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Bachelors Theses and Reports, 1928 - 1970 Student Scholarship

5-7-1937

The Electrical Conductivity of the Copper-

Aluminum Alloys.
William W. Hintalla

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Hintalla, William W., "The Electrical Conductivity of the Copper-Aluminum Alloys." (1937). Bachelors Theses and Reports, 1928 -
1970. 72.
http://digitalcommons.mtech.edu/bach_theses/72

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 COPPER-ALUMINUlVI AL!.,OYS

by

William W~ Hintalla

A Thesis
Submi tted to the Department of ~,reta11urgy
in Partial Fulfillment of the
Requirements for the Degree of
Bachelor of Sc j ence in Metallurgical En j Lne er'Lng

MONTANA SCHOOL OF MINES

BUTTE" MONTaNA
May 7, 1937
 ~HE ELECTRICAL CONDUCTIVITY OF THE
COPPER-ALUMINUM ALLOYS

by

William W •.Hintalla

17969

A Thesis
Submitted to the Department of Metallurgy
in Partial Fulfillment of the
Re qu Lr'emerrt
a for the De.;gre-=e
of
Bachelor of Science in Metallurgical Engineering

MONTANA SCHOOL OF MINES

BUTTE, MONTANA-
May 7, 1937

MDNTANA SCAI'J9l OF MINfS UBI'iARY.

 CONTENTS

Page
C~opper-Aluminum Alloys •.•.•.•.•.••• e 1

Electrical Resistivity of Metalm

and Af Loy s ; •.•••.••.•.••••. 6

Experimentation. e· e, ~e' e· e- • e· e· e- .' e- • 9

Summary •••• e· • • • • • • • • • •• 12
Table I, Resistivities •• e- •• • • ... 13
Table II, Specific 6~nductances. e' e- • 14
Table III, Specific Sonductances

at Room Temperature. • • • • • • • 15
Ac knowl ed gement s. • • • • • • • • • .' • 16
 DIAGRAMS

Page'
Figure,l, Copper-Aluminum Diagram. • • • ... ~,

Figure 2, Electrical Conductivity Curve

A~B mutually soluble in solid state ••• 7

Figure 3:" Electrical Conductivi ty Curve

A-B partially soluble in solid state.. 7

Figure 4, S~ecific Conductivity Curve for

Copper-Aluminum Alloys. •. •. • • • • • • 11
 THE ELECTRICAL CONDUCTIVITY OF THE
COPPER-ALUMINUM ALLOYS

COPPER-ALUMINUM ALLOYS

Among the many aluminum alloys which have been

studied are the binary copper-aluminum alloys. These

have proven to be among the most useful of the alumi-

num alloys thus far worked upon. At first nmakel-

aluminum alloys were approved as the standard castings.

Now, however, the copper-aluminum series (especially

No. 12 alloy:: 92foAl, 8foCu)\ are the standard. These

may contain varying amounts of other metals such as

iron, manganese, magnesium or nickel.

The copper-aluminum alloys series may be divided

into three parts: light casting alloys, intermediate

alloy s , and aluminum brOnZ1I'B'..Of these three groups

the useful ones are the light metal alloys (those con-
taining less than l5fo Cu)' and the aluminum bronzes
(those containing less than lIfo AI).

The first class embraces those alloys most appli-

cab.a to general casting purposes in the aluminum in-

dustry.· The addition of copper has the effect of in-

creasing the tensile strength and hardness, reducing

the shrinkage, and improving the machining qualities

of the pure aluminum. The alloying also has the effect

-1-
of decreasing the elongation thereby detracting from

the toughness of the metal. A limiting factor in the

amount of copper to be added is the specific gravity
of the alloy, which should be kept as low as possible.

It has been found that an alloy containing more than

about 15fo copper is not of practical use. However,

if the copper content is kept well within this limit,

the material is sufficiently tough for most uses.

