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identify wire

ddesign

Jun 10, 2011
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We have a small sample of wire (.005" Dia X 1" long) that is used in a low voltage DC heat element. We need to identify its characteristics in order to purchase for high volume manufacture. We suspect it is a Nichrome type, but can't verify. Can anyone on the forum investigate the sample or suggest where we can send it for identifcation?
 

poor mystic

Apr 8, 2011
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Any big engineering shop with foundry will have equipment capable of determining the composition of your wire.
 

daddles

Jun 10, 2011
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Personally, I'd send it to an analytical lab that has an AA (atomic absorption) instrument, as that's most likely to quickly and cheaply give you the elemental composition. Otherwise, find someone with an SEM (scanning electron microscope) with an electron spectrometer (often called EDAX) -- that can usually give you an answer in about 15 minutes of getting into the instrument queue (I was fortunate to work in a big industrial place that had all this stuff available on site to the scientists and engineers). There are many other techniques (including wet chemistry and surface analysis stuff), but the above two will likely be quickest and cheapest.
 

poor mystic

Apr 8, 2011
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The foundry at Farrah Bros. DESCO in Dunedin (New Zealand) has/had a spark spectroscope that uses a tungsten electrode to determine metals to a good standard.
 
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