 | 21 | 27 | 33 | 43 | 54 | 66 | 25 | 50 | 89 | 128 | 360 |
37 | .0045 | 20.25 | 512.1 | .0613 | 12 | 19 | 24 | 29 | 39 | 48 | 59 | 23 | 45 | 80 | 116 | 320 |
38 | .0040 | 16.00 | 648.2 | .0484 | 11 | 17 | 21 | 26 | 34 | 43 | 53 | 20 | 40 | 71 | 103 | 290 |
39 | .0035 | 12.25 | 846.6 | .0371 | 9 | 15 | 19 | 23 | 30 | 38 | 46 | 18 | 35 | 62 | 90 | 260 |
40 | .0031 | 9.61 | 1079 | .0291 | 8 | 13 | 17 | 20 | 27 | 33 | 41 | 16 | 31 | 55 | 80 | 230 |