A commercial AA1070 alloy for electrical wire is severely deformed by drawing process in which a rod with an initial diameter of 9mm into is reduced to a wire of 2mm diameter. The drawn AA1070 wire is then annealed at various temperatures from 200 to 450 oC for 2h. Changes in microstructure, mechanical properties and electrical properties of the specimens with annealing temperature are investigated in detail. The specimen begins partially to recrystallize at 250 oC; above 300 oC it is covered with equiaxed recrystallized grains over all regions. Fiber textures of {110}<111> and {112}<111> components are mainly developed, and {110}<001> texture is partially developed as well. The tensile strength tends to decrease with annealing temperature due to the occurrence of recovery or/and recrystallization. On the other hand, the elongation of the annealed wire increases with the annealing temperature, and reaches a maximum value of 33.3 % at 300 oC. Electric conductivity of the specimens increases with annealing temperature, and reaches a maximum value of 62.6%IACS after annealing at 450 oC. These results are discussed in comparison with those for the other aluminum alloy.

In this study, an Al-0.7wt%Fe-0.2wt%Mg-0.2wt%Cu-0.02wt%B alloy was designed to fabricate an aluminum alloy for electrical wire having both high strength and high conductivity. The designed Al alloy was processed by casting, extrusion and drawing processes. Especially, the drawing process was done by severe deformation of a rod with an initial diameter of 12 mm into a wire of 2 mm diameter; process was equivalent to an effective strain of 3.58, and the total reduction in area was 97 %. The drawn Al alloy wire was then annealed at various temperatures of 200 to 400 °C for 30 minutes. The mechanical properties, microstructural changes and electrical properties of the annealed specimens were investigated. As the annealing temperature increased, the tensile strength decreased and the elongation increased. Recovery or/and recrystallization occurred as annealing temperature increased, and complete recrystallization occurred at annealing temperatures over 300 °C. Electric conductivity increased with increasing temperature up to 250 °C, but no significant change was observed above 300 °C. It is concluded that, from the viewpoint of the mechanical and electrical properties, the specimen annealed at 350 oC is the most suitable for the wire drawn Al alloy electrical wire.