Constantan

The composition of constantan is

Cu = 55%

Ni = 45%

Properties

(i) Constantan is high specific resistance

(ii) Specific resistance is unaffected by temperature variation.

Applications

Constantan is used for accurate resistors like thermo-couples,

(i) Wheet-stone bridge,

(ii) Low temperature heaters and

(iii) Resistances

Constantan Alloy

Of all modern strain gauge alloys, constantan is the oldest, and still the most widely used. This situation reflects the fact that constantan has the best overall combination of properties needed for many strain gauge applications. This alloy has, for example, an adequately high strain sensitivity, or gauge factor, which is relatively insensitive to strain level and temperature. Its resistivity is high enough to achieve suitable resistance values in even very small grids, and its temperature coefficient ofresistance is not excessive. In addition, constantan is characterized by good fatigue life and relatively high elongationcapability. However, constantan tends to exhibit a continuous drift at temperatures above 65 °C (150 °F); and this characteristic should be taken into account when zero stability of the strain gauge is critical over a period of hours or days. Constantan is also used for electrical resistance heating and thermocouples.

A Alloy

Very importantly, constantan can be processed for self-temperature compensation to match a wide range of test materialcoefficients of thermal expansion. An alloy is supplied in self-temperature-compensation (S-T-C) numbers 00, 03, 05, 06, 09, 13, 15, 18, 30, 40 and 50, for use on test materials with corresponding thermal expansion coefficients, expressed in parts per million by length (or µm/m) per kelvin or degree Celsius or degree Fahrenheit.

P Alloy

For the measurement of very large strains, 5% (50 000 microstrain) or above, annealed constantan (P alloy) is the grid material normally selected. Constantan in this form is very ductile; and, in gauge lengths of 0.125 in (3 mm) and longer, can be strained to >20%. It should be borne in mind, however, that under high cyclic strains the P alloy will exhibit some permanent resistivity change with each cycle, and cause a corresponding zero shift in the strain gauge. Because of this characteristic, and the tendency for premature grid failure with repeated straining, P alloy is not ordinarily recommended for cyclic strain applications. P alloy is available with S-T-C numbers of 08 and 40 for use on metals and plastics, respectively.

Reference Introduction to basic Manufacturing Processes and Workshop Technology by Rajender Singh and wikipedia.

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