Designation: B 3 – 95

AMERICAN SOCIETY FOR TESTING AND MATERIALS

100 Barr Harbor Dr., West Conshohocken, PA 19428
Reprinted from the Annual Book of ASTM Standards. Copyright ASTM

Standard Specification for

Soft or Annealed Copper Wire1
This standard is issued under the fixed designation B 3 ; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of original
adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A superscript
epsilon (e) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.

This standard has been approved for use by agencies of the Department of Defense. Consult the DoD Index of Specifications and
Standards for the specific year of issue which has been adopted by the Department of Defense.

1. Scope 3.1.3 Type of copper, if special (Section 4),

1.1 This specification covers drawn and annealed or soft 3.1.4 Package size (see 10.1),
round bare copper wire for electrical purposes (Explanatory 3.1.5 Special package marking, if required, and
Note 1). 3.1.6 Place of inspection (see 9.1).
1.2 The SI values for density and resistivity are to be 3.2 In addition, Supplementary Requirements shall apply
regarded as the standard. For all other properties the inch- only when specified by the purchaser in the inquiry, contract, or
pound values are to be regarded as the standard and the SI units purchase order for direct procurement by agencies of the U.S.
may be approximate. Government (S1, S2, and S3).
1.3 The hazard statement applies only to Section 6, Test 4. Materials and Manufacture
Methods, of this specification. This standard does not purport 4.1 The material shall be copper of such quality and purity
to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its that the finished product shall have the properties and charac-
use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to teristics prescribed in this specification.
establish appropriate safety and health practices and deter-
mine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use. NOTE 1—The following standards define the materials suitable for use:
Specification B 49.
2. Referenced Documents 4.2 Copper bars of special qualities, forms, or types, as may
2.1 The following documents of the issue in effect at the be agreed upon between the manufacturer and the purchaser,
time of reference form a part of this specification to the extent and which will conform to the requirements prescribed in this
referenced herein: specification may also be used.
2.2 ASTM Standards:
5. General Requirements (see Section 7)
B 49 Specification for Copper Redraw Rod for Electrical
Purposes 2 5.1 Tensile Strength and Elongation—The wire shall con-
B 193 Test Method for Resistivity of Electrical Conductor form to the requirements for elongation prescribed in Table 1
Materials3 (Explanatory Note 2). No requirements for tensile strength are
B 258 Specification for Standard Nominal Diameters and specified. For wire whose nominal diameter is more than 0.001
Cross-Sectional Areas of AWG Sizes of Solid Round Wires in. (1 mil) (0.025 mm) greater than a size listed in Table 1, but
Used as Electrical Conductors3 less than that of the next larger size, the requirements of the
2.3 National Institute of Standards and Technology: next larger size shall apply.
NBS Handbook 100— Copper Wire Tables4 5.2 Joints—Necessary joints in the completed wire and in
the wire and rods prior to final drawing shall be made in
3. Ordering Information accordance with the best commercial practice.
3.1 Orders for material under this specification shall include 5.3 Resistivity—The electrical resistivity 20°C shall not
the following information: exceed 875.20 V·lb/mile2.
3.1.1 Quantity of each size, 5.4 Dimensions and Permissible Variations—The wire sizes
3.1.2 Wire size: diameter in inches (see 5.4 and Table 1), shall be expressed as the diameter of the wire in decimal
fractions of an inch to the nearest 0.1 mil (0.0001 in.) (0.0025
mm) (Explanatory Note 3). For diameters under 0.0100 in.
1
This specification is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee B-1 on Wires (0.2540 mm), the wire shall not vary from the specified
for Electrical Conductorsand is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee B01.04on
Conductors of Copper and Copper Alloys. diameter by more than plus and minus 0.1 mil (0.0001 in.), and
Current edition approved April 15, 1995. Published June 1995. Originally for diameters of 0.0100 in. and over the wire shall not vary
published as B 3 – 12. Last previous edition B 3 – 90.
2
from the specified diameter by more than plus and minus 1 %,
Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 02.01.
3
Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 02.03.
expressed to the nearest 0.1 mil (0.0001 in.).
4
Available from the National Technical Information Service, 5285 Port Royal 5.5 Finish—The wire shall be free of all imperfections not
Rd, Springfield, VA 22161. consistent with the best commercial practice.

