铜芯导体正常工作时的温度问题

铜芯导体正常工作时的温度主要取决于环境温度，由于铜是良导体，电阻率很低，所以发热基本可以忽略，其工作时的温度主要取决于环境温度。又由于导体的绝缘材料和护套材料基本都是塑料和橡胶，这就决定了其环境温度也不能太高，否则绝缘和护套材料就会损坏。所以当计算导体电阻时，公式中,也即中的T用的是环境温度，而T0和R0常常用的是20℃（有时也用0℃）的参数，对于铜导体来说，α值是(℃^-1)进行的计算。

在stackexchange论坛中一个网友问出了这个问题，并得到了另一个网友的详细回答。

question：Is there a minimum and maximum temperature that a copper wire/s will still work on. Meaning that current will still be able to go through them. Let's say that I have battery that is heated or cooled depending on the environment, and that battery controls a light, that is also heated or cooled, and the wires connecting it are exposed to cold or hot environment. Is there a specific temperature, max / min, that will ensure that current still passes through the wires. I know this might depend on the size of the copper wire, and the specific gauge, but I am considering wires between 18 and 26 AWG. I also figured out that the melting point of cooper is about 1,085 °C, therefore that will in theory be the maximum temperature that a copper wire will be able to operate, I assume. And I am not sure about the minimum temperature.

answer：

So Copper melts at 1083°C. But that has absolutely nothing to do with Minimum and Maximum temperature for a copper wire to work as a conductor.

Both are determined by the insulation and jacket materials. Insulation breaks down if ambient temperature goes above 100°C. The insulation goes through irreversible chemical changes and starts to burn typically causing fires. Even if you have a jacket which is HOFR (Heat, Oil and Flame Retardant), XLPE and EPR, as insulation, act as wicks for fire and will spread a fire throughout the structure.

It is ultimately why residential wire insulation is colored white. Discoloration means the wire has gotten to hot and the full wire must be replaced. The portion that has burned is no longer an insulator, which means it is becoming a conductor.

Maximum

• PVC 75°C
• XLPE/EPR 85°C
• Silicon 95°C

These maximums are one of the factors which must be taken into account when derating maximum current for a given wire size and insulation material.

Minimum

• PVC -55°C
• XLPE -40°C
• EPR -60°C
• Silicon –80°C

Insulation becomes brittle below minimum. Not a problem if you are dealing with buildings.

So copper will not melt at 200°C, but it is not much of a conductor if the insulation catches on fire.