Designation: B33 − 10 (Reapproved 2014)

Standard Specification for

Tin-Coated Soft or Annealed Copper Wire for Electrical
Purposes1
This standard is issued under the fixed designation B33; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of original
adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A superscript
epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
This standard has been approved for use by agencies of the U.S. Department of Defense.

1. Scope 3.1.1 Quantity of each size,

1.1 This specification covers tin-coated, round, soft, or 3.1.2 Wire size-diameter in inches (see 5.3 and Table 1),
annealed copper wire for electrical purposes. 3.1.3 Type of copper, if special (see 4.2),
3.1.4 Package size (see 10.1),
1.2 The values stated in inch-pound units are to be regarded 3.1.5 Special packaging marking, if required, and
as standard. The values given in parentheses are mathematical 3.1.6 Place of inspection (see 7.1).
conversions to SI units that are provided for information only
and are not considered standard. 4. Material
1.2.1 Exceptions—The SI values for density, resistivity, and 4.1 Tin for Coating—The tin used for coating shall be
volume are to be regarded as standard. commercially pure (Explanatory Note 1). For purposes of this
1.3 This standard does not purport to address all of the specification, the tin shall be considered commercially pure if
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the the total of other elements, exclusive of copper, does not
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro- exceed 1 %. Notwithstanding the previous sentence, chemical
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica- analysis of the tin coating or of the tin used for coating shall not
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use. be required under this specification. Adequacy of the tin
coating is assured by the continuity of coating and adherence of
2. Referenced Documents coating requirements (see 5.4 and 5.5, respectively).
2.1 ASTM Standards:2 4.2 Copper-Base Metal—The base metal shall be copper of
B49 Specification for Copper Rod Drawing Stock for Elec- such quality and purity that the finished product shall have
trical Purposes properties and characteristics prescribed in this specification.
B193 Test Method for Resistivity of Electrical Conductor
Materials NOTE 1—Specification B49 defines copper suitable for use.
B258 Specification for Nominal Diameters and Cross- 4.3 Copper bars of special qualities, forms, or types, as may
Sectional Areas of AWG Sizes of Solid Round Wires Used be agreed upon between the manufacturer and the purchaser,
as Electrical Conductors and which will conform to the requirements prescribed in this
2.2 Other Document:3 specification, may also be used.
NBS Handbook 100 Copper Wire Tables
5. General Requirements (See Section 8)
3. Ordering Information 5.1 Tensile Strength and Elongation (Explanatory Note 2
3.1 Orders for material under this specification shall include and Note 3)—The tinned wire shall conform to the require-
the following information: ments for elongation prescribed in Table 1. No requirements
for tensile strength are specified. For wire whose nominal
1
This specification is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee B01 on diameter is more than 0.001 in. (0.025 mm) greater than a size
Electrical Conductors and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee B01.04 on listed in Table 1, but less than that of the next larger size, the
Conductors of Copper and Copper Alloys.
requirements of the next larger size shall apply.
Current edition approved Sept. 1, 2014. Published September 2014. Originally
approved in 1919. Last previous edition approved in 2010 as B33 – 10. DOI: 5.2 Resistivity (Explanatory Note 1 and Note 4)—The elec-
10.1520/B0033-10R14.
2
trical resistivity of tinned wire at a temperature of 20°C shall
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
contact ASTM Customer Service at [email protected]. For Annual Book of ASTM not exceed the values prescribed in Table 2.
Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
5.3 Dimensions and Permissible Variations (Explanatory
the ASTM website.
3
Available from National Technical Information Service (NTIS), 5301 Shawnee Note 2)—The wire sizes shall be expressed as the diameter of
Rd., Alexandria, VA 22312, http://www.ntis.gov. the wire in decimal fractions of an inch to the nearest 0.0001 in.

Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States

1
 B33 − 10 (2014)
TABLE 1 Tensile Requirements (0.0025 mm). The tin-coated wire shall not vary from the
Diameter Area at 20°C specified diameter by more than the amounts prescribed in
Elongation Table 3.
in 10 in.
(250 mm), 5.4 Continuity of Coating—The tin coating shall be continu-
in. mm cmil in.2 mm2 % min
ous. The continuity of coating on the wire shall be determined
0.4600 11.684 211600 0.1662 107.0 30
0.4096 10.404 167800 0.1318 85.0 30
on representative samples taken before stranding or insulating.
0.3648 9.266 133100 0.1045 67.4 30 The continuity of tinning shall be determined by the hydro-
0.3249 8.252 105600 0.08291 53.5 30 chloric acid-sodium polysulfide test in accordance with 6.3.
0.2893 7.348 83690 0.06573 42.4 25 5.5 Adherence of Coating—The tin coating shall be firmly
0.2576 6.543 66360 0.05212 33.6 25 adherent to the surface of the copper. The adherence of coating
0.2294 5.827 52620 0.04133 26.7 25
0.2043 5.189 41740 0.03278 21.2 25 on the wire shall be determined on representative samples
taken before stranding or insulating. The adherence of coating
0.1819 4.620 33090 0.02599 16.8 25 shall be determined by the wrapping and immersion test in
0.1620 4.115 26240 0.02061 13.3 25
0.1443 3.665 20820 0.01635 10.6 25 accordance with 6.4 for 0.0320 in. (0.813 mm) and larger sizes.
0.1285 3.264 16510 0.01297 8.37 25
5.6 Joints—Necessary joints in the completed wire and in
0.1144 2.906 13090 0.01028 6.63 25 the wire and rods prior to final drawing shall be made in
0.1019 2.588 10380 0.008155 5.26 20 accordance with the best commercial practice.
0.0907 2.304 8230 0.00646 4.17 20
0.0808 2.052 6530 0.00513 3.31 20 5.7 Finish—The coating shall consist of a smooth continu-
ous layer, firmly adherent to the surface of the copper. The wire
0.0720 1.829 5180 0.00407 2.63 20
0.0641 1.628 4110 0.00323 2.08 20 shall be free of all imperfections not consistent with the best
0.0571 1.450 3260 0.00256 1.65 20 commercial practice.
0.0508 1.290 2580 0.00203 1.31 20
6. Test Methods
0.0453 1.151 2050 0.00161 1.04 20
0.0403 1.024 1620 0.00128 0.823 20 6.1 Tensile Strength and Elongation (Explanatory Note 5):
0.0359 0.912 1290 0.00101 0.653 20
0.0320 0.813 1020 0.000804 0.519 20
6.1.1 No test for tensile strength shall be required.
6.1.2 The elongation of wire with a nominal diameter
0.0285 0.724 812 0.000638 0.412 20 greater than 0.0808 in. (2.052 mm) shall be determined as the
0.0253 0.643 640 0.000503 0.324 20
0.0226 0.574 511 0.000401 0.259 20
