An Improved Aluminium Conductor

Abstract

WHILST aluminium can compete with copper as a conductor of electricity on its own merits, it unfortunately suffers from inferiority complex as it is commonly regarded as a substitute of copper forced upon the elect-rical industry due to the shortage of indigenously prod-uced copper. Even in countries where import of copper is not a problem, transmission of electricity by aluminium conductor is proving economical and its use is advocated not as a substitute but as a serious competitor of copper on its own merits. The engineering requirements of a cond-uctor material are that it should be (i) plentiful and not too expensive, (ii) an adequate conductor of electricity, (iii) mechanically strong to withstand stresses and trains, (iv) ductile and strong enough to be rolled and drawn into wires and (v) should compare satisfactorily with a copper conductor cable in performance, reliability, durability and cost.