Copper clad steel, also known as copper covered steel or by its acronym CCS, is a bimetallic product, mainly used in the wire industry that combines the high mechanical resistance of steel with the conductivity and resistance to corrosion of copper. Its main purpose is to be used as a drop wire of telephone cables, and inner conductor of CATV cable. The main producers are located in Argentina[1], Brazil, and USA

Uses

Groundings, union of ground rods to metallic structures, meshes, substations, power installations and lightning arrestors. This material has proven its aptitude for these purposes. More than 60 years of installations all around the world certify the excellence of this type of installation.

Properties

Among the main properties of these conductors the following should be highlighted:

• Excellent corrosion resistance
• High mechanical strength
• High resistance against material fatigue
• Smaller impedance at high frequencies than that of copper conducors

Advantages

Due to the inseparable union of the two metals it is "theft proof" because it is not possible to recuperate the copper and as such the conductor has no scrap value. Thus the frequent robberies so common with pure copper conductors is avoided. The installation with copper steel conductors are safe and fulfills the required specifications of a good grounding. For this reason it is used with preference by utilities and oil companys.