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TABLE 1 Tensile Requirements
Diameter Area at 20°C Elongation in
10 in.
in. mm cmils in.2 mm2 (254 mm),
% min
0.4600 11.684 211 600 0.1662 107.0 35
0.4096 10.404 167 800 0.1318 85.0 35
0.3648 9.266 133 100 0.1045 67.4 35
0.3249 8.252 105 600 0.08291 53.5 35
0.2893 7.348 83 690 0.06573 42.4 30
0.2576 6.543 66 360 0.05212 33.6 30
0.2294 5.827 52 620 0.04133 26.7 30
0.2043 5.189 41 740 0.03278 21.2 30
0.1819 4.620 33 090 0.02599 16.8 30
0.1620 4.115 26 240 0.02061 13.3 30
0.1443 3.665 20 820 0.01635 10.5 30
0.1285 3.264 16 510 0.01297 8.37 30
0.1144 2.906 13 090 0.01028 6.63 30
0.1019 2.588 10 380 0.008155 5.26 25
0.0907 2.304 8 230 0.00646 4.17 25
0.0808 2.052 6 530 0.00513 3.31 25
0.0720 1.829 5 180 0.00407 2.63 25
0.0641 1.628 4 110 0.00323 2.08 25
0.0571 1.450 3 260 0.00256 1.65 25
0.0508 1.290 2 580 0.00203 1.31 25
0.0453 1.151 2 050 0.00161 1.04 25
0.0403 1.024 1 620 0.00128 0.823 25
0.0359 0.912 1 290 0.00101 0.654 25
0.0320 0.813 1 020 0.000804 0.517 25
0.0285 0.724 812 0.000638 0.411 25
0.0253 0.643 640 0.000503 0.324 25
0.0226 0.574 511 0.000401 0.259 25
0.0201 0.511 404 0.000317 0.205 20
0.0179 0.455 320 0.000252 0.162 20
0.0159 0.404 253 0.000199 0.128 20
0.0142 0.361 202 0.000158 0.102 20
0.0126 0.320 159 0.000125 0.081 20
0.0113 0.287 128 0.000100 0.065 20
0.0100 0.254 100 0.0000785 0.051 15
0.0089 0.226 79.2 0.0000622 0.040 15
0.0080 0.203 64.0 0.0000503 0.032 15
0.0071 0.180 50.4 0.0000396 0.026 15
0.0063 0.160 39.7 0.0000312 0.020 15
0.0056 0.142 31.4 0.0000246 0.016 15
0.0050 0.127 25.0 0.0000196 0.013 15
0.0045 0.114 20.2 0.000 0159 0.010 15
0.0040 0.102 16.0 0.0000126 0.0081 15
0.0035 0.089 12.2 0.00000962 0.0062 15
0.0031 0.079 9.61 0.00000755 0.0049 15

