Electrolytic copper has become the industry standard for electrical conductivity. All other materials are rated in %IACS (percent International Annealed Copper Standard) for electrical conductivity. Here are some comparative conductivity ratings:

C110 Electrolytic Tough Pitch Copper – 101% IACS

C102 Oxygen Free Copper – 101% IACS

C145 Tellurium Copper – 95% IACS

Aluminum EC – 62% IACS

Aluminum 6101 – 56% IACS

Stainless Steel 302 – 3% IACS

High electrical conductivity is an important property of copper metal in the electrical industry, but copper metal has other properties that also make it valuable in electrical applications. Corrosion resistance enables the use of bare wire and busbars without any covering. Copper’s high thermal conductivity allows it to dissipate the heat generated during the transmission of electricity. Additionally, copper metal has excellent wear resistance and load-bearing properties, making it ideal for electrical contacts. Silver can be easily plated on copper when high-performance contacts are required.