Advantages and disadvantages between aluminum wire and copper wire

The difference between copper wire and aluminum wire

• 1. Color difference: The color of copper wire is dark purple, and the color of aluminum wire is grayish white.
• 2. Difference in resistance: The resistance of copper wire is smaller than that of aluminum, and the conductivity of copper wire is better.
• 3. Difference in density: The density of copper wire is higher than that of aluminum wire, and copper wire is heavier.

• Advantages of copper wire?

✅Copper wire has low resistance, and the resistance of copper wire cable is about 1.68 times lower than that of aluminum wire cable, so the conductivity and heat transfer of copper wire are better than aluminum wire, and the power loss is also relatively low.

✅Copper wire has good ductility: The elongation of copper alloy is 20-40%, the elongation of electrical copper exceeds 30%, and the elongation of aluminum alloy is only 18%.

✅Anti-fatigue: Aluminum is easy to break after repeated bending, and copper is not easy to fold. In terms of elasticity index, copper wire is also about 1.7-1.8 times higher than aluminum wire.

✅Stable performance, corrosion resistance: Copper wire is resistant to oxidation, corrosion and has a long service life, while aluminum wire is easily oxidized and corroded.

✅The safe current of copper wire is higher than that of aluminum wire.

• Disadvantages of copper wire?

◎ The disadvantage is: expensive

• Advantages of aluminum wire?

✅Aluminum wire is cheap and more economical.

✅Aluminum wire cable is very light, and the weight of aluminum wire cable is 40% of that of copper wire cable, and the construction and transportation costs are low.

✅Anti-oxidation and corrosion resistance: Aluminum reacts quickly with oxygen in the air to form an oxide film, which can prevent further oxidation. Therefore, aluminum wire is an essential material for high-voltage, large-section, and large-span overhead power transmission, but as a low-voltage line, these advantages disappear.

• Disadvantages of aluminum wire?

◎ Aluminum wire has poor mechanical strength, and aluminum wire is easily oxidized at the connecting wire end. After the connecting wire end is oxidized, the temperature will rise, the contact will be poor, and it is a frequent point of failure (power failure or disconnection).

◎ Aluminum wire has low conductivity, large power loss, poor compressive strength, low corrosion resistance, and the joint position is particularly prone to oxidation.

Original Source:Magnet Wires for Power Industry