How to Remove Oxidation From an Aluminum Wire
Aluminum is a conductive metal that oxidizes easily but corrodes poorly. When pure aluminum is exposed to the air, a thin coating of aluminum oxide forms on the surface. This coating prevents further oxidation, keeping the metal from corroding. The aluminum oxide layer is not nearly as conductive to electricity as the pure aluminum and therefore should be removed from aluminum wires directly prior to connecting the wire to an electrical terminal. Does this Spark an idea?
Other People Are Reading
Things You'll Need
- Oxidized aluminum wire
- Steel wool/ emery cloth
Please enter your 10 digit phone number only.
A link to this article has been sent to the phone number provided.
Instructions
-
-
1
Clean off any loose pieces of wire or insulation at the end of the wire. These will just get in the way later.
-
2
Hold the wire firmly in your non-dominant hand with the oxidized end pointing towards your other hand. The wire should stick out a few inches to allow for easy cleaning.
-
-
3
Place the steel wool/ emery cloth in your dominant hand and wrap it around the wire.
-
4
Holding the steel wool tightly against the wire, pull towards the end of the wire while twisting the steel wool. The steel wool should be pulled completely off the end of the wire.
-
5
Turn the wire slightly in your non-dominant hand and repeat until you've worked your way around the wire twice. The wire should be as shiny as the shiny side of aluminum foil.
-
6
Connect the wire to the electrical terminal as soon as possible, because the aluminum oxide layer will start forming immediately.
-
1
