8886 Reference - Resistivity Values

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Resistivity Values

Resistivity at 20°C
Material
Ω·m µΩ·cm
Elements
silver 1.6 × 10-8 1.6

copper 1.7 × 10-8 1.7

gold 2.2 × 10-8 2.2

aluminium 2.7 × 10-8 2.7

magnesium 4.2 × 10-8 4.2

tungsten 5.4 × 10-8 5.4

nickel 6.9 × 10-8 6.9

iron 10.1 × 10-8 10.1

chromium 13.2 × 10-8 13.2

manganese 160 × 10-8 160

carbon (graphite) 3 000 × 10-8 3 000

Alloys
Manganin 44 × 10-8 44

Constantan (Eureka) 49 × 10-8 49

Nichrome 110 × 10-8 110

Web References
HyperPhysics Reference
hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/Tables/rstiv.html
Resistivities of a selection of materials.

Institute of Science Technology

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8886 Reference - Resistivity Values

www.istonline.org.uk/Handbook.htm
The Physics Data page (in PDF format) has a table of resistivity
values.

Hamilton Precision metals

www.hpmetals.com/metals-er.html
Resistivities of the metals and alloys they manufacture.

IMI Scott Ltd

www.imiscott.co.uk/reswire_table.html
Resistivity data of selected alloys.

H Cross Company
hcrosscompany.com/metals/metals.htm
Lots of technical data including uses for various alloys.

Goodfellow
www.goodfellow.com/csp/active/gfMaterials.csp
Comprehensive data for many materials, not just metals.

WebElements Periodic Table

www.webelements.com
Here you can find the resistivity of each element.

Notes

The resistivity values vary depending upon the purity of the sample and
the manufacturing process. Copper wire that has been annealed (heated
to remove defects in the crystal lattice of the copper) has a slightly
lower resistivity.

For metal wires it is best to check the manufacturer's data to find out
what the resistivity should be. This is particularly true of resistance
wires that can be manufactured with many different compositions to suit
different uses.

Common resistance wire alloys

The resistance of these special alloys only changes by a very small
amount as the temperature increases. This is an important feature
of the alloy and means that the wires can be used to make
accurately known resistors whose resistance will not change much
with temperature.

Constantan

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8886 Reference - Resistivity Values

Example data:
Goodfellow: Constantan resistance alloy, Cu55/Ni45

Resistivity: 52 × 10-8 Ω m

Constantan is an alloy used for resistance wires. This example is

made from copper (55%) and nickel (45%) with small amounts of
other elements.

Constantan is used in resistance boxes and for variable resistors.

The name itself is shortened from the words "constant resistance".

Nichrome

Example data:
Goodfellow: Nichrome V, Ni80/Cr20

Resistivity: 108 × 10-8 Ω m

Nichrome is often used for heating elements such as those found

in electric fires. Nichrome V is approximately 80% nickel and 20%
chromium with small amounts of other elements.

Manganin

Example data:
Goodfellow: Manganin, Cu86/Mn12/Ni2

Resistivity: 43-48 × 10-8 Ω m

Manganin was found to be very suitable for constructing standard

resistors that have accurately known values.

The composition of this sample is 86% copper, 12% manganese

and 2% nickel.

Resistivity units & conversion factors

ρ = RA/l
There are a number of confusing units for resistivity. This should
help you to convert most of the common ones if you are looking

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8886 Reference - Resistivity Values

up a resistivity value from a web site or technical data book.

1. Ohm metre : Ω·m

The SI unit is the ohm metre.

2. Microhm centimetre : µΩ·cm

The microhm centimetre is a popular unit. The length and cross-

sectional area are measured in centimetres and square
centimetres. The resistance is measured in micro ohms.

1 cm = 1 × 10-2 m
1 µΩ = 1 × 10-6 Ω

1 µΩ·cm = 1 × 10-8 Ω·m

3. Ohm circular mil per foot : Ω·CMF

This is an engineering unit that you might come across in

American data. The length of the wire is measured in feet. The
area is measured in circular mil. A mil is one thousandth of an
inch. A circular mil is the area of a circle with a diameter of 1 mil.

1 Ω·CMF = 0.1662 × 10-8 Ω·m

4. Ohm square mil per foot : Ω·SMF

Another engineering unit. This time the area is that of a square

with sides of 1 mil.

1 Ω·SMF = 0.2117 × 10-8 Ω·m

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8886 Reference - Standard Wire Gauge (SWG)

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Imperial Standard Wire Gauge (SWG)

Wires are manufactured to standard sizes. The reel of wire will be labelled
with the type of wire and the SWG. As the SWG increases the diameter
decreases.

S.W.G. 16 18 20 22 24 26 28 30 32 34 36 38 40 42

diameter 1.626 1.219 0.914 0.711 0.559 0.457 0.376 0.315 0.274 0.234 0.193 0.152 0.122 0.102
(mm)

Measuring the wire diameter

When using a wire in an experiment make sure you measure the diameter of
the wire. Don't just assume you know the correct SWG; it is very easy to get
the wires mixed up!

You will need a micrometer screw gauge to measure the wire diameter to
one hundredth of a millimetre. Take one reading and then move 90 degrees
around the wire to take a second reading. This will tell you if the wire is
circular or not. Take several more pairs of readings along the length of the
wire. Finally, take an average of all your measurements.

Notes

The Imperial Standard Wire Gauge (S.W.G.) is used in the UK. In the USA a
different set of values known as American Wire Gauge (A.W.G.) are used.

External Links

A more complete list of both Imperial and US wire gauges (diameter

in inches)
Wire Gauge conversion table

Interactive Micrometer demo

Micrometer Calipers (Applet)
This shows you clearly how to use one.

How to use a micrometer screw gauge

How to use vernier calipers and a micrometer screw gauge.
(Very comprehensive but takes a while for all the pictures to load.)

[Calliper is the English spelling, caliper the American spelling.]

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