6. Test Methods material in accordance with Test Method B 193 (Explanatory

6.1 Tensile Strength and Elongation—No test for tensile Note 5). The purchaser may accept certification that the wire
strength shall be required. was drawn from stock meeting the international standard for
6.1.1 Determine the elongation of wire whose nominal annealed copper instead of resistivity tests on the finished wire.
diameter is larger than 0.0808 in. (2.052 mm) in diameter as the 6.3 Dimensional Measurements—Make dimensional mea-
permanent increase in length, expressed in percent of the surements with a micrometer caliper equipped with a vernier
original length, due to the breaking of the wire in tension, graduated in 0.0001 in. (0.0025 mm). Take measurements on at
measured between gage marks placed originally 10 in. (254 least three places on each unit selected for this test. If
mm) apart upon the test specimen (Explanatory Note 4). The accessible, take one measurement on each end and one near the
elongation of wire whose nominal diameter is 0.0808 in. and middle. The average of the three measurements shall determine
under may be determined as described above or by measure- compliance with the requirements.
ments made between the jaws of the testing machine. When the 6.4 Surface Finish—Make a surface-finish inspection with
latter method is used, the zero length shall be the distance the unaided eye (normal spectacles excepted).
between the jaws at the start of the tension test and be as near
10 in. as practicable, and the final length shall be the distance 7. Conformance Criteria (Explanatory Note 6)
between the jaws at the time of rupture. The fracture shall be 7.1 Any lot of wire, the samples of which comply with the
between gage marks in the case of specimens so marked or conformance criteria of this section, shall be considered as
between the jaws of the testing machine and not closer than 1 complying with the requirements of Section 5. Individual
in. (25.4 mm) to either gage mark or either jaw. production units that fail to meet one or more of the require-
6.2 Resistivity—Determine the electrical resistivity of the ments shall be rejected. Failure of a sample group from a lot to
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meet one or more of the following criteria shall constitute TABLE 3 Sampling for Surface Finish and Packaging Inspection
cause for rejection of the lot. The conformance criteria for each Number of Units in Lot Number of Allowable
of the prescribed properties given in Section 5 are as follows: Units in Number of
Sample, n Defective
7.1.1 Elongation—The lot shall be considered conforming Units, c
if the average elongation of the four specimens is not less than 1 to 30, incl all 0
the appropriate elongation value in Table 1 plus 2.5 percentage 31 to 50, incl 30 0
points; however any individual production unit, the specimen 51 to 100, incl 37 0
101 to 200, incl 40 0
from which has an elongation less than the appropriate 201 to 300, incl 70 1
elongation value in Table 1, shall be rejected. 301 to 500, incl 100 2
7.1.1.1 The lot shall be considered to have failed to meet the 501 to 800, incl 130 3
Over 800 155 4
elongation conformance criterion if the average of the four
specimens is less than the elongation in Table 1 plus 2.5
to meet this requirement shall constitute failure to meet the
percentage points and elongation of any of the individual
surface-finish conformance criterion.
specimens is less than the value in Table 1.
7.1.5 Packaging—Conformance to the packaging require-
7.1.1.2 If the average of the four specimens is less than the
ments specified by the purchaser shall be determined in
elongation in Table 1 plus 2.5 percentage points and the
accordance with Table 3. The number of units in the sample
elongation of each of the individual specimens is equal to or
showing nonconformance to the requirement shall not exceed
more than the value in Table 1, six additional specimens from
the allowable defect number, c, in Table 3. Failure to meet this
six production units, other than the four originally sampled
requirement shall constitute failure to meet the packaging
shall be tested. The lot shall be considered conforming if the
conformance criterion.
elongation of each of the ten specimens is not less than the
appropriate elongation value in Table 1, and the average of the 8. Density
ten specimens is not less than that value plus 2.5 percentage 8.1 For the purpose of calculating mass per unit length,
points. The lot shall be considered to have failed to meet the cross-sections, etc., the density of the copper shall be taken as
elongation requirement if any of the ten specimens is less than 8.89 g/cm3(0.32117 lb/in.3) at 20°C (Explanatory Note 7).
the appropriate elongation value in Table 1 or if the average of
the ten specimens is less than that value plus 2.5 percentage 9. Inspection
points. 9.1 General (Explanatory Note 6)—All tests and inspec-
7.1.2 Resistivity—The electrical resistivity of each of the tions shall be made at the place of manufacture unless agreed
four specimens shall conform to the requirements of 5.3. upon between the manufacturer and the purchaser at the time of
Failure to meet these requirements shall constitute failure to purchase. The manufacturer shall afford the inspector repre-
meet the resistivity conformance criterion. senting the purchaser all reasonable facilities to satisfy him that
7.1.3 Dimensions—The dimensions of the first sample the material is being furnished in accordance with this speci-
(Table 2) shall conform to the requirements of 5.4. If there are fication.
no failures, the lot conforms to this requirement. If there are 9.1.1 Unless otherwise agreed upon between the purchaser
failures but the number of these does not exceed the allowable and the manufacturer, conformance of the wire to the various
defect number, c2 (Table 2), for the respective number of units requirements listed in Section 5 shall be determined on samples
in the sample, a second sample equal to n2 shall be taken and taken from each lot of wire presented for acceptance.
the total defects of the n1 plus n2 units shall not exceed the 9.1.2 The manufactuer shall, if requested prior to inspec-
allowable defect number, c2. Failure to meet this requirement tion, certify that all wire in the lot was made under such
shall constitute failure to meet the dimensional conformational conditions that the product as a whole conforms to the
criterion. requirements of this specification as determined by regularly
7.1.4 Surface Finish—The surface finish of the samples made and recorded tests.
taken in accordance with Table 3 shall conform to the require- 9.2 Inspection and Testing Terms:
ments of 5.5. The number of units in the sample showing 9.2.1 Lot—A lot is any amount of wire of one type and size
surface defects not consistent with commercial practice shall presented for acceptance at one time, such amount, however,
not exceed the allowable defect number, c, in Table 3. Failure not to exceed 100 000 lb (45 000 kg) (Explanatory Note 8).