Alloys of this class cast well. Because of the

nature of their constituents they are not so liable

to be "'burned" in the foundry as are alloys containing

more vo],atile metals.

The aluminum bronzes are those alloys containing

less than lIfo aluminum. A large amount of aluminum

makes the material hard and brittle (just as an in-

creasing amount of copper makes the light metal alloys

brittle). The tensile strength of the aluminum bronzes
is quite high ('80,000 to 110,000 Ibs/'sq•.in )•. They
are also ductile, have a high resistance to corrosion,

and have good wor~ing properties (hot or cold).

The disadvantages of the high copper alloys are

the high cos~J difficulty of melting and pouring (melt-

ing point copper 1083 deg. C.), excessive shrinkage,

piping and tearing, and season cracking. nother

great disadvantage is the difficulty of disposing of

-2-
the scrap metal.

Intermediate alloys of the copper-aluminum series

(from 1510 to 9010 Cu~ give crystalline, brittle, grayish-

white alloys which are of no use in the arts. However,

the intermediate alloys are ordiBarily used as a vehicle

in foundry practice to introduce the minor metal into

the alloy. The red color of the copper does not begin

to show until the copper content reaches about 8010.

The equilibrium diagram of the copper-aluminum series

1)
(Figure 1) has been studied by many authorities. The

diagram as presented here must be regarded in parts as

tentative. This explanation will cover only that portion

of the field containing less than 15~ aluminum and that

containing less than 10fo copper •.

At room temperature copper holds 1010 aluminum in

solid solution. With an increase in temperature the
solubility decreases being 7~ at the eutectic point
(1083 deg. C.). A distinguishing feature here is the

narrow freezing range for the ~ phase--the solidus and

liquidus are practically one line. The range for pure

~ alloys corresponds to the first branch of the liquidus

1) Bradley-Jones: Inst. of Metals Journal 625

Stockdale:. J. lnst. Metals 28, 273
Curry: J. Phys. Chem. 11, 425
Gwy er :: Z. an 0 rg. Chem. 57, 117

-3-
curve. f3
This ends at thea("," eutectic point, the eutec-
tic range being only about 210.

From the mini~um the liquidus curve rises to.a max-

imum which correspond's to the compound CU3A1. This com-

po~nd forms solid solutions with the neighbouring phases

and undergoes a eutectoid inversion at about 520 deg. C.

Alloys containing much of the compound lose their ducti-

lity. This is an illustration of the fact that, in gen-

eral, only alloys near the ends of a binary series are use-

ful materials for practical purposes where s rength and

toughness are required.

On the aluminum end the diagram is comparatively

simple. The limit of solid solubility of copper in
aluminum is about 510 at the eutectic temperature and

1.5% at 300 deg. C. The compound CUAIZ is found at 46%

aluminum. Alloys containing any of the eutectic of

CyAl2 with aluminum are weak and brittle.

-5---
 ELECTRICAL RESI STIVITY OF METALS AND ALLOYS

The investigation of the electrical resistivity

of alloys is now considered a most i~portant phase in

the research concerning alloy systems. In regard to

electrical conductivity it has been found that pure me-

l)
tals are the best conductors, and the presence of any

foreign element decreases the conductivity. This reduc-

tion is particularly true in cases where a solid solution

is formed. Even when the added metal is a better conduc-

tor, this decrease generally occurs.

Reduced conductivity in solid solutions is explained

as follows. Atoms of the two metals concerned, having a

certain resemblance, enter side by side into the same
crystal lattice. Hence, a mixed crystal is formed. In
this now distorted structure the electrons find difficulty

in moving from atom to atom. Thus the resistance of the

alloy becomes greater. The curve for a binary system in

which there is complete solid solubility.is generally a

U-shaped curve such as is shown in Figure 2, page 7.

rn alloys where no solid solutions are formed, the two

metals are in a state of simple mechanical mixture.

There is no intermingling of molecules, and thus each

metal retains its original electrical conductivity.