permanent increase in length due to the breaking of the wire in
0.0201 0.511 404 0.000317 0.205 15 tension. The elongation shall be measured between gage marks
placed originally 10 in. (254 mm) apart upon the test specimen
0.0179 0.455 320 0.000252 0.162 15
0.0159 0.404 253 0.000199 0.128 15
and expressed in percent of the original length.
0.0142 0.361 202 0.000158 0.102 15 6.1.3 The elongation of wire with a nominal diameter equal
0.0126 0.320 159 0.000125 0.080 15 to or less than 0.0808 in. (2.053 mm) may be determined as
0.0113 0.287 128 0.000100 0.065 15
described above or by measurements made between the jaws of
0.0100 0.254 100 0.0000785 0.051 10 the testing machine. When measurements are made between
0.0089 0.226 79.2 0.0000622 0.040 10 the jaws, the zero length shall be the distance between the jaws
0.0080 0.203 64.0 0.0000503 0.032 10
at the start of the tension test and be as near 10 in. (254 mm)
0.0071 0.180 50.4 0.0000396 0.026 10 as practicable. The final length shall be the distance between
0.0063 0.160 39.7 0.0000312 0.020 10 the jaws at the time of rupture. The fracture shall be between
0.0056 0.142 31.4 0.0000246 0.016 10
0.0050 0.127 25.0 0.0000196 0.013 10
gage marks or jaws of the testing machine, depending on
method used, and not closer than 1 in. (25.4 mm) to either gage
0.0045 0.114 20.3 0.0000159 0.010 10 mark or jaw.
0.0040 0.102 16.0 0.0000126 0.0081 10
0.0035 0.089 12.3 0.00000962 0.0062 10 6.2 Dimensional Measurements—Dimensional measure-
0.0031 0.079 9.61 0.00000755 0.0049 10 ments shall be made with a micrometer caliper equipped with
a vernier graduated in 0.0001 in. (0.0025 mm). Measurements
shall be made on at least three places on each unit selected for
TABLE 2 Electrical Resistivity Requirements
this test. If accessible, one measurement shall be taken on each
Nominal Diameter Resistivity at 20°C
end and one near the middle. The average of the three
in. mm Ω·lb/mile2 Ω·g/m2 measurements shall determine compliance with the require-
0.460 to 0.290, incl 11.7 to 7.4, incl 896.15 0.15695 ments.
Under 0.290 to 0.103, incl Under 7.4 to 2.6, incl 900.77 0.15776
Under 0.103 to 0.0201, incl Under 2.6 to 0.51, incl 910.15 0.15940
TABLE 3 Permissible Variations in Diamter
Under 0.0201 to 0.0111 incl Under 0.51 to 0.28, incl 929.52 0.16279
Under 0.0111 to 0.0030, incl Under 0.28 to 0.076, incl 939.51 0.16454 Permissible Variations in Diameter
Nominal Diameter of Wire
in. mm
in. mm plus minus plus minus
Under 0.0100 Under 0.25 0.0003 0.00010 0.0076 0.0025
0.0100 and over 0.25 and over 3% 1% 3% 1%

