Braided Wires

Braided wire is a group of wires inter weaved with each other. The different thin strands of wires are grouped together in such a way that they provide much more mechanical strength and protection than the individual strands. The large number of smaller and thinner wires constituting the braid are highly resistant to tearing, wearing or cracking under continuous repeated action and vibration than a cable of larger wires.
The braided wire may be applied to different layers of a wire. It can be used as:

• An outer conductor of a coaxial cable constituted of a center conductor
• An insulator covering the center conductor
• The outer conductor covering the insulator
• An outer coating covering the outer conductor

Structure of Braided Wire
A braided wire is made of two conductors inter weaved with each other such that they make a uniform strong bonding. It is constituted by weaving a number of first long conductors which are placed in parallel to each other along with a plurality of other long conductors which are also arranged in parallel. They are weaved such that first conductor cross the second conductors. Both of the conductors have a section which is perpendicular to the axis of cable. It is flattened in such a way that the thickness of the conductor reduces toward both end sections in a width direction.

Thickness of Braided Wires
The thicknesses of braided wires are proportional to the diameter of the conductor used in it. If thick conductors are used in braided wires as strands to enhance the mechanical strength and shielding function then relatively the thickness of the braided wire will be increased as the outside diameter of the coaxial cable. Instead of thick strands, thin conductors are used as strands in to decrease the thickness of both the braided wire and outside diameter of the coaxial cable.

Materials
Different types of materials are used for making different types of braided wires. They are made from a number of materials.

• Aluminum
• Bare Copper
• Tin-Plated Copper
• Gold or Silver Plated Copper
• Nickel Plated Copper
• Tinsel Wire
• Stainless Steel
• Other Various High Strength Alloys

Applications
Braided wires are used for a number of applications in different industries. Their main functions include:

• High and low volt electrical appliances
• Vacuum appliances
• Mining explosion proof switch
• As flexible joint in automobiles
• Ground Strap
• Motor Brush Leads
• RFI/EMI Shielding
• Circuit Breaker Shunts
• Flexible Bus Bar
• Mechanical Protection in Multi-conductors

Braids Specifications

• Flat Braided Wire: They are thin-wall extrusion used for high-quality braid-reinforced tubing such as catheters and working channels.
  
  
• Scope Braids: These stainless steel braids available in various tempers are required by medical cable manufacturers. They are used as in medical imaging products such as endoscopes.
  
  
• Single-Thickness Braids: Their thickness is just half as that of a standard flat braid. They are used mainly as static drain wires in bags for filter systems. They are also helpful in other applications requiring a flat braided ground cable of minimum thickness.
  
  
• Braid-reinforced Capillary Tubing: They are single or multiple copper, stainless steel, or copper alloy reinforcing braids over capillary tubing. They are used in fluid or gas actuated pressure and temperature switches and gauzes.
  
  
• Monofilament Braids: These monofilament braids are often used to produce low-capacitance, high-end audio cables. Also used for mechanical protection of multi-conductor cables instead of an outer jacket.
  
  
• Insulated Braids: The insulated round and flat braided wires are used as ground straps and flat power leads.