Together with the largest companies of the electrical engineering industry, the Aluminium Association is working to update the interstate standard 'Uninsulated wires for overhead power transmission lines' (GOST 839-80). The need to review the GOST is related to the fact that the provided level of requirements to the wires is outdated and cable plants can expand the range of materials for the production of uninsulated wires.

Proposed amendments to the GOST:

• In order to increase corrosion resistance and, as a consequence, the service life period of the wires, to provide for the use of steel wire clad with aluminium for the production of the carrying core.

• To increase the mechanical strength of the wires, to analyse the possibility of use of the carrying core of the steel wire with high tensile strength (with temporary resistance of 1,700-2,000 MPa and voltage at 1% elongation of 1,400-1,700 MPa);

• To include new brands of wires from the extrahigh tensile alloys of grades 6101 and 6201 with homogeneous material for the central part and the exterior layers. The production of wire rod from these alloys has been mastered by a number of Russian production facilities;

• To include in the GOST new brands of wires with steel core and current conducting layers from extrahigh tensile alloy 6101 and 6201 (analogues of AACSR wire brands).

• To include in the standard high temperature wires twisted from round, wires from aluminium-zirconium alloys;

• To include wire test methods in the standard that comply with the requirements of the international standard IEC 61089 and the requirements of Rosseti.

• Within the framework of GOST development, to consider the possibility of inclusion of the composite core wires, provided that their tensile strength is not less than that of the steel -core wires of the same section of the conductive part out of the same grades of aluminium or alloys.

(!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!) Rosseti, FGC UEC, UC RUSAL, S.R.P. Electrocable Association, VNIIKP and the largest Russian cable producers.

The effect of implementation of the project of revision of GOST 839-80 will be to expand the use of aluminium alloys, including high tensile alloys and heat-resistant AlZc alloys, in the production of non-insulated wires. The updating of the standard will also improve the reliability of transmission lines and increase their throughput capacity up to 70% by using cables from aluminium alloys.

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