2
 B33 − 10 (2014)
6.3 Continuity of Coating: min in the HCl solution, wash, and dry; (4) immerse the
6.3.1 Specimens: specimen for 30 s in the sodium polysulfide solution, wash, and
6.3.1.1 Length of Specimens—Test specimens shall have a wipe dry.
length of about 6 in. (152 mm). They shall be tagged or marked 6.3.3.2 Washing Specimens—After each immersion, imme-
to correspond with the coil, spool, or reel from which they were diately wash the specimens thoroughly in clean water and wipe
cut. dry with a clean, soft cloth.
6.3.1.2 Treatment of Specimens—The specimens shall be 6.3.3.3 Examination of Specimens—After immersion and
thoroughly cleaned by immersion in a suitable organic solvent washing, examine the specimens to ascertain if copper exposed
for at least 3 min; then removed and wiped dry with a clean, through openings in the tin coating has been blackened by
soft cloth (Caution—see Explanatory Note 6). The specimens action of the sodium polysulfide. The specimens shall be
thus cleaned shall be kept wrapped in a clean, dry cloth until considered to have failed if, by such blackening, exposed
tested. That part of the specimen to be immersed in the test copper is revealed. No attention shall be paid to blackening
solution shall not be handled. Care shall be taken to avoid within 0.5 in. (12.7 mm) of the cut end. A grayish brown
abrasion by the cut ends. appearance of the coating shall not constitute failure.
6.3.2 Special Solutions Required:
6.3.2.1 Hydrochloric Acid Solution (HCl) (sp gr 1.088)— 6.4 Adherence of Coating:
Commercial HCl (sp gr 1.12) shall be diluted with distilled 6.4.1 Specimens:
water to a specific gravity of 1.088 measured at 15.6°C (60°F). 6.4.1.1 Length of Specimens—Test specimens shall be ap-
A portion of HCl solution having a volume of 180 mL shall be proximately 12 in. (305 mm) in length and shall be tagged or
considered to be exhausted when the number of test specimens marked to correspond with the coil, spool, or reel from which
prescribed in Table 4 of a size as indicated in 6.3.3 have been they are cut.
immersed in it for two cycles. 6.4.1.2 Treatment of Specimens—The specimens shall be
6.3.2.2 Sodium Polysulfide Solution (sp gr 1.142) (Ex- thoroughly cleaned, if required, by immersion in a suitable
planatory Note 7)—A concentrated solution shall be made by organic solvent for at least 3 min, then removed and dried
dissolving sodium sulfide cp crystals in distilled water until the (Caution—see Explanatory Note 6). The specimens thus
solution is saturated at about 21°C (70°F), and adding sufficient cleaned shall be kept wrapped in a clean dry cloth until tested.
flowers of sulfur (in excess of 250 g/L of solution) to provide That part of the specimens to be immersed in the test solution
complete saturation, as shown by the presence in the solution shall not be handled. Care shall be taken to avoid abrasion of
of an excess of sulfur after the solution has been allowed to the surface to be subjected to test. Wire of sizes 0.005 in. (0.13
stand for at least 24 h. The test solution shall be made by mm) and smaller may be cleaned after wrapping around the
diluting a portion of the concentrated solution with distilled mandrel.
water to a specific gravity of 1.135 to 1.145 at 15.6°C (60°F). 6.4.2 Procedure:
The sodium polysulfide test solution should have sufficient 6.4.2.1 Wrapping—Slowly wrap the test specimen in a
strength to blacken thoroughly a piece of clean untinned copper suitable manner in an open helix around a polished mandrel
wire in 5 s. The test solution used for testing samples shall be having rounded ends and a diameter not to exceed four times
considered exhausted if it fails to blacken a piece of clean the nominal diameter of the specimen. Take care not to stretch
copper as described above. the specimen during the wrapping operation. The spacing of
6.3.3 Procedure: the consecutive turns shall be approximately equal to the
6.3.3.1 Immersion of Specimens—Immerse a length of at diameter of the wire. For sizes 0.021 in. (0.53 mm) and smaller,
least 4-1⁄2 in. (114 mm) from each of the clean specimens, in not more than six helical turns shall be used for the test, and for
accordance with the following cycles, in test solutions main- wire larger than 0.021 in., not more than three turns shall be
tained at a temperature between 15.6 and 21°C (60 and 70°F): used.
(1) Immerse the specimen for 1 min in the HCl solution 6.4.2.2 Immersion Test—Remove the helically wrapped por-
described in 6.3.2, wash, and wipe dry; (2) immerse the tion of the test specimen from the mandrel and immerse
specimen for 30 s in the sodium polysulfide solution described completely in the sodium polysulfide solution (see 6.3.2) for 30
in 6.3.2, wash, and wipe dry; (3) immerse the specimen for 1 s at the temperature prescribed in 6.3.3. On removal from the
sodium polysulfide solution, immediately rinse the specimen in
clean water and remove the excess by shaking.
6.4.2.3 Examination of Specimens—Examine visually the
TABLE 4 Limiting Number of Test Specimens for Coating Tests
outer peripheral surface of the helically wrapped portion of the
Maximum Number of specimen. For wires 0.021 in. (0.53 mm) and smaller, a
Specimens to be Tested
Nominal Diameter, in.
for 2 Cycles in 180 mL of magnification not greater than three times may be used. Any
Acid Solution cracking or parting of the coating in this area shown by
0.460 to 0.141, incl 2 blackening of the copper shall be cause for rejection. A grayish
Under 0.141 to 0.0851, incl 4 brown appearance of the coating after immersion shall not
Under 0.0851 to 0.0501, incl 6
Under 0.0501 to 0.0381, incl 10 constitute failure.
Under 0.0381 to 0.0301, incl 12
Under 0.0301 to 0.0030, incl 14 6.5 Finish—Surface-finish inspection shall be made with the
unaided eye (normal spectacles excepted).

