LMATS copper wire assessments
Copper wire chemical analysis
Copper wire mechanical properties
Copper wire tinning test

As per AS 1574:1996 Clauses  2.2, 2.4, 2.8, 3.7.6

Tin is a very useful plating for copper because it not only helps to boost copper’s properties, it also helps the wire to last much longer than it would in an uncoated or raw ( bare ) condition.

In fact, a 12 gauge tin coated copper wire can last up to ten times longer than a similar 12 gauge bare ( unplated ) copper wire.

As tin resists corrosion and doesn’t oxidize the plating helps to protect the substrate of copper. This wards off additional wear and tear that would detract years off the life of a bare copper cable or wire. This is especially so in instances where the operating temperatures of the wire exceed 100 degrees Celsius. At these higher temperatures, the corrosion resistance of copper declines rapidly, making a tin coating valuable for protecting the wire in this state. It is also highly desirable for any marine environment especially marine electronics, and tinned copper wire is well known for its uses in marine technologies.

Tinned wires are also desirable for soldering as they make connections and soldering an easy task given tin is a primary component in solder. Tin also helps to strengthen the copper wire underneath, making it more resilient to breakage or lost connections while also boosting coppers conductivity.

It is important to assess if the wire has been tinned correctly to a given standard, the Copper wire tinning test As per AS 1574:1996 Clause 2.8 is used to determine this.
 
As per AS 1574:1996 Clause 2.8, you need to report the mass of dissolved copper for tinned wire and for plain wire:

The mass of copper dissolved from the wire shall be determined colorimetrically, by comparison with the reference colour standard, and the mass loss shall not exceed 1 g/m2.

LMATS performs laboratory based chemical analysis using the tinning test. LMATS have proven procedures to undertake the Copper wire tinning test and undertake the Copper wire tinning test on behalf of our clients on a regular basis.

LMATS also performs copper wire testing for chemical composition As per AS 1574:1996 Clause 2.2 and uncoated wire as per Clause 3.7.6 and mechanical properties of copper wire as per As per AS 1574:1996 Clause 2.4 .

 

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Contact LMATS Melbourne or Sydney testing laboratories for your chemical analysis or mechanical properties or copper wire tinning test assessment requirements.