Copper clad steel
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
 |
This article does not cite any references or sources. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (December 2006) |
Copper clad steel, also known as copper covered steel, the tradename Copperweld, or by its acronym CCS, is a bimetallic product, mainly used in the wire industry that combines the high mechanical resistance of steel with the conductivity and resistance to corrosion of copper. Its main purpose is to be used as a drop wire of telephone cables, and inner conductor of coaxial cables, including thin hookup cables like RG174, and CATV cable. The main producers are located in Argentina[1], Brazil, and USA.
[edit] Uses
Grounding, union of ground rods to metallic structures, meshes, substations, power installations and lightning arrestors. This material has proven its aptitude for these purposes. More than 60 years of installations all around the world certify the excellence of this type of installation.
[edit] Properties
Among the main properties of these conductors the following should be highlighted:
- Good corrosion resistance of copper
- High mechanical strength
- High resistance against material fatigue
- Lower electrical resistance compared to steel wire
- Much lower impedance at high frequencies than that of steel conductors.
[edit] Advantages
Because the outer layer of the conductor is low-impedance copper, and the higher impedance steel is central, copper-clad RF transmission lines have similar impedance at high AC frequencies as solid copper conductors.
Tensile strength of copper-clad steel conductors is greater than that of ordinary copper conductors permitting greater span lengths than with copper.
Another advantage is that smaller diameter copper-clad steel conductors may be used in coaxial cables, permitting higher impedance and smaller cable diameter than with copper conductors of similar strength.
Due to the inseparable union of the two metals, it is theft resistant, because it is not practical to recover the copper. So the conductor has very little scrap value. Thus the frequent thefts common with pure copper conductors are avoided.
The installation with copper steel conductors are safe and fulfills the required specifications of a good grounding. For this reason it is used with preference by utilities and oil companies.
