An aluminum wire with the same conductivity as copper will have what percentage of the tensile strength of copper?

The tensile strength of a material reflects its ability to withstand deformation when subjected to tension. When comparing materials like aluminum and copper, we can see that aluminum is known for having good electrical conductivity but is generally less strong than copper in terms of tensile strength.

When an aluminum wire is designed to have the same conductivity as copper, it needs to be thicker due to aluminum's lower conductivity. This adjustment compensates for the inherent difference in their conductivities. However, despite achieving equivalent conductivity, the tensile strength of aluminum remains lower than that of copper.

Specifically, aluminum typically has a tensile strength that is approximately 60% of copper's tensile strength when equal conductivities are considered. This value takes into account the engineering properties of both materials. Aluminum’s lower density and different crystal structure contribute to this disparity. Thus, when aluminum is used in applications requiring tensile strength to match that of copper but with conductivity considerations, the resulting tensile strength is around 60%.

This understanding aligns with typical material properties used in engineering and helps to inform decisions regarding material selection for specific applications where both conductivity and tensile strength are crucial.