Copper-clad aluminium wire is a product obtained by coating aluminium wire with copper (or a copper alloy) at high temperatures. The copper layer on the exterior of copper-clad aluminium wire is between 10% and 15% in thickness, with the core wire composed of red copper wire or red copper strips. The copper layer on the exterior may be a thin strip or layer of red copper, silver-copper, or gold-copper.
The principal benefits of copper-clad aluminium wire are its lightweight and cost-effective nature, which can reduce the overall cost of the wire, as well as its excellent electrical conductivity and long service life. Copper-clad aluminium wire has a lower electrical conductivity than pure copper wire and is therefore not suitable for use in situations where high current transmission is required.
However, due to its low cost, copper-clad aluminium wire is widely used in areas where cost is a major consideration. One of the main applications is in the power industry, for example for power transmission, power lines, transformer coils, welding machines, etc. It can also be used for internal wiring connections in various electronic and electrical devices.
