Copper Clad Steel (CCS) is a wire made by bonding copper to steel, resulting in a strong and conductive wire resistant to corrosion and theft. It is commonly used in telephone wires, grounding wires, and power systems. The two metals are married and cannot be separated, making it durable and long-lasting.
Copper Clad Steel (CCS) is the result when steel wires are metallically bonded with a copper cladding to create a wire with the mechanical strength of steel and the corrosion resistant and conductive nature of copper. CCS is made almost exclusively as wire, and those wires – due to the effectiveness of copper-clad steel – are found in telephone wires, grounding wires, and power systems. Most CCS cables are manufactured to be 20% to 40% conductive, depending on project requirements. The two metals are considered married, meaning that it is considered impossible to separate the copper from the steel, thus CCS is resistant to theft.
Metallic wires are required for many electrical applications, such as grounding and power installations. The metal in these wires must be strong to withstand the elements and remain durable despite the high amount of use. It also needs to be conductive so that electricity can flow freely through the metal and reach its destination. Steel is high strength but has low conductivity, while copper is the opposite. Marrying the two, copper clad steel is able to do both tasks by harnessing the strength of each metal.
The design of the copper clad steel is quite simple. First, a bare, usually low carbon steel wire is produced to keep the steel malleable. After the steel wire is made, the copper is melted down and used to coat the wire, bonding the two metals. The bond is so strong that it is known as a marriage, because the metals cannot be separated.
The benefits associated with using copper clad steel are many. The steel content means that CCS wires have high tensile and mechanical strength and material fatigue from use is low. Copper causes the steel, and the entire wire, to resist corrosion, so the wire can last much longer, even if it’s used constantly. Copper is also very conductive which means that electricity can easily flow through the wire. Most companies that make CCS wire use 20% to 40% conductive copper, making it a versatile wire.
One of the interesting benefits of using copper clad steel is that the wire resists theft. While copper is not the most precious metal, copper wire is often stolen so that thieves can sell the copper and make a small profit. If an item uses copper bonded to another metal, these thieves use acids to separate the copper. Copper-clad steel cannot be separated, leaving no reason to steal it, because the wire itself has very limited monetary value.
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