How to Choose Copper Materials for Terminal Connectors?

In 1928, Phoenix Electric invented the world's first combined wiring terminal, which is the prototype of modern terminals and also the first invention patent applied for and obtained by Phoenix Electric. With the increasing degree of modern industrial automation and the increasingly strict and precise industrial control requirements, there are more and more types of wiring terminals, and their application scope is becoming wider and wider. In addition to PCB board terminals, the most widely used ones are hardware terminals, nut terminals, spring terminals, etc.

So what is a wiring terminal?

In terms of industry classification, wiring terminals also belong to the category of connectors and are accessory products used to achieve electrical connections. In fact, it is a piece of metal, sealed in insulating plastic, and can insert wires from the holes at both ends, and use screws to fix the tightness. For example, when two wires sometimes need to be connected and sometimes need to be disconnected, we can use wiring terminals to connect them and disconnect them at any time, without the need to weld them or wind them together, which is very convenient and fast. It is especially suitable for cases where a large number of wires are interconnected. There are special terminal strips and terminal boxes in the power industry. They are all wiring terminals, divided into: single layer, double layer, current, voltage, ordinary, breakable, etc.

Conductivity is the primary function of a wiring terminal. The wires are connected to circuit boards, controllers, etc. through wiring terminals to ensure the normal operation of the equipment. The factors that affect the conductivity of the wiring terminal are mainly the selection of conductive materials, the design of terminal contact structure, the setting of conductive component size, and the treatment of conductive material surface coating.

Wiring terminals use copper as the conductive material. Its conductivity is second only to silver, which is listed as the first metal. It has superior electrical and mechanical properties, high hardness, and is not easily deformed. The outer layer is tin-plated, which enhances the corrosion resistance of the terminal.  

Jintian Copper was founded in 1986 and has focused on the copper processing industry for 36 years. It is a leading global manufacturer of copper alloys and advanced materials. The main products include copper tubes, rods, wires, strips, electromagnetic wires, valves, magnetic materials, and high-end alloys such as brass, bronze, copper, and white copper.

Copper materials can be divided into high-conductivity copper, high-strength copper, and medium-strength low-conductive copper according to their performance. High-conductivity copper generally requires a conductivity of more than 60% IACS and a yield strength of about 500 MPa. It is mainly used in high-current connection occasions, such as base station power connectors, new energy vehicle connectors, lead frames, and smart phone connector contact copper materials. Common alloy series include bronze, tellurium copper, and chromium zirconium copper. High-strength copper generally requires a yield strength of more than 900 MPa and a conductivity of around 20% IACS. It is mainly used in signal connection parts, such as VCM shrapnel, headphone shrapnel, SIM card, aerospace, aviation, communication, military, and other high-reliability connector contact copper materials. Common alloy series include beryllium copper, titanium copper, etc.

Medium-strength low-conductive copper generally requires a yield strength of about 500 MPa and a conductivity of 10-65% IACS. It is mainly used in the automotive, electrical, and electronic industries, which have certain requirements for strength and conductivity of connector contact copper materials. Common alloy series include nickel silicon copper, tin bronze, leaded brass, and ordinary brass.

Jintian Copper produces copper, brass, tin phosphor bronze strips, lead frames, copper nickel silicon, tellurium copper, chromium zirconium copper, etc. Welcome to call: 0574-83005999, WeChat: 18057437999.