Copper Clad Steel Wire
IACS 21% – 55% · ASTM B452 · 0.10 – 4.00 mm
Why This Conductor
Four grades. One phone call.
21% IACS for lightning arrest and high-tension ground. 30% for substation grids and messenger. 40% for coax center conductors. 55% for automotive harness that needs to carry RF without the weight of solid copper. Tell us the application — we'll tell you the grade.
The bond isn't glued. It's grown.
Continuous molten-copper cladding. Steel wire passes through a bath of liquid copper at 1120°C. Oxygen-free interface. No flux, no filler, no intermediate layer. When you look at the cross-section under a microscope, you can't tell where the steel ends and the copper begins.
ASTM B452 traceability to heat and lot.
Each reel ships with a cert that traces back to the heat number and the hour it ran. When your QA auditor shows up at 7am unannounced — ours do that, by the way — you can hand them the binder and go get coffee.
Technical Data
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Conductivity | 21 / 30 / 40 / 55% IACS |
| Diameter range | 0.10 – 4.00 mm |
| Diameter tolerance | ±0.003 mm to ±0.020 mm |
| Copper cladding thickness | ≥ 10% by volume (all grades) |
| Tensile strength | 600 – 1400 MPa (grade-dependent) |
| Elongation (min) | 1.0 – 15% |
| Elastic modulus | 150 – 200 GPa |
| Density | 8.15 g/cm³ |
IACS Grade Comparison
| Grade | IACS | Tensile | Application |
|---|---|---|---|
| CCS 21% | 21% | 1200 - 1400 MPa | Overhead ground, lightning arrest |
| CCS 30% | 30% | 900 - 1100 MPa | Substation grounding, CATV messenger |
| CCS 40% | 40% | 700 - 900 MPa | Coaxial center conductor, CATV drop |
| CCS 55% | 55% | 600 - 800 MPa | High-frequency RF, automotive harness |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the copper layer thickness tolerance of your CCS wire?
Copper cladding is a minimum of 10% by volume on every grade, formed by continuous molten cladding rather than plating. Diameter tolerance runs ±0.003 mm on fine sizes up to ±0.020 mm at 4.00 mm, verified by in-line eddy-current testing on every production run.
Which IACS grade should I choose for my application?
21% for overhead ground wire and lightning arrest, 30% for substation grounding and CATV messenger, 40% for coaxial center conductors, and 55% for automotive harness and high-frequency RF. If you tell us the frequency and current envelope, we will confirm the grade within one business day.
Does the copper cladding separate from the steel core during bending?
No — the bond is metallurgical, formed at 1120°C in a continuous bath, so there is no plating layer to peel. Bond strength meets ASTM B452 §9 (typically ≥ 175 MPa shear), and every lot passes bend-strip testing before shipment.
What is the minimum order quantity and lead time for CCS wire?
Prototype orders start at 50 kg with sample reels shipped within 10 days. Standard grades (21/30/40/55% IACS) ship in 4–6 weeks, and each reel carries a Mill Test Certificate traceable to heat number and run hour.
Related Applications & Resources
Custom specification?
We regularly produce bespoke IACS grades, custom coatings and non-standard diameters. Tell us your application — talk to an engineer.