An addition of 1% or 2% cadmium to copper _ the tensile strength and _ the conductivity as conductor material.

Question

Question

This question was previously asked in

MPPGCL JE Electrical 28 April 2023 Shift 2 Official Paper

Answer 1

Cadmium Copper Alloy

Cadmium copper alloy is a copper-based alloy containing 1% to 2% cadmium (Cd).
When 1% or 2% cadmium is added to copper, it increases the tensile strength significantly. This makes it suitable for applications requiring durability, such as overhead transmission lines.
However, the electrical conductivity of copper decreases slightly due to the addition of cadmium. This is because cadmium introduces impurities, increasing electrical resistance.
Even though conductivity decreases slightly, the mechanical strength gain outweighs the loss in many industrial uses.