Resistivity of Electrical Conductor Materials: Standard Test Method For
Resistivity of Electrical Conductor Materials: Standard Test Method For
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TABLE 1 Resistivity and Conductivity Conversion
NOTE 1—These factors are applicable only to resistivity and conductivity values corrected to 20°C (68°F). They are applicable for any temperature
when used to convert between volume units only or between weight units only. Values of density, δ, for the common electrical conductor materials, are
listed in Table 2.
Given N→ Volume Resistivity at 20°C Weight Resistivity at 20°C Conductivity at 20°C
Perform indicated
operation 2 2 2 % IACS % IACS
Ω·cmil/ft Ω·mm /m µΩ·in. µΩ·cm Ω·lb/mile Ω·g/m
to obtain ↓ (Volume Basis) (Weight Basis)
Volume Resistivity at 20°C
Ω·cmil/ft ... N × 601.52 N × 15.279 N × 6.0153 N × 0.10535 × N × 601.53 × (1/N) × 1037.1 (1/N) × 9220.0
(1/δ) (1/δ) × (1/δ)
2
Ω·mm /m N × 0.0016624 ... N × 0.025400 N × 0.010000 N × 0.00017513 N × (1/δ) (1/N) × 1.7241 (1/N) × 15.328
× (1/δ) × (1/δ)
µΩ·in. N × 0.065450 N × 39.370 ... N × 0.39370 N × 0.0068950 N × 39.370 × (1/N) × 67.879 (1/N) × 603.45
× (1/δ) (1/δ) × (1/δ)
µΩ·cm N × 0.16624 N × 100.00 N × 2.5400 ... N × 0.017513 × N × 100.00 × (1/N) × 172.41 (1/N) × 1532.8
(1/δ) (1/δ) × (1/δ)
Weight Resistivity at 20°C
Ω·lb/mile2 N × 9.4924 × δ N × 5710.0 × δ N × 145.03 × δ N × 57.100 × δ ... N × 5710.0 (1/N) × 9844.8 (1/N) × 87520
×δ
Ω·g/m2 N × 0.0016624 N×δ N × 0.025400 N × 0.010000 N × 0.00017513 ... (1/N) × 1.7241 (1/N) × 15.328
×δ ×δ ×δ ×δ
Conductivity at 20°C
% IACS (1/N) × 1037.1 (1/N) × 1.7241 (1/N) × 67.879 (1/N) × 172.41 (1/N) × 9844.8 (1/N) × 1.7241 ... N × 0.11249
(volume basis) ×δ ×δ ×δ
% IACS (1/N) × 9220.0 (1/N) × 15.328 (1/N) × 603.45 (1/N) × 1532.8 (1/N) × 87520 (1/N) × 15.328 N 8.89 × (1/δ) ...
(weight basis) × (1/δ) × (1/δ) × (1/δ) × (1/δ)
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TABLE 2 Density and Temperature Coefficient of Resistance for Electrical Conductor Materials
Temperature Temperature
Approximate Density, Coefficient of Approximate Density, Coefficient of
Material Material
δ, at 20°C, g/cm3 Resistance, α, at δ, at 20°C, g/cm3 Resistance, α, at
20°C 20°C
Copper, % IACS: Aluminum Alloy 8000,
101 8.89 0.00397 Specification B800, % IACS:
100 8.89 0.00393 61.8 2.71 0.00408
98.40 8.89 0.00387 61.5 2.71 0.00406
98.16 8.89 0.00386 61.4 2.71 0.00406
97.80 8.89 0.00384 61.3 2.71 0.00405
97.66 8.89 0.00384 61.2 2.71 0.00404
97.40 8.89 0.00383 61.0 2.71 0.00403
97.16 8.89 0.00382 60.9 2.71 0.00402
96.66 8.89 0.00380 60.8 2.71 0.00402
96.16 8.89 0.00378 60.7 2.71 0.00401
94.16 8.89 0.00370 60.6 2.71 0.00400
93.15 8.89 0.00366
Aluminum Alloy 6101,
Silver Coated Copper, % IACS:
Specification B298: 59.5 2.70 0.00393
Class A 8.91 0.00393 59.0 2.70 0.00390
Class B 8.93 0.00393 57.0 2.70 0.00377
Class C 8.95 0.00394 56.5 2.70 0.00373
Class D 8.99 0.00394 56.0 2.70 0.00370
Class E 9.05 0.00395 55.0 2.70 0.00363
54.0 2.70 0.00357
Nickel Coated Copper, 53.0 2.70 0.00350
Specification B355:
Class 2 8.89 0.00395 Aluminum Alloy, % IACS:
Class 4 8.89 0.00397 5005-H19 53.5 2.70 0.00353
Class 7 8.89 0.00400 6201-T81 52.5 2.69 0.00347
Class 10 8.89 0.00404
Class 27 8.89 0.00422 Aluminum Clad Steel,
% IACS:
20.3 6.59 0.0036
27 5.91 0.0036
30 5.61 0.0038
40 4.64 0.0040
Bronze, Specification B9:
Alloy 40 8.89 0.00157 Copper Clad Steel:
Alloy 55 8.89 0.00224 Grade 30 A, HS, EHS 8.15 0.00378
Alloy 80 8.89 0.00322 Grade 40 A, HS, EHS 8.25 0.00378
Galvanized Steel,
Specification A326:
Class A Coating:
Grade 85 7.83 0.0046
Grade 135 and 195 7.83 0.0042
Class B Coating:
Grade 85 7.80 0.0046