TABLE 2 Sampling for Dimensional Measurements

First Sample Second Sample

Number of Units in Lot Number of Units in Allowable Number of Number of Units in n1 plus n2 Allowable Number of
Sample, n1 Defects in First Sample, n2 Defects in Both
Sample, c1 Samples, c2
1 to 30, incl all 0 ... ... ...
15 to 50, incl 14 0 ... ... ...
51 to 100, incl 19 0 23 42 1
101 to 200, incl 24 0 46 70 2
201 to 400, incl 29 0 76 105 3
401 to 800, incl 33 0 112 145 4
Over 800 34 0 116 150 4

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9.2.2 Sample—A sample is a quantity of production units undesirable, as well as inconclusive as to results and significance. Tests for
(coils, reels, etc.) selected at random from the lot for the values of elastic limit are likewise indefinite as to results.
purpose of determining conformance of the lot to the require- NOTE 3—The values of the wire diameters in Table 1 are given to the
nearest 0.0001 in. (0.001 mm) and correspond to the standard sizes given
ments of this specification. in Specification B 258. The use of gage numbers to specify wire sizes is
9.2.3 Specimen—A specimen is a length of wire removed not recognized in this specification because of the possibility of confusion.
for test purposes from any individual production unit of the An excellent discussion of wire gages and related subjects is contained in
sample. NIST Handbook 100.
9.3 Sample Size—The number of production units in a NOTE 4—In general, tested values of tensile strength are increased and
sample (Explanatory Note 6) shall be as follows: tested values of elongation are reduced with increase of speed of the
moving head of the testing machine in the tension testing of copper wire.
9.3.1 For elongation and resistivity determinations, the
In the case of tests on soft or annealed copper wire, however, the effects
sample shall consist of four production units. From each unit, of speed of testing are not pronounced. Tests of soft wire made at speeds
one test specimen of sufficient length shall be removed for the of moving head which under no-load conditions are not greater than 12 in.
performance of the required tests. (305 mm)/min do not alter the final results of tensile strength and
9.3.2 For dimensional measurements, the sample shall con- elongation determinations to any practical extent.
sist of a quantity of production units shown in Table 2 under NOTE 5—“Resistivity” is used in place of“ percentage conductivity.”
the heading “First Sample.” The value of 0.15328V· g/m2 at 20°C is the international standard for the
resistivity of annealed copper equal to 100 % conductivity. This term
9.3.3 For surface-finish inspection and for packaging in- means that a wire 1 m in length and weighing 1 g would have a resistance
spection (when specified by the purchaser at the time of placing of 0.15328 V. This is equivalent to a resistivity value of 875.20 V·lb/mile2
the order) the sample shall consist of a quantity of production which signifies the resistance of a wire 1 mile in length weighing 1 lb. It
units shown in Table 3. is also equivalent, for example, to 1.7241 µV/cm of length of a bar 1 cm2
in cross-section. A complete discussion of this subject is contained in NBS
10. Packaging and Package Marking Handbook 100. Relationships which may be useful in connection with the
10.1 Package sizes shall be agreed upon between the manu- value of resistivity prescribed in this specification are shown in Table 4.
NOTE 6—Cumulative results secured on the product of a single manu-
facturer and the purchaser in the placing of individual orders. facturer, indicating continued conformance to the criteria, are necessary to
10.2 The wire shall be protected against damage in ordinary ensure an over-all product meeting the requirements of this specification.
handling and shipping. The sample sizes and conformance criteria given for the various charac-
