Advantages of aluminum alloy cables - ZMS Cable

Introduction of the advantages of aluminum alloy cable

Conductive Properties

The electrical conductivity of aluminum alloy is 61.5% of the most commonly used reference material copper IACS, and the current carrying capacity is 79% of copper, which is superior to the pure aluminum standard.

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Creep Resistance

The alloy material and annealing treatment of aluminum alloy conductors reduces the "creep" tendency of the conductor under heat and pressure. 

Compared with pure aluminum, the creep resistance is improved by 300%, avoiding cold flow. Or the problem of relaxation caused by creep.

Tensile Strength and Elongation

Aluminum alloy conductors compared to pure aluminum conductors, due to the addition of special components and the use of special processing technology, greatly improved the tensile strength, and the elongation increased to 30%, It is safer and more reliable to use.

Thermal Expansion Coefficient

The thermal expansion coefficient is used to calculate the dimensional change of the material when the temperature changes. 

Aluminum alloys have a thermal expansion coefficient comparable to that of copper. 

Aluminum connectors have been used reliably for copper and aluminum conductors for many years, and most of the electrical connectors used today are made of aluminum, which is especially suitable for aluminum alloys. 

Therefore, the aluminum alloy conductor is completely identical to the expansion and contraction of the connector.

Strong Self-Weight Bearing Capacity

The aluminum alloy improves the tensile strength of pure aluminum. 

The aluminum alloy cable can support the self-weight of meters in length, and the copper cable can only support meters. This advantage is particularly evident when wiring large-span buildings such as stadiums.

Anti-Corrosion Properties 

The inherent corrosion resistance of aluminum comes from the formation of a thin and strong oxide layer when the aluminum surface is in contact with air. 

This oxide layer is particularly resistant to various forms of corrosion. For example, in railway tunnels and other similar places, the corrosion resistance of aluminum alloys is much better than that of copper.

If you want to learn more, please visit our website Aluminum Alloy Cable.

Flexibility 

The aluminum alloy has good bending properties. Aluminum alloy is 30% more flexible than copper, and its rebound is 40% lower than copper.

Aluminium cables are used across various industries and markets. In our last blog we shared the financial advantages of aluminium cables. Now we will focus on the physical advantages of aluminium cables. A second advantage is the weight of aluminium; it is much lighter in weight as compared to copper while maintaining the same conductivity.

Being light in weight is an important property of aluminium. This has made aluminium cables the most used cables in projects where weight is the main focus like constructions with load-bearing purposes.

The evolution of aluminium cables

Until the s, the aluminium alloy was used. Its conductor was round and existed of pure aluminium. In the mid-s problems started to arise with the aluminium conductor . The complaints involved termination failures by overheated and loose connections at power plants. This, in turn, resulted in fires caused by the usage of the aluminium alloy. Since then, a wide range of cables has been developed, tested and used. Many industries prefer aluminium cables for its lightweight in comparison to copper cables. Some examples are:

• All aluminium Conductors (AAC).
• All aluminium Alloy Conductors (AAAC).
• Aluminium Conductors Steel Reinforced (ACSR).
• Flexible conductors, like our PowerAmps.

Aluminium cables

If you were looking for aluminium cables and not particularly a blog please contact us. Or have a look at the following products we offer you:

• PowerAmp AMS cables 3.6 up to 36kv
• PowerAmp-A 07BN4-AF
• AL-XLPE-CTS-PVC cables 12kV to 36kV
• NA2XS(F)2Y cables 6kV up to 36kV
• NAYY-O and NAYY-J
• U- ARVFV

Advantages and disadvantages of copper

Although silver is the best conductor of electricity, high prices of the metal limits its use. Thus, the most used conductors are aluminium cables and copper cables. Copper has a higher conductivity than aluminium. It is more flexible, has a higher tensile strength and can be easily soldered. However, copper is more expensive and heavier than aluminium.

Weight and conductivity of aluminium

As said, copper has a better conductivity than aluminium, but this is not necessarily an advantage of copper. The conductivity of aluminium is about 60 percent of the conductivity of copper. An aluminium cable with the same conductivity is always thicker but it weighs up to 50% less. In summary, a copper cable is smaller but much heavier. For example:

• An IEC class 2 conductor weight of 240mm² aluminium is (approx.) 723kg/km.
• An IEC class 2 conductor weight of 150mm² copper is (approx.) 1.341kg/km.

Both have the same electrical conductivity of 0,125 Ω/km and max. loading.

Why choose aluminium cables?

There is an obvious advantage in weight when using aluminium cables. That is why the most used conductors for overhead power lines are aluminium. Aluminium cables:

• Are cheaper.
• Are lighter in weight.
• Have the same conductivity as copper when comparing it on the basis of loading.

Aluminium facts

Atomic number: 13
Atomic weight: 26.
Melting Point: 660,323 °C (933,437 K or ,581 °F)
Boiling Point: °C ( K or °F)
Density: 2,70 grams per cubic centimeter
Phase at room temperature: solid
Element classification: metal

More about the advantages of aluminium cables?

Recieve our eBook and you will find more information about:

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• The history of aluminium cable development.
• The price advantages of aluminium cables.
• The weight advantages of aluminium cables.
• The conductivity of aluminium cables.
• The installation and connectivity of aluminium cables.