Resistance wire - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

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Resistance wire
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Resistance wire is wire intended for making electrical resistors.[1] It is desirable that the chosen alloy have high
resistivity, as a shorter wire can then be used. In many situations the stability of the resistor is of primary
importance, and thus the alloy's temperature coefficient of resistivity and corrosion resistance.
When resistance wire is used for heating elements (in electric heaters, toasters, and the like), high restivity and
oxidation resistance is important.
Sometimes resistance wire is insulated by ceramic powder and sheathed in a tube of another alloy; such heating
elements are used in electric ovens and water heaters and in specialized forms for cooktops.

Types
Nichrome, a non-magnetic 80/20 alloy of nickel and chromium, is the most common resistance wire for heating
purposes because it has a high resistivity and resistance to oxidation at high temperatures. When used as a
heating element, resistance wire is usually wound into coils. One difficulty in using nichrome wire is that
common tin-based electrical solder will not stick to it, so the connections to the electrical power must be made
using other methods such as crimp connectors or screw terminals.
Kanthal (Alloy 875/815), a family of iron-chromium-aluminium (FeCrAl) alloys used in a wide range of
high-temperature applications.
Constantan [Cu55Ni45] has a low temperature coefficient of resistivity and as a copper alloy, is easily soldered.
Other constant-resistance alloys include manganin [Cu86Mn12Ni2], Cupron [Cu53Ni44Mn3][2] and Evanohm.
The Evanohm family of nickel-chrome alloys [Ni72Cr20Mn4Al3Si1],[3] [Ni73Cr20Cu2Al2Mn1Si],[4] have high
resistance, low temperature coefficient of resistance, low electromotive force (Galvani potential) when in
contact with copper, high tensile strength, and also are very stable with regards to heat treatment.
Balco [Ni70Fe30] and similar alloys have very high, but more linear, temperature coefficient of resistivity,
making them suitable for sensing elements.
Many elements and alloys have been used as resistance wire for special purposes. The table below lists the
resistivity of some common materials. The resistivity of amorphous carbon actually has a range of 3.8 - 4.1
10-6 m.

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Resistance wire - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

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https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Resistance_wire

Resistivity
(ohm-cmil/ft)

Resistivity
(10-6 ohm-cm)

Aluminum

15.94

2.650

Brass

42.1

7.0

Material

Carbon (amorphous) 23

3.95

Constantan

272.97

45.38

Copper

10.09

1.678

Iron

57.81

9.61

Manganin

290

48.21

Molybdenum

32.12

5.34

Nichrome

675

112.2

Nichrome V

650

108.1

Nickel

41.69

6.93

Platinum

63.16

10.5

Stainless steel (304) 541

90

Steel (0.5% carbon) 100

16.62

Zinc

5.90

35.49

Common Alloy Trade Names

[5]

MWS Wire Ind. Carpenter Tech. Driver-Harris

Harrison

Hoskins

Jelliff

HAI-FeCr AI 25 Alloy 875

Kanthal

MWS-875

Alchrome 875

Kanthal A-1

MWS-800

Evanohm

Karma

HAI-431

Chromel R Alloy 800 Nikrothal L

MWS-675

Tophet C

Nichrome

HAI-NiCr 60

Chromel C Alloy C

Nikrothal 6

MWS-650

Tophet A

Nichrome V

HAI-NiCr 80

Chromel A Alloy A

Nikrothal 8

MWS-294

Cupron

Advance

HAI-CuNi 102

Copel

MWS-180

180 Alloy

Midohm

HAI-180

Alloy 380 Alloy 180 Cuprothal 180

MWS-120

Balco

Hytemco

HAI-380

MWS-90

90 Alloy

#95 Alloy

HAI-90

Alloy 290 Alloy 90 Cuprothal 90

MWS-60

60 Alloy

Lohm

HAI-60

Alloy 260 Alloy 60 Cuprothal 60

MWS-30

30 Alloy

#30 Alloy

HAI-30

Alloy 230 Alloy 30 Cuprothal 30

Alloy 45 Cuprothal 294

Alloy 120

References
1. http://www.pelicanwire.com/products/resistance-wire/
2. https://www.cartech.com/ssalloysprod.aspx?id=1940 Carpenter Technology, CBX Cupron Alloy
3. http://cartech.ides.com/datasheet.aspx?I=101&TAB=DV_DS&E=26 Carpenter Technology, Evanohm Alloy S

12/14/2015 10:19 PM

Resistance wire - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

3 of 3

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Resistance_wire

4. http://cartech.ides.com/datasheet.aspx?I=101&TAB=DV_DS&E=27 Carpenter Technology, Evanohm Alloy R

5. http://www.pelicanwire.com/products/resistance-wire/

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