ABSTRACT
Practical application of solid metallic conductors requires a detailed knowledge of various properties of conductor materials, such as electrical, thermal, chemical, mechanical, and tribological characteristics. This is because in service solid conductors are subjected to different mechanical and thermal stresses as well as environmental effects. Copper is a soft, malleable, and ductile metal with a high conductivity and an excellent weldability and solderability. By rolling and drawing, a variety of electrical products such as wires, sheets, tubes, shaped bars, and flat busbars can be manufactured. Aluminum has been used ever-increasingly for a number of economic and engineering reasons. Because of its light weight, relatively good electrical and thermal properties, availability, and moderate cost, aluminum is being considered as a viable alternative to copper for many conductor applications in electrical systems. Aluminum is a ductile metal with a relatively high thermal and electrical conductivity.
