COMPOSITE WIRES FOR OPERATION AS ELECTRICAL CONDUCTORS AT ELEVATED TEMPERATURES

Several factors have to be considered when specific properties are desired in a high temperature wire. These include 1 Conductivity 2 Temperature coefficient of resistivity 3 Oxidation resistance and resistance to other corrosive media 4 Tensile strength at room and elevated temperatures 5 Thickness of protective coating. Many times a specific property can only be attained at the sacrifice of one or more other properties. Therefore, to design a composite, the desirable characteristics must be clearly spelled out, and the best possible compromise between all the factors has to be determined--first, by calculation, and secondly, by long and tedious testing. In general, a compromise can usually be made and the optimum conductor developed.