Grade 135 and 195 7.80 0.0042
Class C Coating:
Grade 85 7.77 0.0046
Grade 135 and 195 7.77 0.0042
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TABLE 2 Continued
Temperature Temperature
Approximate Density, Coefficient of Approximate Density, Coefficient of
Material Material
δ, at 20°C, g/cm3 Resistance, α, at δ, at 20°C, g/cm3 Resistance, α, at
20°C 20°C
Galvanized Steel and Zn-5 % 7.78 0.00360
Aluminum Coated Steel
(for ACSR, ACSS)
Specifications B498/B498M, B606,
B802, B803, B957, B958
Ω·cmil/ft 10.371
Ω·mm2/m 0.017241
µΩ·in. 0.67879
µΩ·cm 1.7241
Weight Resistivity
2
Ω·lb/mile 875.20
Ω·g/m2 0.15328
A
The equivalent resistivity values for 100 % IACS (soft copper) were each computed from the fundamental IEC value (1/58 Ω·mm2/m) using conversion factors each
accurate to at least seven significant figures. Corresponding values for other conductivities (aluminum, etc.) may be derived from these by multiplying by the reciprocal
of the conductivity ratios and where applicable also by the density ratios, both accurate to at least seven significant figures.
EXPLANATORY NOTES
NOTE 1—Volume resistivity is used in place of “weight resistivity” and Ω·lb/mile2 and in metric units in Ω·g/m2. It may be calculated as follows:
“percent conductivity.”
Resistivity units are based on the International Annealed Copper ρ w 5 ~ W/L 1 L 2 ! R
Standard (IACS) adopted by IEC in 1913, which is 1/58 Ω·mm2/m at 20°C
where:
(68°F) for 100 % conductivity. The value of 0.017241 Ω·mm2/m and the
value of 0.15328 Ω·g/m2 at 20°C (68°F) are respectively the international ρw = weight resistivity, Ω·lb/mile2 or Ω·g/m2,
equivalent of volume and weight resistivity of annealed copper equal (to W = weight of the test specimen, lb or g,
five significant figures) to 100 % conductivity. The latter term means that L2 = length of the test specimen, miles or m,
a copper wire 1 m in length and weighing 1 g would have a resistance of L1 = gage length, used to determine R, miles or m, and
0.15328 Ω. This is equivalent to a resistivity value of 875.20 Ω·lb/mile2, R = measured resistance, Ω.
which signifies the resistance of a copper wire 1 mile in length weighing NOTE 3—Resistivity and Conductivity Conversion—Conversion of the
1 lb. It is also equivalent, for example, to 1.7241 µΩ/cm of length of a various units of volume resistivity, weight resistivity, and conductivity,
copper bar 1 cm2 in cross section. A complete discussion of this subject is may be facilitated by employing the formulas and factors shown in Table
contained in NBS Handbook 100.4 The use of five significant figures in 1. The factors given therein are applicable to all metallic electrical
expressing resistivity does not imply the need for greater accuracy of
conductor material. Table 2 lists values of density, δ, for the common
measurement than that specified in Test Method B193. The use of five
electrical conductor materials.
significant figures is required for reasonably accurate reversible conver-
sion from one set of resistivity units to another. The equivalent resistivity NOTE 4—Density—For the purpose of resistivity and conductivity
values in Table 3 were derived from the fundamental IEC value (1/58 conversion, the density of the various conductor materials may be taken as
Ω·mm2/m) computed to seven significant figures and then rounded to five shown in Table 2, based on a temperature of 20°C (68°F).
significant figures. However, if the conversion is for specification acceptance purposes, the
NOTE 2—Weight resistivity is expressed in U.S. customary units in density used shall be that specified in the product specification involved.
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