Designation: B498/B498M − 08

Standard Specification for

Zinc-Coated (Galvanized) Steel Core Wire for Use in
Overhead Electrical Conductors1
This standard is issued under the fixed designation B498/B498M; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year
of original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval.
A superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.

1. Scope* 3.1.1 lot—unless otherwise specified in the contract or

1.1 This specification covers round, zinc-coated, steel core order, a lot shall consist of all coils of wire of the same
wire with two classes of zinc coating for use in overhead diameter and unit lengths submitted for inspection at the same
electrical conductors. time.
3.1.2 Product Code—Defines product coating type, coating
1.2 This specification covers wire of diameter from 0.0500
class and strength grade. Two product codes for product
to 0.1900 in. or 1.27 to 4.82 mm, inclusive.
produced to this specification: Class A Zinc Coated (Code
1.3 The values stated in either SI units or inch-pound units GA2); and Class C Zinc Coated (Code GC2).
are to be regarded separately as standard. The values stated in
each system may not be exact equivalents; therefore, each 4. Classification
system shall be used independently of the other. Combining
values from the two systems may result in non-conformance 4.1 The wire is furnished in two classes of coating, Class A
with the standard. or Class C, as specified, in conformance with the requirements
of Section 10 and Table 6 or Table 7.
2. Referenced Documents
2.1 The following documents of the issue in effect on date 5. Ordering Information
of material purchase form a part of this specification to the 5.1 Orders for material under this specification shall include
extent referenced herein. the following information:
2.2 ASTM Standards:2 5.1.1 Quantity of each size,
A90/A90M Test Method for Weight [Mass] of Coating on 5.1.2 Wire diameter in inches or millimeters (Section 14),
Iron and Steel Articles with Zinc or Zinc-Alloy Coatings 5.1.3 Product Code (see 3.1.2 and 4.1),
A370 Test Methods and Definitions for Mechanical Testing 5.1.4 Certification, if required (Section 19),
of Steel Products 5.1.5 Test report, if required (Section 19), and
A751 Test Methods, Practices, and Terminology for Chemi- 5.1.6 Package size (Section 20).
cal Analysis of Steel Products 5.1.7 Order Example: Five multiple lengths of 12 000 ft.
B6 Specification for Zinc each, 0.1327 in. GA2 wire, packaged onto wooden nonreturn-
B193 Test Method for Resistivity of Electrical Conductor able reels, with certified test report.
Materials
E29 Practice for Using Significant Digits in Test Data to 6. Materials and Manufacture
Determine Conformance with Specifications 6.1 The base metal shall be steel produced by the open-
hearth, electric-furnace, or basic-oxygen process.
3. Terminology
6.2 The wire shall be cold drawn and coated with zinc to
3.1 Definitions: produce the desired properties.
6.3 The slab zinc used for coating shall be high-grade or
1
This specification is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee B01 on better, conforming to Specification B6.
Electrical Conductors and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee B01.05 on
Conductors of Ferrous Metals.
Current edition approved Nov. 1, 2008. Published December 2008. Originally 7. Chemical Composition
published as B498 – 69 to replace B245 and B261. Last previous edition approved
in 2002 as B498/B498M – 98 (2002). DOI: 10.1520/B0498_B0498M-08. 7.1 The steel shall conform to the requirements prescribed
2
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or in Table 1.
contact ASTM Customer Service at [email protected]. For Annual Book of ASTM
Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on 7.2 Chemical analysis shall be conducted in accordance
the ASTM website. with Test Methods, Practices, and Terminology A751.

