Copper-clad Steel Stranded Wire (CCS)

Copper-clad Steel Stranded Wire

Copper clad steel stranded wire is a multi stranded wire with high-strength steel wire as the core material and a uniformly coated copper layer on the outer layer. It combines the mechanical strength of steel with the conductivity of copper and is a core functional material in the fields of power, communication, and construction.

Core Features

High strength: The tensile strength of the steel core can reach 1000-2000 MPa, which is 3-5 times that of pure copper stranded wire.
Conductivity: The copper layer provides a conductive pathway, with a conductivity of up to 20% to 70% of pure copper (depending on the thickness and coverage of the copper layer).
Lightweight: Density of 7.8~8.5 g/cm ³ (lower than the 8.96 g/cm ³ of pure copper), saving material costs.
Corrosion resistance: The copper layer isolates the steel core from corrosive media, with a lifespan of over 30 years (in marine environments).

Manufacturing Process

The production process of copper-clad steel stranded wire includes steel core treatment, copper plating, stranding, and post-treatment. Specifically, as follows:
Pre Treatment of Steel Core
Acid washing (10% H2SO4) to remove oxide skin → electrolytic degreasing (NaOH solution) → activation (dilute hydrochloric acid).
Electroplated Copper
Plating solution: copper sulfate (200g/L)+sulfuric acid (50g/L)+brightener (sodium polysulfide dipropane sulfonate).
Current density of 2-5 A/dm2, plating rate of 5-20 μm/h, copper layer thickness of 5-50 μm.
Stranding 
Multiple copper plated steel wires are stranded in a regular direction (such as to the right) with a pitch ratio of 8-15.

Copper-clad Steel Stranded Wire List

Sectional Area ( mm2)	Struture	Outer Diameter（mm）	Conductivity
16	1.7*7	5.1	≥20%
25	2.14*7	6.5	≥20%
35	2.57*7	7.6	≥20%
50	1.8*19	9	≥20%
50	3.0*7	9	≥20%
70	2.14*19	11	≥20%
70	3.5*7	11	≥20%
95	2.52*19	12.6	≥20%
120	2.84*19	14	≥20%
150	2.28*37	16	≥20%
150	3.15*19	16	≥20%
185	2.52*37	17.6	≥20%
185	3.52*19	17.6	≥20%
240	2.88*37	20	≥20%
240	4.0*19	20	≥20%
300	3.2*37	22.4	≥20%

Copper-clad Steel Stranded Wire Application

Copper clad steel stranded wires are new composite materials made by uniformly electroplating 99.9% electrolytic copper molecules onto high-quality low-carbon steel cores. It has both the strength and toughness of steel, as well as the good conductivity and corrosion resistance of copper. It is widely used in high-frequency coaxial cables, steel network communication, electrified railways, subway and light rail, grounding wires for power and petrochemical systems, etc. The details are as follows:
Power System
High voltage ground wire: replaces pure copper ground wire (such as GJ-80 type), reduces costs by 40%, and has a tensile strength of ≥ 1200 MPa.
OPGW optical cable: The armor layer is made of 19 strands of copper plated steel wire, which is resistant to lightning strikes and short-circuit currents.
Communication Engineering
5G base station: wrapped and welded copper stranded wire (with a cross-sectional area of 50mm ²) is used as an antenna bracket, balancing conductivity and structural strength.
Submarine optical cable: Twisted copper-clad steel stranded wire (cross-sectional area 300mm ²) is used as the tensile layer, with a water resistance depth of ≥ 8000 meters.
Architectural Engineering
Suspension bridge main cable: composite core copper-clad steel stranded wire (diameter 100mm), with a span support of ≥ 2000 meters.
Curtain wall cable: diameter 8-20mm, surface coated with fluorocarbon paint, weather resistance ≥ 30 years.
Industry and Transportation
Mine lifting cable: hot-dip copper plated copper-clad steel stranded wire (tensile strength 1800 MPa), with a wear resistance life increased by three times.
Rail transit contact network: Copper layer thickness of 1mm, conductivity of 60% IACS, replacing traditional copper magnesium alloy wire.
New Energy
Offshore wind power: 400mm2 stranded wire is used for underwater cable armor, with a tensile strength of ≥ 2000 MPa.
Photovoltaic bracket: Lightweight copper-clad steel stranded wire replaces aluminum alloy, reducing costs by 30%.