ASTM B354-23

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Designation: B354 − 19 B354 − 23
Standard Terminology Relating to
Uninsulated Metallic Electrical Conductors
This standard is issued under the fixed designation B354; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
INTRODUCTION
These terminologies relate only to interpretations as applied to uninsulated metallic electrical
conductors in specifications under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee B01 on Electrical Conductors,
and do not necessarily correspond to the definitions used in other fields.
1. Scope
1.1 This terminology standard defines abbreviations and terms specific to uninsulated electrical conductors. For terms relating to
superconductors, see Terminology B713.
1.2 This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization
established in the Decision on Principles for the Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued
by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
2. Referenced Documents
2.1 ASTM Standards:
B193 Test Method for Resistivity of Electrical Conductor Materials
B230 Specification for Aluminum 1350–H19 Wire for Electrical Purposes
B398/B398M Specification for Aluminum-Alloy 6201-T81 and 6201-T83 Wire for Electrical Purposes
B609/B609M Specification for Aluminum 1350 Round Wire, Annealed and Intermediate Tempers, for Electrical Purposes
B713 Terminology Relating to Superconductors (Withdrawn 2001)
B941 Specification for Heat Resistant Aluminum-Zirconium Alloy Wire for Electrical Purposes
B976 Specification for Fiber Reinforced Aluminum Matrix Composite (AMC) Core Wire for Aluminum Conductors Aluminum
Matrix Composite Reinforced (ACAMCR) (formerly known as ACCR)
B978/B978M Specification for Concentric-Lay-Stranded Aluminum Conductors, Aluminum Matrix Composite Reinforced
(ACAMCR), Formerly ACCR
B987/B987M Specification for Carbon Fiber Thermoset Polymer Matrix Composite Core (CFC) for use in Overhead Electrical
Conductors
E8/E8M Test Methods for Tension Testing of Metallic Materials
3. Abbreviations
AAAC—all aluminum alloy conductor
AAC—aluminum conductor
This terminology is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee B01 on Electrical Conductors and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee B01.01 on Editorial and
Records.
Current edition approved Feb. 1, 2019April 1, 2023. Published February 2019April 2023. Originally approved in 1960. Last previous edition approved in 20162019 as
B354 – 16.B354 – 19. DOI: 10.1520/B0354-19.10.1520/B0354-23.
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or contact ASTM Customer Service at service@astm.org. For Annual Book of ASTM Standards
volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on the ASTM website.
The last approved version of this historical standard is referenced on www.astm.org.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
B354 − 23
AACSR—aluminum alloy conductor, steel reinforced
ACAR—aluminum conductor, aluminum alloy reinforced
ACSR—aluminum conductor, steel reinforced
ACSS—aluminum conductor steel supported
AMC—aluminum matrix composite
AW—old designation for what is now termed AW2
AW2—aluminum-clad steel core wire, normal strength
AW3—aluminum-clad steel core wire, high strength
AZ—old designation (aluminized)
CCA—copper-clad aluminum
CCS—copper-clad steel
COMP—compact construction
EHS—extra high strength
GA—old designation for what is now termed GA2
GA2—zinc coated (galvanized) steel wire, coating class A
GA3—zinc coated (galvanized) high strength steel wire, coating class A
GA4—zinc coated (galvanized) extra high strength steel wire, coating class A
GA5—zinc coated (galvanized) ultra high strength steel wire, coating class A
GB—obsolete designation, class B galvanizing is no longer offered
GC—old designation for what is now termed GC2
GC2—zinc coated (galvanized) steel wire, coating class C
HS—high strength
IACS—international annealed copper standard, which is 1/58 Ohm-mm /m at 20°C20 °C for 100 % conductivity
LSE—low stress elongation
MA—old designation for what is now termed MA2
MA2—zinc-5 % aluminum-mischmetal alloy coated steel wire, coating class A
MA3—zinc-5 % aluminum-mischmetal alloy coated high strength steel wire, coating class A
MA4—zinc-5 % aluminum-mischmetal alloy coated extra high steel wire, coating class A
MA5—zinc-5 % aluminum-mischmetal alloy coated ultra high steel wire, coating class A
MB—obsolete designation, class B galvanizing is no longer offered
MC—old designation for what is now termed MC2
MC2—zinc-5 % aluminum-mischmetal alloy coated steel wire, coating class C
MS—old designation for what is now termed MA3
MM—mischmetal
NS—non-specular
SD—self dampening construction
SIW—single input wire construction
TP—twisted pair
TW—trapezoidal shaped wire
UHS—ultra high strength
UNS—unified numbering system
Zn-5Al-MM—zinc-5 % aluminum-mischmetal alloy coating
4. Acronyms
ACAMCR—a type of Aluminum Conductor Aluminum Matrix Composite Reinforced bare overhead electrical conductor. The
composition of the ACAMCR conductor can be further identified using suffix modifiers where /XX is designation for the aluminum
material and /YYYY is designation for the strength member material. Specification B978/B978M characterizes an ACAMCR / AT3
/ AM1 type of conductor.
