Copper wire and method and equipment for the production of copper wire

摘要

A copper wire has an average copper content of at least 99.95 wt.% and at least one accompanying element alloyed with the copper. The ratio of the percentage by weight of the accompanying element and the percentage by weight of the residual oxygen concentration has a value in the range of 0.8 to 1.7. The percentage by weight of the accompanying element varies along a length of wire by a maximum of 25%, based on the maximum percentage by weight of the accompanying element. The copper wire is produced by a process that includes a casting operation followed by further processing. The copper melt is protected from the surrounding atmosphere until it has solidified. To guarantee exact alloying of the accompanying element, the equipment for the production of the copper wire has an automatic metering control system connected to a metering device.