The difference between enameled copper wire and copper wire

The main difference between enameled copper wire and ordinary copper wire is the insulation treatment and use.

Enameled Copper Wire

Copper Wire

Insulation treatment
Enameled copper wire is a layer of special insulating paint coated on the surface of high-purity electrolytic copper or oxygen-free copper wire. These insulating paints are usually high-temperature corrosion-resistant materials such as polyurethane, propylene acetate, and phenolic resin, which give them good insulation properties. Ordinary copper wire has no insulation layer and its surface can be bare or tinned.

Application
Due to its good insulation, enamelled copper wire is widely used in electronic and electrical fields, such as inductors, transformers, motors, etc., and can withstand harsh environments such as high temperature, high pressure, and corrosion. Ordinary copper wires are suitable for wiring and connections in home appliances, automobiles, construction and other fields. Since it has no insulation layer, special care needs to be taken to avoid damage when using it.

In addition, enameled copper wire and ordinary copper wire are also different in physical properties, appearance and applicable scenarios.

Producing high-quality enameled copper wire is not easy. Copper is easily oxidized at high temperatures, and copper oxide is very flaky. The paint film cannot adhere firmly to the copper conductors. Copper oxide has a catalytic effect on the aging of the paint film, and has adverse effects on the flexibility, thermal shock, and thermal aging of enameled wires. To avoid oxidation of copper wires, it is necessary to prevent the copper wires at high temperatures from coming into contact with oxygen in the air. Therefore, protective gas is required. The water in the annealing furnace water tank has three functions: sealing the furnace mouth, cooling the wires, and generating steam as a protective gas.
There are three commonly used methods for annealing copper wire: annealing in coils; continuous annealing on wire drawing machines; continuous annealing on enameling machines. Neither of the first two methods can meet the requirements of the enameling process. Annealing in a disk can only soften the copper wire, but does not remove the oil completely. Since the wire is soft after annealing, the bending is increased when paying off the wire. Although continuous annealing on the wire drawing machine can soften the copper wire and remove surface grease, the soft copper wire after annealing is wound around the wire reel to form many bends. Continuous annealing before painting on the enameling machine can not only achieve the purpose of softening and removing oil, but also the annealed wires are very straight and can directly enter the painting device to apply a uniform paint film.

We have decades of experience in producing high-quality enameled copper wire. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us.