1) Rosenhain:: "Introduction to Physical Metallurgy"

-6-
 Fig. 2

t
-0
s:-
o
U

.
A /05--- B
Electrical Conductivity Curve
A-B mutually soluble in
solid state

Fig •. 3

"
c
o
U
G
(l)

A B
E~ectrical Conductivity Curve
A-B partially soluble in
solid state

-7-
 The conductivity of the alloy is then the arithmetic
mean of that of its two constituents. The curve of con-
cuctivities should be a straight line joining the con-

ductivities of the two metals. However, in any case there

must be a slight degree of mutual solid solubility be-
l)
tween any two metals. ' Therefore in the majority of bi-

nary alloys of the eutectiferous type the curve of conduc-

tivity drops sharply at either end for a short distance.

A typical curve is shown in Figure 3, page 7.

In the case of more complex alloys, containing eith-

er compounds or series of solid solutions which are

based upon definite compounds, the conductivity curve

assumes more complex shapes. If there is any sudden

change in structure and constiturion, there is a corres-
ponding change in the conductivity curve. However, it

is not to be concluded that because the conductivity

curve~hows no deflection no line of the diagram can

have been crossed. As a rule the existence of a d~finite

break in a binary system is india:ated by a break in the

conductivity curve.

- I)Rosenhain:: "Introduction to Physical Metallurgy"

-8-
 EXPERIMENTATION

A master alloy was prepared containing 5010

aluminum and 5010 copper, from which were made all the

test specimens containing various percentages of copper

and aluminum. The metals were charged into graphite

crucibles, covered with borax or carbon to prevent oxi-

dation, and melted in an electric resistance furnace.

The test specimens were made by melting first the pure
metal and then bringing it to the desired compostion
by the addition of the proper amount of master alloy.

The melts were cast into graphite molds,

which produced ingots about ~II;
20. X' JLIli
4 x;2_tt. These

were then rolled or hammered out to as small a cross-

section as possible.

The high aluminum alloys proved quite diffi-

cult to cast and to hammer out. They are not amenable.,

to cold work, and if heated to high temperatures will

disintegrate upon hammering. Therefore a careful temp-

erature control must be maintained during hammering.

The high copper alloys were more amenable

to hammering. The addition of aluminum has a hardening
effect on the copper, and in case of a 1510 aluminum alloy

it was impossible to draw a wire.

-9-
MONTANA SCHOOL OF ~:a~~:3
UBRARY.
BUTTE
 The ingots, after having been hammered out to as mmall

a cross-section as possible, were then drawn by hand through

a Le Joubert die into wires having a diameter of 0.0336

inches. In order to facilitate drawing the wires were

heated and quenched after several passes through the die.

The wires were then annealed under the same conditions

in a tube furnace. A reducing atmosphere was maintained

by passing natural gas through the tube. The wires were

kept at a temperature of 500 deg. C. for one hour. They
were all slowly cooled intthe furnace in the reducing at-
mosphere •.

Resistances were measured with a semi-precision

Wheatstone bridge to 0.00001 ohm. All wires were measured

at the same temperature (1 deg. C.) in a beaker of ice
and water.

In Figure 4, page 11, are plotted the calculated

specific conductances against the volume percentage of
the metals. The obtained curve is rather short but follows

the curve obtained from plotting data from volume 6 of

the International Critical Tables. That the curves do not
coincide is explained by the fact that resistances were
measured at different temperatures. The curve obtained

frmm~ data f~om the International Critical Tables shows low-

er specific conductances at a higher temperaturei This

is in accordance with the fact that metallic conductors,

17~69

-10-
as a general rule, have a higher resistance at high temper-

atures.l) The units of the crystal lattice are in thermal

agitation thus making it more difficult for the electrons

to pass t.hrough s. There is a distinct break in the curve

at about 4810 of aluminum by volume or about 7810 copper

by weight, where according to the diagram, there is a
compound. No distinct breaks are shown for the other com-

pounds present.

