Effect of Si, Mn, V and B on the Electrical Resistivity of 8030 Aluminum Rods

The non-renewable nature of traditional fossil fuels, along with the environmental and health hazards posed by their emissions, underscores the urgent need to reduce transmission losses in power grids. This study employs single-variable experiments, first-principles calculations, and thermodynamic calculations. The results show that, although the mass fraction and increment of Si are greater than those of Mn and V, the increase in electrical resistivity of 8030 aluminum rods caused by Si is only slightly higher than that caused by Mn and V. In contrast, trace additions of Mn and V significantly increase electrical resistivity, with respective increments of about 0.353 ± 0.011 nΩ·m/0.01 wt.% (Mn) and 0.373 ± 0.009 nΩ·m/0.01 wt.% (V). Si has a weaker effect on electrical resistivity, with an increment of approximately 0.052 ± 0.001 nΩ·m/0.01 wt.% (Si), and the increase in electrical resistivity diminishes as the Si mass fraction increases. The study also shows that at 700 °C for 30 min, a stable, high-density VB2 phase forms. With an average density more than twice that of the melt, VB2 settles at the bottom of the melt and effectively removes V. These findings are significant for producing 8030 aluminum rods with lower electrical resistivity.