Effect of Deformation by Wire Drawing on the Mechanical and Electrical Properties of Aluminum

Lazhar Yahia (Department of Electromechanical Engineering, Faculty of Technology, University of Batna 2, Batna, 05000, Algeria)
Fatima Zohra Benlahreche (Department of Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Process Engineering, University of Constantine 3, Constantine, 25000, Algeria)
Wahid Kaddouri (Structural Mechanics and Materials Laboratory, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Faculty of technology, University of Batna 2, Batna, 05000, Algeria)
Elamine Nouicer (Department of Physics, Faculty of Sciences, University of Constantine 1, Constantine, 25000, Algeria)
Sihem Abderrahmane (Surface Engineering Laboratory, Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Sciences, University of Annaba, Annaba, 23000, Algeria)
Lyamine Briki (Department of Civil Engineering, Faculty of Technology, University of Batna 2, Batna, 05000, Algeria)
Mosbah Zidani (Department of Science and Technology, Faculty of Technology, University of Batna 2, Batna, 05000, Algeria)

Science and Technology Indonesia
Vol. 11 No. 3 (2026): July

This research investigates the influence of cold wire drawing on the electromechanical properties of high-purity (99.7%) aluminum conductors. Aluminum wires were subjected to progressive plastic deformation, with cross-sectional reduction rates ranging from 11.25% to 88.44%. The results demonstrate that mechanical deformation significantly enhances the ultimate tensile strength, reaching a peak value of 116.14 MPa and a Vickers hardness of 57.63 HV at the maximum reduction rate. Conversely, a marked reduction in elongation at break was observed, indicating a loss of ductility due to intense work hardening. Regarding electrical performance, the study reveals that electrical resistivity increases by only 0.87% over the full deformation range, while electrical conductivity exhibits a proportional decline. This degradation in transport properties is physically attributed to the increased density of lattice defects (dislocations) acting as electron scattering centers. These findings highlight the critical trade-off between mechanical reinforcement and electrical efficiency, providing essential data for the optimization of high-performance conductors for power transmission.