SUMMARY

The conductivity of the aluminum wire was found to

be about 6010 of the copper value. The addition of copper

lowers the conductivity. With 4.35fo copper the conduc-

tivity was about 8610 of the aluminum value, and with

8 •.60fo copper it dropped to 8010.·

The addition of aluminum likewise lowered the con-

ductivity of the copper. With 7~791o aluminum the con-

ductivi ty value drops to only 1610.·

1) Getman:: "Outline of Theoretical Chemistry'"

-12-
 TABLE :IT.

RFJ:SISTIVITIES

Length of wire 36 inches

Diameter of wire 0.0336 inches

Temperature 1 deg. C.

WIRE RESI STIVITY --OHMS

Cu 61.02490

Al 0.041441.

Cu -- Al 0]..0252:6
(97.52) (2 •.48)'

Cu - Al 0 •.15670
( 9 2 e- 21) ( 7 • 79 )

Al - Cu 0 •.04151
( 99 e- 83 )' (0. 17 )

Al- C!l 0.04885

('95 •.65) C~.. 35»)
1 - Cu 0.05187
( 91 •.40 ) ( 8 • 60 )'

Percentages of metals are given in parentheses.

-13-
 TABLE I:E:.

SPECIFIC CONDUCTANCES

If R is resistance of wire in ohms

1 is length of wire in centimeters

a is area in square centimeters

P is specific resistance
1\ = .L
p
= specific conductance

p= ~
!\= _!_ '"' L
p aR

Example of calculations;
Cu wt r e i.
36 x 2•.
54

"
:=
(0.0336)2 x x 2 .. 54Z x 0.02490
1\ = 4L x 105
6•.
WIRE SP. COND. WT. ANALYSIS VOL. ANAL.
Cu 41 x 105
6•. 10010 ioos
Al 3•.
86 100 100
Cu-Al 6•.
32 Cu 97.52 Cu 92 ..
2
Al 2•.48 Al 87.8
Cu-Al 1.025 Cu 92.211. .tru78.1
Al 7.79 Al 21..9
Cu-Al 3•.
84' Cu 0.17 Cu 0.01
Al 99 •.
83 Al 99.99
Cu-A1 3.27 Cu 4•. 35 Cu 1.5
A1 95 •.
65 Al 98.5
Cu-A1 3•.
08 Cu 8.60 Cu 2.8
Al 91 •.
40 Al 97.2

-14-
 TABLE lIT.

SPECIFIC CONDUCTANCES AT ROOM TEMPERATUREl)

SP. CONDo ~Ctl(wt.) 2kCu(vo1.)

4.02 x 105 O.O~ O.Wo

3•.09 3•.8 1.2
2 •.
79 8.7 2.·8
2 •.
54 18.5 6.5
2 •.
32 28 •.
2 11.7
1.967 39.2 16 •.
3
1.1740 48.4 22.8
1.652 51.3 24.3
1.517 54.0 26 •.
5
1.410 60.5 32.0
1.300 66 •.
9 37.9
1.210 70 •.
3 41.8
0.980 74.4 46.9
0.862 77.] 50.7
0.885 78.0 51.9
0.355 78.6 52•.7
0 •.
346 79 ..
8 54.7
0.·482 82 •.
6 59•.2
0.633 86.1 65.14
0 •.
730 89.0 71.1
0.847 90.5 74.3
0.922 93.1 80.5
m..006 95.3 86.0
1.710 98 •.
8 96.2
6.500 100.0 100.0

1) International Critical Tables, Volume 6, page 167

-15-
 ACKN~VLEDGEMENTS

To Dr~ Curtis L. Wilson and Dr. Ettore A.

Peretti of the Department of Metallurgy of the

Montana School of Mines, under whose. able gui-
dance this work was done, my obligations are
herewith gratefully acknowledged.

--16-·