Stranded wire is a metal wire composed of several individual filaments of smaller diameter that are twisted into strands before being helically wrapped around a core. Stranded wire is extremely versatile and employed in a number of industrial, commercial and consumer applications. While some applications require solid conductor wires and cables, stranded wire is often preferred for its greater degree of flexibility.
Stranded Wire
Stranded cables and wires are used heavily in industries which require a great deal of lifting, support and tension such as aerospace, automotive, communications, chemical, electronics, defense, security and medical industries. To suit the needs of these industries and more, stranded rope is increasingly specialized. If uncertain, wire rope suppliers should be consulted in order to select the proper wire and avoid potentially costly and dangerous mechanical failures. Stranded wires are identified by listing both the number of strands and the amount of wires per strand respectively as well as the lay and pitch of the rope. Identification codes can also extend to specifics such as core type, work load limit and more, listed in abbreviated form. The connections fasteners, fittings and other hardware attached to the stranded wire are also important as they offer differing degrees of wire versatility in terms of fray prevention and connectivity.
Like wire rope, stranded wire has three basic elements: wire filaments, strands and cores. The first components are the cold drawn rods of metal that are relatively small in diameter as compared to the rope as a whole. These filaments are twisted or braided together to form a strand, or grouping of wires. The strands may consist of as few as two or as many as several dozen filaments depending upon the intended use of the finished product. The core is the element around which the strands are wrapped in a helical pattern. Cores can be made of metal or fiber and the strands may be positioned around the core in either a clockwise or counterclockwise direction known as the lay. The materials chosen for the wires, strands and cores are crucial and must be provide the appropriate strength, flexibility and wear resistance for their intended use. Stainless steel cables are popular as are a number of other steel cable types which are composed for specific characteristics such as strength or wear resistance. Other materials such as copper and aluminum may be chosen for their good electrical conductivity whereas nickel alloys are chosen for electrical resistance. The specific material employed in the construction of stranded wire is selected with regards for the application in which it will be used. Other important considerations include diameter, difficulty of flattening, temperature resistance and average lifespan.