3
 B33 − 10 (2014)
TABLE 5 Sampling for Dimensional Measurements
First Sample Second Sample

Number of Units in Lot Allowable Number Allowable Number of

Number of Units in Number of Units in
of Defects in First n1 plus n2 Defects in Both
Sample, n1 Sample, n2
Sample, c1. Samples, c2
1 to 14, incl all 0 ... ... ...
15 to 50, incl 14 0 ... ... ...
51 to 100, incl 19 0 23 42 1
101 to 200, incl 24 0 46 70 2
201 to 400, incl 29 0 76 105 3
401 to 800, incl 33 0 112 145 4
Over 800 34 0 116 150 4

7. Inspection the order) the sample shall consist of a quantity of production

7.1 General (Explanatory Note 8 and Note 9)—Unless units shown in Table 6.
otherwise specified in the contract or purchaser order, the 8. Conformance Criteria (Explanatory Note 9)
manufacturer shall be responsible for the performance of all
inspection and test requirements specified. 8.1 Any lot of wire, the samples of which comply with the
7.1.1 All inspections and tests shall be made at the place of conformance criteria of this section, shall be considered as
manufacture unless otherwise especially agreed upon between complying to the requirements of Section 5. Individual pro-
the manufacturer and the purchaser at the time of purchase. duction units that fail to meet one or more of the requirements
7.1.2 The manufacturer shall afford the inspector represent- shall be rejected. Failure of a sample group from a lot to meet
ing the purchaser all reasonable manufacturer’s facilities to one or more of the following criteria shall constitute cause for
satisfy him that the material is being furnished in accordance rejection of the lot. The conformance criteria for each of the
with this specification. prescribed properties given in Section 5 are as follows:
7.1.3 Unless otherwise agreed upon between the purchaser 8.1.1 Elongation—The lot shall be considered conforming if
and the manufacturer, conformance of the wire to the various the elongation of each of the selected specimens is not less than
requirements listed in Section 5 shall be determined on samples the elongation value in Table 1.
taken from each lot of wire presented for acceptance. 8.1.2 Resistivity—The electrical resistivity of each of the
7.1.4 The manufacturer shall, if requested prior to four specimens shall conform to the requirements of 5.2.
inspection, certify that all wire in the lot was made under such Failure to meet these requirements shall constitute failure to
conditions that the product as a whole conforms to the meet the resistivity conformance criterion.
requirements of this specification as determined by regularly 8.1.3 Dimensions—The dimensions of the first sample
made and recorded tests. (Table 5) shall conform to the requirements of 5.3. If there are
no failures, the lot conforms to this requirement. If there are
7.2 Definitions Applicable to Inspection: failures, but the number of these does not exceed the allowable
7.2.1 lot (Explanatory Note 8)—any amount of wire of one defect number c2 (Table 5) for the respective number of units
type and size presented for acceptance at one time, such in the sample, a second sample equal to n2 shall be taken and
amount, however, not to exceed 25 000 lb (11 350 kg). the total defects of the n1 plus n2 units shall not exceed the
7.2.2 unit(s)—coil(s), reel(s), or other put-up method which allowable defect number, c2. Failure to meet this requirement
makes up the lot from a production unit of one size of wire. shall constitute failure to meet the dimensional conformance
7.2.3 sample—a quantity of production units selected at criterion.
random from the lot for the purpose of determining confor- 8.1.4 Continuity of Coating—The continuity of the coating
mance of the lot to the requirements of this specification. of each of the eight specimens shall conform to the require-
7.2.4 specimen—a length of wire removed for test purposes ments of 5.4. Failure of more than two specimens shall
from any individual production unit of the sample. constitute failure to meet the continuity criterion. If not more
7.3 Sample Size (Explanatory Note 9)—The number of than two specimens fail to meet the continuity criterion, eight
production units in a sample shall be as follows:
7.3.1 For elongation and resistivity determinations, the TABLE 6 Sampling for Surface Finish and Packaging Inspection
sample shall consist of four production units. For continuity
Allowable Number
and adherence of coating tests, the sample shall consist of eight Number of Units in Lot
Number of Units in
of Defective Units,
Sample, n
production units. From each unit, one test specimen of suffi- c
cient length shall be removed for the performance of the 1 to 30, incl all 0
required tests. 31 to 50, incl 30 0
51 to 100, incl 37 0
7.3.2 For dimensional measurements, the sample shall con- 101 to 200, incl 40 0
sist of a quantity of production units shown in Table 5 under 201 to 300, incl 70 2
the heading “First Sample.” 301 to 500, incl 100 2
501 to 800, incl 130 3
7.3.3 For surface-finish inspection and for packaging in- Over 800 155 4
spection (when specified by the purchaser at the time of placing

