ASTM B63-90(2001)
(Test Method)Standard Test Method for Resistivity of Metallically Conducting Resistance and Contact Materials
Standard Test Method for Resistivity of Metallically Conducting Resistance and Contact Materials
SCOPE
1.1 This test method covers the determination, to a precision of 2%, of the electrical resistivity of materials used in resistors, heating elements, and electrical contacts, as well as products of powder metallurgy processes which are used for other purposes.
Note 1--For determining the resistivity of electrical conductors, see Test Method B193.
1.2 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.
General Information
Relations
Standards Content (Sample)
NOTICE: This standard has either been superseded and replaced by a new version or withdrawn.
Contact ASTM International (www.astm.org) for the latest information
Designation:B63–90(Reapproved2001)
Standard Test Method for
Resistivity of Metallically Conducting Resistance and
Contact Materials
ThisstandardisissuedunderthefixeddesignationB 63;thenumberimmediatelyfollowingthedesignationindicatestheyearoforiginal
adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision.Anumber in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval.Asuperscript
epsilon (e) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
This standard has been approved for use by agencies of the Department of Defense.
1. Scope length will have a required resistance. It serves as one basis for
the selection of materials for specific applications and its
1.1 Thistestmethodcoversthedetermination,toaprecision
measurement is a necessary acceptance test for resistance
of 2 %, of the electrical resistivity of materials used in
materials.
resistors, heating elements, and electrical contacts, as well as
4.2 In the case of materials for electrical contacts, the
products of powder metallurgy processes which are used for
measurement of resistivity can serve as a test for uniformity of
other purposes.
materials of nominally the same composition and structure.
NOTE 1—For determining the resistivity of electrical conductors, see
Test Method B 193.
5. Apparatus
1.2 This standard does not purport to address all of the
5.1 Means for applying current and voltage terminals to the
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
specimen are specified in Section 9. An optional suitable
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
specimen holder for nonductile materials is shown in Fig. 1.
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-
5.2 A suitable bridge, potentiometer, digital ohmmeter, or
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use.
equivalent, with necessary accessories for making resistance
measurements with a limit of error of less than 0.5 %.
2. Referenced Documents
5.3 Means for measuring the dimensions of the specimen,
2.1 ASTM Standards:
adequate to determine its length and its mean area of cross
B 193 Test Method for Resistivity of Electrical Conductor
section, each within 0.5 %.
Materials
6. Test Specimen
3. Terminology
6.1 Ductile Materials—The test specimen for ductile ma-
3.1 Definitions:
terials, including those used for contacts, shall be in the form
3.1.1 resistivity—that property of a material which deter-
of a wire or a strip. In order to determine the resistivity with a
mines its resistance to the flow of an electric current, expressed
precision of 2 %, it is necessary that the resistance, cross-
as:
sectional area, and length shall be measured with a limit of
error within 0.5 %. To ensure this limit of error each test
r5 RA/L (1)
specimen shall conform to the following:
where R is the resistance in ohms of a specimen of the
6.1.1 It shall have a length of at least 30 cm (1 ft),
material of uniform cross section A and of a length L.In
6.1.2 It shall have a resistance of at least 0.001 V,
reporting values of resistivity under this test A shall be
6.1.3 If the cross section is to be determined by direct
expressed in square centimetres and L in centimetres.
measurement, the diameter of a wire specimen or the thickness
of a strip specimen shall not be less than the limits defined by
4. Significance and Use
the 0.5 % criteria of 6.1, and this dimension throughout the
4.1 In the case of materials for resistors and heating ele-
length of the specimen shall not vary by more than 3 %, and
ments, a knowledge of resistivity is important in determining
6.1.4 It shall show no surface cracks or other defects
whether wire or strip of a specified area of cross section and
observable with normal vision, and shall be free from surface
oxide.
6.2 Nonductile Materials—Thetestspecimenfornonductile
This test method is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee B02 on
Nonferrous Metals and Alloys and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee
materials shall be made in accordance with Fig. 2 if the
B02.10 on Thermostat Metals and Electrical Resistance Heating Materials.
material is readily machinable. For materials which are not
Current edition approved May 23, 2001. Published July 1990. Originally
readily machinable, such as those containing graphite, a flat
published as B 63 – 26 T. Last previous edition B 63 – 81.
Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 02.03. strip may be used as a test specimen. In order to determine the
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959, United States.
B63–90 (2001)
Description Dimensions, in. (mm) Material Number
Item
Required
1 Base block ⁄2 by 3 by 4 (12.7 by 76.2 by 101.6) micarta 1
2 Clamp block ⁄4 by 1 by 1 (19.0 by 25.4 by 25.4) copper 2
10 3
3 Current lead clamp screw, knurled head ⁄32 by ⁄16 brass 2
4 Specimen clamp screw, knurled head ⁄4in.by40by1in. brass 2
1 15 7
5 Pivot bracket ⁄2 by ⁄16 by 1 ⁄16 (12.7 by 23.8 by 36.5) steel 2
6 Pivot . steel 2
1 3
7 Pivot block ⁄2 by 2 ⁄32 by 3 (12.7 by 53.2 by 76.2) micarta 1
8 Potential knife-edge . steel 2 sets
9 Specimen being tested . . .
NOTE 1—Contact surfaces must be clean and free of visible oxide.
FIG. 1 Specimen Holder for Nonductile Materials
resistivity with a precision of 2 %, each specimen shall
conform to the following:
6.2.1 The diameter of a specimen (Fig. 2), or the thickness
andwidthofastripspecimen,shallbeuniformwithin1 %,and
6.2.2 It shall show no surface cracks or other defects
observable with normal vision, and shall be free from surface
oxide.
7. Length Measurements
7.1 The length may be measured by any scale which will
NOTE—Metric equivalents are as follows.
give an accuracy of 0.5 % in the length measured. In case
potential leads are used, the length shall be taken between the
in. mm in. mm
potential contacts. In the direction of the length of specimen,
0.010 0.25 0.438 11.12
0.012 0.30 2.000 50.80
the dimension of each potential contact, including soldering
0.187 4.75 2.375 60.32
surface or clamp contact area, shall not be more than 0.5 % of
0.188 4.78 3.250 82.55
the distance between the potential contacts. In the case of the
0.237 6.01
specimen holder for nonductile materials shown in Fig. 1, the
FIG. 2 Resistivity Test Specimen for Machinable Nonductile
distance between the potential contacts may be found by
Materials
measuring from the outside flat of one potential knife edge to
B63–90 (2001)
the outside flat of the other. A micrometer shall be used for 9. Leads
measuring this length.
9.1 Specimens with a resistance of less than 10 V shall be
provided with both current and potential leads. The minimum
8.
...
Questions, Comments and Discussion
Ask us and Technical Secretary will try to provide an answer. You can facilitate discussion about the standard in here.