OFHC stands for oxygen-free high-conductivity copper, a high-purity copper with no residual deoxidant, at least 99.95 percent copper content, and full annealed conductivity.
OFHC stands for oxygen-free high-conductivity copper, a grade of copper refined to a very high purity. It contains no residual deoxidant, has a minimum copper content of 99.95 percent, and achieves an average annealed conductivity of 100 percent on the standard scale. Removing oxygen and impurities gives this copper excellent electrical conductivity and consistent quality.
The high purity of OFHC copper makes it valuable where maximum conductivity and reliability are important, including high-performance conductors and applications sensitive to the effects of oxygen content. The absence of residual oxygen also improves the copper's behavior during certain processing and in demanding electrical service.
In commercial and industrial wire, conductor purity influences conductivity and performance, and high-grade coppers like OFHC support applications with stringent requirements. Recognizing the OFHC designation is part of identifying a conductor made to a high standard of purity and conductivity.
Because removing oxygen and impurities yields excellent conductivity and consistent quality, OFHC copper is reserved for applications where maximum performance and reliability justify the higher-grade material, including high-performance conductors and uses sensitive to the effects of oxygen content in the metal.
At Windy City Wire, the focus on quality copper conductors connects to the purity grades, including OFHC, that determine conductivity and performance. Understanding how high-purity copper supports demanding applications helps customers appreciate the basis for dependable conductor performance in low-voltage cable.
OFHC (Oxygen-Free High-Conductivity copper)