Relationship between electrical resistivity and Al3(Zr,Sc) core–shell dispersoids of Al–Zr–Sc electrical transmission cable: Modeling and experimental results

Abstract

Theoretical models for predicting the change of electrical resistivity of Al–Zr–Sc cable with Al3(Zr,Sc) core–shell dispersoids during aging were developed through integrating thin slices of core–shell cell. The theoretical electrical resistivity decreased with increasing volume fraction and size of dispersoids. As the aging time at 350°C increased from 0.2 to 400h, the experimental electrical resistivity of aged Al–Zr specimens decreased from 3.46 to 2.77μWcm, and that of Al–Zr–Sc specimen decreased from 3.65 to 2.93μΩcm. Meanwhile, the theoretical electrical resistivity of aged Al–Zr–Sc specimen ranged from 3.6 to 2.85μΩcm, showing the prediction matched well the experimental results. The difference in the electrical resistivity between Al–Zr and Al–Zr–Sc specimens may be caused by the shell of the Al3(Zr,Sc) dispersoids. The possible scope of electrical resistivity difference value ranged from 0.05 to 0.20μΩcm.