ASTM B250/B250M-19 PDF

Full title and description

ASTM B250/B250M-19 — Standard Specification for General Requirements for Wrought Copper Alloy Wire. This standard establishes the general, cross-cutting requirements that apply to wrought copper and copper‑alloy wire product specifications (dimensions, sampling, testing, marking, and conformity rules) to ensure uniformity and consistency across product‑specific ASTM wire standards.

Abstract

This specification sets forth the general requirements common to wrought copper and copper‑alloy wires. It covers suitable starting materials (cast bar, billet, rod, etc.), processing (hot and cold working, annealing), sampling and specimen preparation, and the tests and acceptance criteria used to verify dimensional, mechanical, electrical, chemical composition, and grain‑size requirements. The standard also addresses units (SI and inch‑pound used separately), rounding rules for reported results, and safety/test method caveats.

General information

• Status: Published / Active (current edition).
• Publication date: October 1, 2019 (designation B250/B250M-19).
• Publisher: ASTM International (Committee B05: Copper and Copper Alloys).
• ICS / categories: 77.150.30 (Copper products).
• Edition / version: B250/B250M-19 (replaces B250/B250M-16).
• Number of pages: 10.

Scope

The specification establishes requirements that are common to wrought copper and copper‑alloy wire and is intended to be referenced by and applied together with product specifications such as B16/B16M, B99/B99M, B134/B134M, B159/B159M, B197/B197M, B206/B206M, B272, B301/B301M, B453/B453M, B967/B967M, B974/B974M, and B981/B981M to the extent those product specifications reference it. The standard does not replace product‑specific chemical or mechanical requirements; those remain defined in the individual product specifications.

Key topics and requirements

• General manufacturing material suitability and starting‑material requirements (cast bar, billet, rod, etc.).
• Sampling procedures and specimen preparation for testing.
• Dimensional requirements and tolerances (diameter, thickness, lengths, width, straightness, edge contour).
• Mechanical property testing and limits (tensile strength, yield strength, elongation, bend, Rockwell hardness).
• Electrical testing (resistivity and conductivity) where applicable.
• Chemical composition verification and limits as directed by the product specification.
• Grain‑size examination and reporting conventions.
• Units policy: SI and inch‑pound units are each to be used independently (values are not exact equivalents).
• Rounding and reporting rules for observed or calculated test values (referencing Practice E29 conventions).
• Safety caveat: the standard does not address all safety issues of the test methods; users must apply appropriate health, safety, and environmental practices.

Typical use and users

Used by copper and copper‑alloy wire manufacturers, quality and process engineers, metallurgical and testing laboratories, procurement/specification writers, product certifiers, and regulatory or government procurement bodies. It is applied when purchasing, producing, or verifying wrought copper alloy wire where harmonized general requirements are needed alongside product‑specific ASTM specifications.

Related standards

Typical related and referenced ASTM product specifications include: B16/B16M, B99/B99M, B134/B134M, B159/B159M, B197/B197M, B206/B206M, B272, B301/B301M, B453/B453M, B967/B967M, B974/B974M, and B981/B981M. It also interacts with test method and practice standards (for example those covering resistivity, hardness, and rounding/reporting conventions) and with committee guidance such as ASTM B846 (terminology) and relevant packaging/practice documents.

Keywords

ASTM B250, B250/B250M-19, wrought copper alloy wire, copper wire, flat wire, dimensions, tensile strength, electrical conductivity, sampling, grain size, ASTM B05.

FAQ

Q: What is this standard?

A: ASTM B250/B250M-19 is the ASTM standard that establishes the general requirements applicable to wrought copper and copper‑alloy wire; it provides sampling, testing, reporting, and general conformity rules used alongside product‑specific wire specifications.

Q: What does it cover?

A: It covers starting material suitability, sampling and specimen preparation, dimensional and mechanical tests (tensile, yield, elongation, hardness, bend), electrical tests (resistivity/conductivity), chemical composition verification, grain‑size reporting, unit systems, and rounding/reporting conventions. Product‑specific limits (alloy, temper, exact dimensions) are defined in the individual product specifications that reference this general specification.

Q: Who typically uses it?

A: Manufacturers of copper and copper‑alloy wire, QA/QC and process engineers, materials laboratories performing acceptance testing, procurement and specification writers, and agencies or purchasers that require ASTM conformity for wrought copper alloy wire products.

Q: Is it current or superseded?

A: The active designation is B250/B250M-19, published October 1, 2019. As of February 20, 2026 the B250/B250M-19 edition is the current published edition. (Note: ASTM has had committee activity to revise supplementary requirements—users should check with ASTM or committee documents if they need confirmation of any amendment or a new edition after this date.)

Q: Is it part of a series?

A: Yes. B250/B250M is the general‑requirements companion used with a family of product specifications for wrought copper and copper‑alloy rods, bars, wire, flat wire, and shapes (examples listed under Related standards). The standard series is maintained under ASTM Committee B05 (Copper and Copper Alloys), Subcommittee B05.02 (Rod, Bar, Wire, Shapes and Forgings).

Q: What are the key keywords?

A: Wrought copper alloy wire, copper‑alloy wire, flat wire, sampling, tensile, conductivity, dimensions, ASTM B250, general requirements.