At International Wire, we specialize in providing copper and copper-based alloy wire products to meet diverse customer needs. As part of our offerings, we can provide single-end wire with various plating options, including tin-plated, nickel-plated, and silver-plated copper conductors. With extensive wire manufacturing experience, the expert team at International Wire can deliver single-end wire products of the size you need for your electrical application.
Single-End Wire Explained
Single-end conductor, also referred to as solid conductor or solid wire, is a single wire strand drawn to a specific size from a copper rod. At International Wire, we can produce various types of single-end wire suitable for applications such as grounding wires, conductors for building wires, telecommunications wires, and more. The sizes we offer range from 44 AWG to 2 AWG. Depending on your unique needs, we offer single-end wires made from bare copper, tin-plated copper, nickel-plated copper, silver-plated copper, stainless steel, and copper-based alloys.
The most common types of single-end wire include:
Tinned/Tin-Plated Copper Wire
Single-end wire with a tin coating can provide corrosion resistance and protect against premature cable failure. Tinned copper is primarily used for protection against oxidation and some corrosive environments. Tin plating is used in low temperature applications with a maximum operating range of 150°C. Single-end buss wire is typically tin-plated with a soft temper (annealed) to facilitate quick soldering. This type of single-end wire is ideal for grounding, point-to-point connection, and distribution applications.
Nickel-Plated Wire
Nickel-plated single-end wire offers good corrosion resistance, durability, and stability at high temperatures. Nickel is often preferred over tin because it can be used at high temperatures up to 260°C, whereas tin can only be heated to approximately 150°C. Conductivity is also considered to be good, however solderability is only fair. Nickel is the favored coating for use in harsh environments, as it is resistant to moisture and corrosive environments.
Silver-Plated Wire
Silver-plated single-end wire has excellent electrical conductivity and solderability and is preferred for applications requiring high signal quality, such as data transmission. This makes it well-suited for high-friction applications, such as those found in the aerospace, defense, electronic, and medical industries. Silver is susceptible to galvanic corrosion, so it is NOT recommended for use in moist environments.