ACAMCS—a type of Aluminum Conductor Aluminum Matrix Composite Supported bare overhead electrical conductor. The
composition of the ACAMCS conductor can be further identified using suffix modifiers where /XX is designation for the aluminum
material and /YYYY is designation for the strength member material.
ACCFCR—a type of Aluminum Conductor Carbon Fiber Composite Reinforced bare overhead electrical conductor. The
composition of the ACCFCR conductor can be further identified using suffix modifiers where /XX is designation for the aluminum
material and /YYYY is designation for the strength member material.
ACCFCS—a type of Aluminum Conductor Carbon Fiber Composite Supported bare overhead electrical conductor. The
composition of the ACCFCS conductor can be further identified using suffix modifiers where /XX is designation for the aluminum
material and /YYYY is designation for the strength member material.
4.1 The following suffix modifiers may be used for the above listed acronyms.
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/A0—used as a suffix modifier for ACAMCS and ACCFCS type of conductors representing 1350 O Temper aluminum material
in accordance with Specification B609/B609M.
/A1—used as a suffix modifier for ACAMCR and ACCFCR type of conductors representing 1350 H19 aluminum material in
accordance with Specification B230.
/A3—used as a suffix modifier for ACAMCR and ACCFCR type of conductors representing 6201 T81 aluminum alloy material
in accordance with Specification B398/B398M.
/A4—used as a suffix modifier for ACAMCR and ACCFCR type of conductors representing 6201 T83 aluminum alloy material
in accordance with Specification B398/B398M.
/AT3—used as a suffix modifier for ACAMCR and ACCFCR type of conductors representing aluminum zirconium material in
accordance with Specification B941.
/M1—used as a suffix modifier for ACAMCR and ACAMCS type of conductors representing an Aluminum Matrix Composite
(AMC) core in accordance with Specification B976. Future suffix modifiers may be defined at a later date to identify additional
types of metal matrix composite material.
/CS1—used as a suffix modifier for ACCFCR and ACCFCS type of conductors representing Regular Strength Carbon Fiber
Thermoset Polymeric Matrix core in accordance with Specification B987/B987M.
/CS2—used as a suffix modifier for ACCFCR and ACCFCS type of conductors representing High Strength Carbon Fiber
Thermoset Polymeric Matrix core in accordance with Specification B987/B987M.
/CS3—used as a suffix modifier for ACCFCR and ACCFCS type of conductors representing Extra High Strength Carbon Fiber
Thermoset Polymeric Matrix core in accordance with Specification B987/B987M.
/CP1—used as a suffix modifier for ACCFCR and ACCFCS type of conductors representing Regular Strength Carbon Fiber
Thermoplastic Polymeric Matrix.
/CP2—used as a suffix modifier for ACCFCR and ACCFCS type of conductors representing High Strength Carbon Fiber
Thermoplastic Polymeric Matrix.