*A Summary of Changes section appears at the end of this standard

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 B498/B498M − 08
TABLE 1 Chemical Requirements specimen containing the welded section shall not be less than
Element Composition, % 96 % of the specified minimum stress at 1 % extension.
Carbon 0.50 to 0.88
Manganese 0.50 to 1.10 12.4 A welded section shall not be required to meet the
Phosphorus, max 0.035 stress at 1 % extension, elongation, and wrap tests.
Sulfur, max 0.045
Silicon 0.10 to 0.35
13. Density and Resistivity
13.1 For the purposes of calculating mass per unit length,
cross-sections, and so forth, the density of galvanized steel
8. Tensile Test wire at 20°C shall be taken as 0.281 lb/in.3 (7780 kg/m3).
8.1 The zinc-coated steel core wire shall conform to the 13.2 A maximum resistivity of galvanized steel wire is not
tensile and elongation requirements prescribed in Table 2 or guaranteed, but a typical value of 0.191 57 V·mm 2/m may be
Table 3. used for purposes of calculation. For conversion to other units
8.2 Tensile tests shall be conducted in accordance with Test of conductivity or resistivity, refer to Test Method B193.
Methods and Definitions A370, using the initial settings for
determining stress at 1 % extension given in Table 4 or Table 14. Dimensions and Permissible Variations
5 of this specification. 14.1 The specified diameter of the zinc-coated wire shall be
8.3 Test Specimens—The test specimens shall be free of expressed in decimal fractions of an inch to four decimal
bends or kinks other than the curvature resulting from the usual places, or in millimeters to two decimal places.
coiling operations. Any hand straightening necessary to permit
14.2 To determine the applicable tolerance range from Table
insertion of the specimen in the jaws of the testing machine
10 or Table 11, round the specified diameter to the nearest
shall be performed by drawing between wood blocks or by
0.001 in. (0.01 mm) in accordance with the rounding method of
some other equally satisfactory means.
Practice E29.
9. Wrap Test 14.3 Measure the largest and smallest diameter taken at the
9.1 The material, as represented by the test specimens, shall same cross section rounded to the nearest 0.001 in. (0.01 mm)
not fracture when the galvanized wire is wrapped at a rate not in accordance with the rounding method of Practice E29.
exceeding 15 turns/min in a close helix of at least eight turns Calculate the average of the two measurements. The calculated
around a cylindrical mandrel with a diameter equal to two value shall not differ from the specified diameter by more than
times the specified diameter of the wire under test, 65 %. the applicable tolerance range shown in Table 10 or Table 11.

10. Coating Test 15. Workmanship, Finish, and Appearance

10.1 The material, as represented by the test specimens, 15.1 The zinc coating shall be reasonably smooth, continu-
shall conform to the coating requirements of Table 6 or Table ous, of reasonably uniform thickness, and free from imperfec-
7. for the diameter and class of coating specified. tions not consistent with good commercial practice.
10.2 The coating test shall be conducted in accordance with
Test Method A90/A90M. 16. Number of Tests and Retests
16.1 One test specimen shall be taken from each 5000 lbs or
11. Adherence of Coating Test 2500 kg, or fraction, thereof, in the inspection lot.
11.1 The zinc-coated wire shall be capable of being
16.2 Each specimen shall be tested for compliance with
wrapped in a close helix at a rate not exceeding 15 turns/min
Sections 8, 9, 11, and 14. At least half of the specimens shall
around a cylindrical mandrel having a diameter as prescribed in
be tested for compliance with Section 10.
Table 8 or Table 9, without cracking or flaking the zinc coating
to such an extent that any zinc can be removed by rubbing with 16.3 Should one or more of the test specimens fail any of
the bare fingers. the tests specified, the nonconforming coil or coils may be
removed and the balance of the lot subjected to retests. For
NOTE 1—Loosening or detachment during the adhesion test of super-
ficial, small particles of Zinc formed by mechanical polishing of the retest purposes, two additional coils for each 5000 lbs or 2500
surface of the coated wire shall not be considered cause for rejection. kg in the lot shall be sampled and tested for the property in
which the original sample failed to comply.
12. Joints
16.4 Should any of the retest specimens fail to meet the
12.1 No joints shall be made in the finished wire. properties specified, the lot represented by the test specimens
12.2 Joints may be made at any stage of processing before shall be rejected.
final cold drawing by the electric butt-weld or flash-welding 16.5 Instead of rejecting the entire lot as provided in 16.4,
process. the producer may test specimens from every coil in the lot for
12.3 Welding equipment and procedure shall be such that it the property in which failure occurred, and reject only the
can be demonstrated that the tensile strength of a finished wire nonconforming coils.

