Aluminum Cables

Aluminum is one of the most widely used metals for manufacturing different types of electrical cables. Aluminum light weight, good electrical conductance and corrosion resistant properties makes it perfect for making electrical cables and wires. Aluminum cables have diverse applications including different industries, factories, home, offices and almost everywhere.

Why Aluminum is suitable for making Electric Cable?

• High electrical conductivity: Aluminum has very high electrical conductivity. So it is good for making electrical cables.
  
  
• High ductility: Its ductility is very high which makes it perfect for drawing large wires.
  
  
• Light weight: Aluminum weighs about one third of copper, nickel, brass, and steel. Its specific gravity is 2.7. So the cables made of them are very light weight, hence suitable for long distance cabling. They are also useful in overhead cabling.
  
  
• High resistance to corrosion: Aluminum is resistant to corrosion which makes it perfect for manufacturing underwater cables.
  
  
• High strength: The high strength of aluminum prevent it from creeping even under high load.
  
  
• Economical: Aluminum is the most economical element and hence the cables are cheaper than copper, their nearest competitor.
  
  
• Physical properties: Aluminum is silvery white metal and highly reflective to heat and light. It is easily machinable and can have various surface finishes. It is easily recyclable.
  
  
• Non magnetic: Aluminum is non-magnetic in nature which is an important property for making armors and raceways.

Applications of Aluminum Cables

• High voltage power distribution: The transmission and distribution of high voltage lines over long distances are done with the help of aluminum cables. Almost in all such transmission across the world aluminum is the dominant material.
  
  
• Electrical energy distribution: Aluminum cables and wires are widely used in motors, electric lights, power systems and in numerous appliances. Today it has become the most efficient and economical way of transferring electric power.
  
  
• Energy cables: Aluminum is a light weight metal and it weighs about one-third of copper. One kilogram of aluminum cable is able to carry twice as much electricity as one kilogram of copper. Therefore, aluminum power lines are lighter and require little support structures.

Some other uses of Aluminum

• The substations or switch yards are made of aluminum. These substations are the places where electricity is stepped down to lower voltages for local distribution.
  
  
• The power systems of the world's largest buildings are made of aluminum. · Brass is replaced by aluminum as the standard base for electrical bulbs since 1950.
  
  
• Television antennae and many satellite dishes are made of aluminum.

Characteristics of Aluminum Cables

• The aluminum and its alloy cables loose some of their strength at very high temperatures (200-250°C). Though their ductility remain as it is at subzero temperature, which make it a useful material for cabling in colder regions.
  
  
• Aluminum alloy cables form a layer of oxide on themselves due to the reactions with atmosphere. These layers are corrosion resistant and they protect the material from acids, alkalies, other chemicals, and also weathering conditions.
  
  
• Aluminum cables have a tendency to loose its strength when repeatedly used so it needs extra care and protection during wiring in buildings.

Copper Clad Aluminum Wire
CCAW also known as copper-clad aluminum wire is a type of conductor composed of an inner aluminum core having outer copper cladding. Main applications of this wire is in those fields where weight of conductors is an issue. It is mainly used in making high quality light weight coils like the voice coils in headphones, portable loudspeakers or mobile coils and in similar other applications.

Properties of Copper-Clad Aluminum Wire include:

• They are lighter than pure copper.
• Their conductivity is higher than pure aluminum.
• Their strength is more than aluminum.
• They have better solder ability than aluminum.
• A little expensive than a pure aluminum wire.

Importance of Aluminum

• You can't imagine this world without aluminum. It has pierced in every field of our life. Without aluminum there would be no air travel, road travel, rail travel, or sea travel. Aluminum helps to construct corrosion resistant low maintenance buildings. In food processing aluminum foils are used to preserve the food quality.
  
  
• Earlier copper was the primary cable used in all electrical applications. But aluminum replaced copper conductors and in present scenario it is the most used conductor. It has now become almost 100 years that aluminum and aluminum alloy conductors have been used by electrical utilities for the transmission and supply of electrical power.