Good Reasons Why Nickel Plated Copper Cables Perform Well In Harsh Environments
When using high temperature lead wire, one aspect that users should keep in mind is the way the cables handle temperatures. At high temperatures, copper wires will oxidize and you may not realize or see the damage occurring with naked eyes. To help prevent damage and prolong the service life of the cables, they are coated with thermal resistance substances. Among the commonly used plating materials for high temperature lead wires are tin, silver, and nickel. For instance, Radix Wire PFA High Temperature Lead Wire 250C 300V and 600V is coated with nickel to reduce corrosion and ensure durability.
Tin and silver vs. nickel coating on copper wires
Tin metal is the most common used coating material on high temperature lead wires. Wires coated with tin are referred to as tinned conductors or tin coated cables. Tin effectively reduces the effect of corrosion on the cable because it has high resistance to elements that cause oxidation. However, tin only remains effective in reducing oxidation up to temperatures of about 150 degrees Celsius.
If you are using your high temperature lead wires in environments that exhibit temperature above 150 degrees Celsius, silver may be used as the coating material for the copper wires. Nonetheless, silver tends to be expensive, and while it is used on the cables, you may have to pay a bit more. It however offers excellent resistance to oxidation and that is up to 250 degrees Celsius.
In temperatures surpassing the 250 degrees Celsius mark, nickel become the appropriate material to use in coating copper wires.
The Benefits of nickel coating on high-temperature copper wires
Nickel plating is widely used in wire products because it offers unmatched resistance to corrosion. Wires coated with nickel are durable and stable even when used at extremes of temperatures. The 27% nickel plating on copper makes the copper conductors to perform extremely well and you may use the cables in environments that encounter heat and high temperatures.
The plating thickness of 27 percent gives temperature protection reaching up to 750 degrees Celsius. The coating also gives superb resistance to corrosion at negative temperature of as low as minus (-) 60 degrees Celsius. Nickel also has high resistance to elements like alkalis, reducing chemicals, and salt sprays.
The lead wire cables made of nickel-plated copper are also easy to weld. They can also be soldered but using active flux products. Nickel has a good conductivity of 25 percent of that of copper - meaning that, when it is used as a coating material on the cable, it enhances the conductivity. Using nickel to coat copper wires ensures that the cables are used in high temperature and can last for long.
The Radix Wire PFA High Temperature Lead Wire 250C 300V and 600 is a nickel-plated copper lead wire that is used in applications such as industrial heating and cooking processes. It has been used in cooking ranges, stoves, ovens, heaters, and clothe dryers. This cable is insulated with extruded perfluoroalkoxy copolymer (PFA) material that offers thermal stability, flame resistance, and high melt strength. The chemical and solvent resistance of the cable makes it an ideal choice for use in commercial food service equipment.