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 B498/B498M − 08
TABLE 2 Tensile Requirements
Stress at 1 % Extension, min, Kpsi Ultimate Tensile Strength, min, Kpsi Elongation in 10 in., min, %
Specified
Class Class Class Class Class Class
Diameter, in.
A C A C A C
0.0500 to 0.0899, 190 170 210 190 3.0 3.0
incl
0.0900 to 0.1199, 185 165 205 185 3.5 3.0
incl
0.1200 to 0.1399, 180 160 205 185 4.0 3.0
incl
0.1400 to 0.1900, 170 155 200 180 4.0 4.0
incl

TABLE 3 Tensile Requirements (Metric)

Stress at 1 % Extension, min, MPa Ultimate Tensile Strength, min, Elongation in 250 mm, min, %
MPa
Specified Diameter, mm
Class Class Class Class Class Class
A C A C A C
1.27 to 2.28, incl 1310 1170 1450 1310 3.0 3.0
2.29 to 3.04, incl 1280 1140 1410 1280 3.5 3.0
3.05 to 3.55, incl 1240 1100 1410 1280 4.0 3.0
3.56 to 4.82, incl 1170 1070 1380 1240 4.0 4.0

TABLE 4 Initial Settings for Determining Stress at 1 % Extension TABLE 7 Zinc Coating (Metric)
Specified Diameter, Initial Stress, Initial Setting of Extensometer, Area Density of Coating, min, of
Specified Diameter of Coated
in. Kpsi in./ in. Uncoated Wire Surface, g/m2
Wire, mm
0.0500 to 0.0899, incl 14 0.0005 (0.05 % extension) Class A Class C
0.0900 to 0.1199, incl 28 0.0010 (0.10 % extension) 1.27 to 1.52, incl 183 549
0.1200 to 0.1900, incl 42 0.0015 (0.15 % extension) 1.53 to 1.90, incl 198 594
1.91 to 2.28, incl 214 642
2.29 to 2.64, incl 229 687
2.65 to 3.04, incl 244 732
TABLE 5 Initial Settings for Determining Stress at 1 % Extension 3.05 to 3.55, incl 259 777
(Metric) 3.56 to 4.57, incl 274 822
Specified Diameter, Initial Stress, Initial Setting of Extensometer, 4.58 to 4.82, incl 305 915
mm MPa mm/mm
1.27 to 2.28, incl 100 0.0005 (0.05 % extension)
2.29 to 3.04, incl 190 0.0010 (0.10 % extension) TABLE 8 Mandrel Size for Adherence Test
3.05 to 4.82, incl 290 0.0015 (0.15 % extension)
Ratio of Mandrel Diameter to Wire
Specified Wire Diameter, in.
Diameter
0.0500 to 0.0899, incl 3
TABLE 6 Zinc Coating 0.0900 to 0.1399, incl 4
Area Density of Coating, min, of 0.1400 to 0.1900, incl 5
Specified Diameter of Coated
Uncoated Wire Surface, oz/ft2
Wire, in.
Class A Class C
0.0500 to 0.0599, incl 0.60 1.80 TABLE 9 Mandrel Size for Adherence Test (Metric)
0.0600 to 0.0749, incl 0.65 1.95
0.0750 to 0.0899, incl 0.70 2.10 Ratio of Mandrel Diameter to Wire
Specified Wire Diameter, mm
0.0900 to 0.1039, incl 0.75 2.25 Diameter
0.1040 to 0.1199, incl 0.80 2.40 1.27 to 2.28, incl 3
0.1200 to 0.1399, incl 0.85 2.55 2.29 to 3.04, incl 4
0.1400 to 0.1799, incl 0.90 2.70 3.05 to 4.82, incl 5
0.1800 to 0.1900, incl 1.00 3.00

17. Inspection 18. Rejection and Rehearing

17.1 Unless otherwise specified in the contract or purchase 18.1 Material that fails to conform to the requirements of
order, the manufacturer shall be responsible for the perfor- this specification shall be rejected. Rejection should be re-
mance of all inspection and test requirements specified. ported to the producer or supplier promptly and in writing. In
17.2 All inspections and tests shall be made at the place of case of dissatisfaction with the results of the test, the producer
manufacture, unless otherwise especially agreed upon between or supplier may make claim for a rehearing.
the manufacturer and the purchaser at the time of the purchase.
17.3 The manufacturer shall afford the inspector represent- 19. Certification
ing the purchaser all reasonable manufacturer’s facilities to 19.1 When specified in the purchase order or contract, a
satisfy him that the material is being furnished in accordance producer’s or supplier’s certification shall be furnished to the
with this specification. purchaser showing that the material was manufactured,

