Influence of zirconium on thermophysical, electromechanical and structural aspects of an Al–Cu–Fe alloy for transmission and distribution lines

AbstractThe increasing need of electrical power for industrial and domestic applications is a challenge that required the development of heat-resistant alloys that are capable of resisting up to temperatures of 240 °C. This paper studies the behaviour of an Al–0.05 wt.%Cu–0.40 wt.%Fe, with addition of (0.15 and 0.22) wt.%, having thermal, electrical, mechanical and structural properties as parameters evaluate its use for overhead transmission lines. A horizontal unidirectional casting chamber was used for the casting process, with six thermocouples positioned, what allows it to capture thermal parameters of the alloy, making it possible to analyse some properties of metal/mould affinity through the use of solidification curves and thermophysical properties, such as growth rate and cooling rate. The solidified samples were machined to 9.5 mm diameter samples and then cold rolled in wires of 4.00, 3.80, 3.00 and 2.70 mm of diameter. These wires had its properties tested by electrical conductivity and tensil...