teristics are applicable only to lots produced under these conditions.
11. Keywords NOTE 7—The value of density of copper is in accordance with the
11.1 copper electrical conductor; copper wire; electrical International Annealed Copper Standard. The corresponding value at 0°C
conductor; electrical conductor—copper; soft or annealed cop- is 8.90 g/cm3(0.32150 lb/in3.).
NOTE 8—A lot should comprise material taken from a product regularly
per wire meeting the requirements of this specification. Inspection of individual
lots of less than 5000 lb (2270 kg) of wire cannot be justified economi-
EXPLANATORY NOTES
cally. For small lots of 5000 lb or less the purchaser may agree to the
NOTE 1—Soft or annealed copper wire is wire which has been drawn to manufacturer’s regular inspection of the product as a whole as evidence of
size by customary operations and then annealed. When necessary it is acceptability of such small lots.
finished by cleaning to remove scale or oxide. The wire is soft and ductile,
easily marred, and even stretched by careless handling. It is therefore TABLE 4 Resistivity Relationships
necessary that the requirements of this specification relating to elongation Conductivity at 100.00
properties and resisitivity refer to the wire as it is put up by the (20°C), %
manufacturer, and before being put through processes incident to its use V·lb/mile2 875.20
by the purchaser. V·g/m2 0.15328
NOTE 2—Other tests than those provided in this specification have been V·cmil/ft 10.371
considered at various times, such as twist tests, wrap tests, tests for elastic V·mm2/m 0.017241
limit, etc. It is the opinion of the committee that twist and wrap tests on µV·in. 0.67879
µV·cm 1.7241
soft wire do not serve a useful purpose and should be regarded as

SUPPLEMENTARY REQUIREMENTS

The following supplementary requirements shall apply only when specified by the purchaser in the
inquiry, contract, or order, for agencies of the U. S. Government.

S1. Referenced Documents S1.2 Military Specifications 5

S1.1 The following documents form a part of this specifi- MIL-C-12000 Cable, Cord, and Wire, Electric; Packaging of
cation to the extent specified herein. Unless otherwise speci-
fied, the issues of these documents shall be those listed in the
issue of the Department of Defense Index of Specifications and
Standards (DODISS) and supplement thereto, cited in the 5
Available from Standardization Documents Order Desk, Bldg. 4 Section D, 700
solicitation. Robbins Ave., Philadelphia, PA 19111-5094, Attn: NPODS.

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S2. Inspection S3. Packaging
S2.1 The government shall have the right to perform any of S3.1 Packaging shall be in accordance with MIL-C-12000.
the inspections and tests set forth in this specification when
such tests are deemed necessary to ensure that the material
conforms to the prescribed requirements.

The American Society for Testing and Materials takes no position respecting the validity of any patent rights asserted in connection
with any item mentioned in this standard. Users of this standard are expressly advised that determination of the validity of any such
patent rights, and the risk of infringement of such rights, are entirely their own responsibility.

This standard is subject to revision at any time by the responsible technical committee and must be reviewed every five years and
if not revised, either reapproved or withdrawn. Your comments are invited either for revision of this standard or for additional standards
and should be addressed to ASTM Headquarters. Your comments will receive careful consideration at a meeting of the responsible
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views known to the ASTM Committee on Standards, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, West Conshohocken, PA 19428.