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 B498/B498M − 08
TABLE 10 Permissible Variations in Diameter of Zinc-Coated 20. Packaging and Package Marking
Steel Wire
20.1 The unit lengths shall be as specified in the contract or
NOTE 1—It is recognized that the surface of zinc coatings, particularly
those produced by hot-dip galvanizing, are not perfectly smooth and order. Length tolerances shall be plus or minus 2 %, unless
devoid of irregularities. If the tolerances shown in the table are rigidly otherwise specified by the purchaser. (See Explanatory Note 1.)
applied to such irregularities that are inherent to the product, unjustified
rejections of wire that would actually be satisfactory for use could occur. 20.2 Package dimensions, kind of package (coils, reels or
It is intended that these tolerances be used in gaging the wires where there reelless coils), and quantity of wire in each package shall be
is a minimum of such diameter irregularities due to galvanizing. agreed upon between the manufacturer and purchaser.
Permissible Variation, in.
Specified Diameter, in
Plus Minus 20.3 A durable tag shall be securely attached to each
0.0500 to 0.0749, incl 0.0015 0.001 package showing the nominal diameter of wire, class of
0.0750 to 0.1199, incl 0.002 0.002
0.1200 to 0.1399, incl 0.003 0.002 coating, length, approximate weight, purchaser’s order num-
0.1400 to 0.1900, incl 0.004 0.003 ber, and manufacturer’s name.
20.4 The starting end shall be identified.
TABLE 11 Permissible Variations in Diameter of Zinc-Coated
Steel Wire (Metric) 20.5 In case there is more than one piece in a package, the
length and position of each piece shall be shown on the tag.
NOTE 1—It is recognized that the surface of zinc coatings, particularly
those produced by hot-dip galvanizing, are not perfectly smooth and
devoid of irregularities. If the tolerances shown in the table are rigidly 21. Keywords
applied to such irregularities that are inherent to the product, unjustified 21.1 coated steel wire; steel core wire; steel wire; zinc-
rejections of wire that would actually be satisfactory for use could occur.
It is intended that these tolerances be used in gaging the wires where there coated steel wire
is a minimum of such diameter irregularities due to galvanizing.
Permissible Variation, mm
Specified Diameter, mm
Plus Minus
1.27 to 1.90, incl 0.038 0.025
1.91 to 3.04, incl 0.051 0.051
3.05 to 3.55, incl 0.076 0.051
3.56 to 4.82, incl 0.102 0.076

sampled, tested, and inspected in accordance with this speci-

fication and has been found to meet the requirements. When
specified in the purchase order or contract, a report of the test
results shall be furnished.

EXPLANATORY NOTES

NOTE 1—Steel wire cannot be produced to exact specified lengths. purchase, have an agreed upon method to permit the acceptance of odd
Since welding of steel wires for use in electrical conductors is not lengths of steel wire. A typical agreement would be to permit lengths other
accepted, the random lengths of wire that results from normal production than the specified length for up to 5 % of the purchased quantity with any
can result in otherwise good product being rejected and scrapped. In order single piece being not less than 50 % of the specified length.
to reduce cost, the purchaser and manufacturer should, at the time of

SUMMARY OF CHANGES

Committee B01 has identified the location of selected changes to this standard since the last issue
(B498/B498M – 98 (2002)) that may impact the use of this standard. (Approved Nov. 1, 2008.)

(1) Section 3 – Added “product code” definition. (5) Table 3 – Modernized the chemistry ranges to match Speci-
(2) Section 4 – Removed Class B coating. fication B6.
(3) Section 14 – Simplified how diameter measurement is (6) Corrected typographical errors.
made and recorded.
(4) Metric Tables – Modified diameter metric ranges to match
other steel wire standards.

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 B498/B498M − 08
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