5. Terminology
5.1 Definitions:
aeolian vibration—vibration, n—resonant vibration of a conductor caused by the alternate shedding of wind-induced vortices
from opposite sides of the conductor. (Frequency is usually less than 200 Hz and amplitude rarely exceeds one conductor
diameter.)
anneal (annealing), n—a thermal treatment to change the properties or grain structure of the product. When applied to a
cold-worked product having a single phase: to produce softening by recystallization or recrystallization and grain growth with
the accompanying changes in properties. When applied to a product having two or more phases: to produce softening by changes
in the phase relationship that may include recrystallization and grain growth.
annealed wire,—n—see soft wire.
area density—density, n—mass per unit area.
bare conductor—conductor, n—a conductor having no nonmetallic covering.
brazing—brazing, v—the joining of ends of two wires, rods, or groups of wires with a nonferrous filler metal at temperatures
above 800°F (427°C).800 °F (427 °C).
breaking strength—strength, n—the maximum load that a conductor attains when tested in tension to rupture.
bunch-stranded conductor—conductor, n—a conductor composed of wires twisted together with a given length and direction
of lay in such manner that the respective wires at successive cross sections along the length of the conductor do not necessarily
form a symmetrical geometric pattern, nor necessarily occupy the same positions relative to each other.
casting, continuous, n—a casting produced by the continuous pouring and solidification of molten metal through a water-cooled
mold which determines the cross-sectional shape. The length of the product is not restricted by mold dimensions.
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check, n—a small surface blemish on the material that does not reduce its performance.
circular mil (cmil)—(cmil), n—a unit of area equal to the area of a circle one mil (0.001 in., 0.0254 mm) in diameter. The area
2 −7
of a circle in circular mils is equal to the square of the diameter in mils (area(cmils) = diameter(mils) ), 1 cmil = 7.854 × 10
2 −10 2
in. (5.067 × 10 m ).
clad wire—wire, n—wire comprised of a given metal covered with a relatively thick application of a different metal. The
bonding process is normally a combination of heat and pressure and results in a metallurgical bond.
coated wire—wire, n—wire comprised of a given metal covered with a relatively thin application of a different metal. The
coating process is normally electroplating or dip coating.
coil, n—a length of the product wound into a series of connected turns. The unqualified term “coil” as applied to tube usually
refers to a bunched coil.
cold-drawing—cold-drawing, v—reducing the cross section by pulling through a die or dies, at a temperature lower than the
recrystallization temperature.
cold work, n—controlled mechanical operations for changing the form or cross section of a product and for producing a
strain-hardened product at temperatures below the recrystallization temperature.
combination stranded conductor—conductor, n—a conductor constructed with wires of different diameters with such
differences occurring either within a single layer or from layer to layer.
compact stranded conductor—conductor, n—a unidirectional or unilay or conventional concentric conductor, constructed
with a central core surrounded by one or more layers of helically laid wires and formed into final shape by rolling, drawing, or
other means; and manufactured to a specified nominal diameter, approximately 8 to 10 % below the nominal diameter of a
conventional non-compact conductor of the same cross-sectional area.
compressed stranded conductor—conductor, n—a unidirectional or unilay or conventional concentric conductor manufac-
tured to a specified nominal diameter 3 % less than the calculated diameter of non-compressed conductor of the same
construction and cross-sectional area.
composite conductor—conductor, n—a conductor consisting of two or more types of wire, each type of wire being plain, clad,
or coated; stranded together to operate mechanically and electrically as a single conductor.
concentric-lay conductor—conductor, n—conductor constructed with a central core surrounded by one or more layers of
helically laid wires. Several types are as follows:
compact round conductor—conductor, n—see compact stranded conductor.
conventional concentric conductor—conductor, n—conductor constructed with a round central core surrounded by one or more
layers of helically laid round wires. The direction of lay is reversed in successive layers, and generally with an increase in length
of lay for successive layers.
equilay conductor—conductor, n—conductor constructed with a central core surrounded by more than one layer of helically laid
wires, all layers having a common length of lay, direction of lay being reversed in successive layers.
parallel core conductor—conductor, n—conductor constructed with a central core of parallel-laid wires surrounded by one layer
of helically laid wires.
rope-lay conductor—conductor, n—conductor constructed of a bunch-stranded or a concentric-stranded member or members, as
a central core, around which are laid one or more helical layers of such members.
unidirectional conductor—conductor, n—conductor constructed with a central core surrounded by more than one layer of
helically laid wires, all layers having a common direction of lay, with increase in length of lay for each successive layer.
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unilay conductor—conductor, n—conductor constructed with a central core surrounded by more than one layer of helically laid
wires. All layers having a common direction of lay and essentially similar length of lay, which
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