4
 B33 − 10 (2014)
additional specimens from the lot shall be tested, all of which accordance with Table 6. The number of units in the sample
shall conform to the continuity criterion. However, any indi- showing nonconformance to the requirement shall not exceed
vidual production unit, the specimen from which failed to meet the allowable defect number, c, in Table 6. Failure to meet this
the continuity criterion, shall be rejected. requirement shall constitute failure to meet the packaging
8.1.5 Adherence of Coating—The adherence of the coating conformance criterion.
of each of the eight specimens shall conform to the require-
ments of 5.5. Failure of more than two specimens shall 9. Density (Explanatory Note 10)
constitute failure to meet the adherence criterion. If not more 9.1 For the purpose of calculating linear densities, cross
than two specimens fail to meet the adherence criterion, eight sections, etc., the density of the copper shall be taken as 8.89
additional specimens from the lot shall be tested, all of which g/cm3 (0.32117 lb/in.3) at 20°C.
shall conform to the adherence criterion. However, any indi-
vidual production unit, the specimen from which failed to meet
10. Packaging and Shipping
the adherence criterion, shall be rejected.
8.1.6 Surface Finish—The surface finish of the samples 10.1 Package sizes shall be agreed upon by the manufac-
taken in accordance with Table 6 shall conform to the require- turer and the purchaser in the placing of individual orders.
ments of 5.7. The number of units in the sample showing
10.2 The tin-coated wire shall be protected against damage
surface defects not consistent with commercial practice shall
in ordinary handling and shipping.
not exceed the allowable defect number c, in Table 6. Failure
to meet this requirement shall constitute failure to meet the
surface-finish conformance criterion. 11. Keywords
8.1.7 Packaging—Conformance to the packaging require- 11.1 tin-coated annealed copper wire; tin-coated copper
ments specified by the purchaser shall be determined in electrical wire; tin-coated soft copper wire

