Abundantly available in the earth's crust, one of aluminium's characteristics is that it is one of the best conductors of electricity. However, it has a few rivals in this regard. Due to cost, gold and silver are definitely out of the race, leaving copper as a worthy contender.
For several years, it has been the top choice for industries. However, if you compare aluminium and copper, the former has many advantages that make it more appealing to manufacturers and designers. But why is aluminium considered an alternative conductor material?
Properties of aluminium as an alternative conducting material
Aluminium is a natural conductor. In fact, it has an attribute regarded as superconductivity. Here the metal's electrical resistance of material disappears, and the magnetic flux fields are expelled. In a normal metallic conductor, as it cools down, the resistance gradually decreases.
Superconductors, however, have zero resistance when they hit critical temperatures. Hence an ordinary electric current can persist indefinitely through a loop of superconducting wire without needing a power source. The superconducting critical temperature of aluminium is 1.2 kelvin. Moreover, aluminium is one-third the weight of copper and has 61% better conductivity than the latter. Due to its lightweight, it is easy to install. Due to this property, aluminium costs less than copper.
Does this mean that aluminium will totally replace copper? Unfortunately no. Aluminium wiring has one drawback, i.e., it can be highly corrosive when combined with other metals. Simply put, you cannot mix and use aluminium and copper.
However, due to advanced technology, aluminium is replacing copper wiring steadily. Although copper will not be totally wiped off soon, aluminium will increase its share in the electrical industry.
What are the different types of aluminium power cables?
Power cables made from aluminium come in four types:
- AAC or all aluminium conductors: As the name suggests, it has a high quantity of electric conductor-grade aluminium. It can be found in urban distribution lines, which have shorter spans and higher requirements for conductivity.
- AAAC: This stands for all aluminium alloy conductors. Here alloy 6201 is used. It strengthens the electrical cable and has 52% more conductivity than copper. It is frequently used for distribution and is especially useful in coastal areas because it is resistant to corrosion.
- ACSR: The third kind is a blend of steel core aluminium alloy 1350 alloy wires wrapped around the core in a spiral. Therefore ACSR is an acronym for Aluminium conductor, steel reinforced. Due to its strength, this cable is suitable for transition and distribution. It is used in river crossings and other applications where higher strength is desirable.
- ACAR: The last kind is an aluminium conductor, alloy reinforced. In this case, the 6201 alloy core is wrapped in aluminium alloy 1350. This combination has better electrical and mechanical properties than ACSR. Although it is more expensive than other cables, ACAR is highly reliable. It can be found in both overhead transmission and distribution lines.
Which applications rely on aluminium as a conductor?
One of the oldest examples is electrical wires. Due to its weight and cost, most insulated wires in America's electrical supply are made from aluminium. Uses of aluminium in electrical wires in America date back to the 1800s.
Aluminium can also be found in electrical and home appliances and devices, such as lamps, fans, etc. It is also used in vehicles and aeroplanes. Aluminium is widely used in making tools for electrical engineerings, such as busbars, overhead lines, motors, foil windings, heatsinks and cables.
Bottom line:
Today aluminium is widely used in all industries, including electronics. For a long time, copper has been the top choice for a conductor. However, thanks to the properties and alloys of aluminium, the green metal has found a new place in a new industry. As the need for electronic goods rises, it can be assumed that the demand for aluminium as an alternative conductor within the sector will also increase.
