The effect of alloy contents on electrical resistance accumulation of polycrystalline constantan under cycle loading

► Polycrystalline constantan foils containing different levels of alloy components are made. ► The foil electrical resistance change laws are obtained via fatigue experiments. ► The micro components Ni, Mn and Fe have a significant effect on cumulative resistance. ► The optimum alloy content of constantan foils under cycle loading has been obtained. ► The best electrical resistance accumulation can be achieved. To get a good electrical resistance accumulation behavior under cycle loading, the alloy content in the polycrystalline constantan is one of the key issues. Based on the principle of the orthogonal experiment design, in the paper, 8 kinds of polycrystalline constantan foils containing different levels of alloy components were prepared using the same technology. Through a series of fatigue experiments carried out in the laboratory, the foil electrical resistance change laws with the varying percentage of Ni, Mn and Fe were obtained. The obtained electrical resistance accumulation behavior was then used to determine the best alloy content combination in the polycrystalline constantan foils by statistical methods. It is demonstrated that the foil electrical resistance accumulation was enhanced with the increase in Mn percentage, but the increases in Ni and Fe percentages have the contrary effect in the studied range of alloy contents.