EXPLANATORY NOTES

NOTE 1—It is necessary that the coating of tin on the wire be NOTE 4—“Resistivity” is used in place of “percentage conductivity.”
continuous. The test in the sodium polysulfide is for the purpose of The value of 0.15328Ω · g/m2 at 20°C is the international standard for the
determining whether or not the wire carries a continuous envelope of pure resistivity of annealed copper equal to 100 % conductivity. This term
tin. The thickness of the tin coating is necessarily varied. Under the same means that a wire 1 m in length and weighing 1 g would have a resistance
conditions of tinning, the coating on all sizes of wire, excepting on fine of 0.15328 Ω. This is equivalent to a resistivity value of 875.20
wire, is approximately the same. The coating on fine wire is in general Ω·lb/mile2, which signifies the resistance of a wire 1 mile in length
relatively heavier than that on coarse wire. It is not, therefore, correct to weighing 1 lb. It is also equivalent, for example, to 1.7241 µΩ/cm of
apply a larger number of cycles in the test on coarse wire than is applied length of a bar 1 cm2 in cross section. A complete discussion of this
to fine wire. It is probable that one cycle of the dip test would be sufficient subject is contained in NBS Handbook 100 of the National Bureau of
to discover defects in tinned wire, but in order to make certain that no Standards. The presence of tin and of copper-tin alloy in the coating of the
partially covered spots may escape attention, provision has been made for wire increases the resistance of the finished wire as mentioned in Note 1.
two cycles. It has been found that the tin coating on copper wire consists Relationships that may be useful in connection with the values of
of two parts, an envelope of pure tin on the outside, with an intermediate resistivity prescribed in this specification are as shown in Table 7, each
layer of copper-tin alloy. This tin alloy, as well as the amount of tin column containing equivalent expressions at 20°C.
present, has an effect on the resistivity of the wire. Since the relative NOTE 5—In general, tested values of tensile strength are increased and
amount of tin coating and alloy is greater on the small wire than it is on tested values of elongation are reduced with increase of speed of the
the coarser wire, the resistivity of the wire increases as the size decreases. moving head of the testing machine in the tension testing of copper wire.
This also accounts for the decrease in elongation due to tinning soft wire. In the case of tests on soft or annealed copper wire, however, the effects
NOTE 2—The values of the wire diameters in Table 1 are given to the of speed of testing are not pronounced. Tests of soft wire made at speeds
nearest 0.0001 in. and correspond to the standard sizes given in Specifi- of moving head, which under no-load conditions are not greater than 12
cation B258. The use of gage numbers to specify wire sizes is not in./min, do not alter the final results of tensile strength and elongation
recognized in this specification because of the possibility of confusion. An determinations to any practical extent.
excellent discussion of wire gages and related subjects is contained in NBS NOTE 6—Caution: Consideration should be given to toxicity and
Handbook 100 of the National Bureau of Standards. flammability when selecting solvent cleaners.
NOTE 3—Other tests than those provided in this specification have been NOTE 7—It is important that the polysulfide solution be of proper
considered at various times, such as twist tests, wrap tests, and so forth. It composition and strength at the time of test. A solution that is not saturated
is the opinion of the committee that twist tests on soft wire serve no useful with sulfur or that has been made from decomposed sodium sulfide
purpose and that wrap tests, other than that provided for in 6.4, which is crystals may give a false indication of failure. Therefore, the requirement
a test for adhesion, are likewise undesirable and inconclusive as to results that the solution be tested by observing its blackening effect on a bright
and significance. copper wire is significant. Significant also is the requirement that the

TABLE 7 Resistivity Values

Conductivity at 20°C, % 100.00 97.66 97.16 96.16 94.16 93.15
Ω·lb/mile2 875.20 896.15 900.77 910.15 929.52 939.51
Ω·g/m2 0.15328 0.15694 0.15775 0.15940 0.16279 0.16454
Ω·cmil/ft 10.371 10.619 10.674 10.785 11.015 11.133
Ω·mm2/m 0.017241 0.017654 0.017745 .017930 0.018312 0.018508
µΩ·in. 0.67879 0.69504 0.69863 0.70590 0.72092 0.78267
µΩ·cm 1.7241 1.7654 1.7754 1.7930 1.8312 1.8508

5
 B33 − 10 (2014)
solution be saturated with sulfur by allowing the solution to stand at least manufacturer, indicating continued conformance to the criteria, are
24 h after preparation. Attention is called also to the necessity for the use necessary to ensure an over-all product meeting the requirements of this
of sodium sulfide that has not deteriorated through exposure to air; and if specification. The sample sizes and conformance criteria given for the
exposure has occurred, the crystals should be tested for purity. The various characteristics are applicable only to lots produced under these
“Standard Reagents Tests” of the American Chemical Society are useful in conditions.
this connection.
NOTE 10—The value of density of copper is in accordance with the
NOTE 8—A lot should comprise material taken from a product regularly
International Annealed Copper Standard. The corresponding value at 0°C
meeting the requirements of this specification. Inspection of individual
lots of less than 5000 lb of wire cannot be justified economically. For is 8.90 g/cm3 (0.32150 lb/in.3). In calculations involving density it must
small lots of 5000 lb or less, the purchaser may agree to the manufactur- be borne in mind that the apparent density of coated wire is not a constant
er’s regular inspection of the product as a whole, as evidence of but a variable function of wire diameters. The smaller the diameter, the
acceptability of such small lots. greater the percentage of coating present and hence the greater departure
NOTE 9—Cumulative results secured on the product of a single from the density of copper.

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