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Product

instrumentation cable series10 mK to 400 K CryostatPhosphor-Bronze & ManganinWDT Pair & WQT 4-Wire Quad

WDT / WQT Cryogenic Twisted Pair32–36 AWG Phosphor-Bronze & Manganin cryogenic twisted pair (WDT) & quad (WQT) wire

WDT (Duo-Twist Pair) and WQT (Quad-Twist 4-Wire) Cryogenic Sensor Lead Wire engineered with low-thermal-conductivity Phosphor-Bronze (CuSn5) or Manganin (Cu86Mn12Ni2) 32–36 AWG solid conductors, heavy polyimide (ML) or Formvar enamel.

Tight Twist Magnetic Cancel
NEMA MW 1000 Cryo
UHV < 10⁻¹⁰ mbar Outgas
Polyimide ML +220 °C
Order designation
WQT-36 (Phos-Bronze Quad)
Bundle Ø
0.62 mm
Single R @ 295 K
48.0 Ω/m
Single R @ 4.2 K
41.8 Ω/m
Thermal k @ 4.2 K
2.2 W/m·K
All sizes (4)
Request a quoteDatasheetWhatsApp
Engineering reply in 2 business hoursCut-to-length export drumsEN 10204 3.1 certificate per drum
Configurations
WDT / WQT
Twisted pair or 4-wire quad
Alloys
PhBr / Manganin
CuSn5 (C51000) or Cu86Mn12Ni2
Wire gauges
32 or 36 AWG
0.202 mm or 0.127 mm bare Ø
Temp. range
10 mK to 400 K
-273.14 °C to +125 °C
Thermal cond.
2.2 W/m·K @ 4 K
100× lower heat load than Cu
Non-magnetic
Zero Fe/Ni (PhBr
Safe in 20+ Tesla magnets

Typical values for this cable type, based on NEMA MW 1000 (MW 16-C / MW 28-C) / ASTM B103 — confirmed in the datasheet and quotation for your order.

Application fit

Is WDT / WQT Cryogenic Twisted Pair right for your machine?

Standard 2-wire (WDT) and 4-wire Kelvin (WQT) cryogenic sensor wiring for anchoring Cernox, Ruthenium Oxide (RuO₂), Silicon Diode, Pt100 and Hall probes across 300 K → 50 K → 4 K → 10 mK cryostat stages with micro-watt heat leak.

Switchgear & control cabinet wiring

Suitable

WQT 4-wire quad bonds directly to copper thermal-anchoring bobbins in dilution refrigerators, ³He/⁴He cryostats and PPMS pucks.

Fixed installation

Suitable

Non-ferromagnetic Phosphor-Bronze (CuSn5) exhibits zero magnetic torque or magnetoresistance drift in 15–25 T superconducting magnets.

Furnace, kiln & high-temp zone

Suitable

Polyimide (ML) enamel survives +220 °C UHV bakeout and liquid-nitrogen/helium thermal shock without micro-cracking.

Energy chain / drag chain

Not suitable

Fine 32–36 AWG solid cryogenic magnet wire; not for industrial machinery drag chains.

Use PUR-HF Drag-Chain Cable
Typical machinesDilution Refrigerators & Quantum Computing (10 mK–4 K)4-Wire Cernox, RuO₂ & Ge Cryogenic ThermometryHigh-Field (15–25 T) Superconducting Magnet DewarsSpace Infrared Bolometer & Cryocooler Flight HarnessesUHV Scanning Tunneling & ARPES Cryostats

Construction

Layer by layer

WDT (2-wire twisted pair) and WQT (2 colour-coded twisted pairs / 4-wire quad) showing solid 32–36 AWG Phosphor-Bronze or Manganin conductors, heavy Polyimide (ML) or Formvar enamel, and optional polyvinyl butyral (Bondcoat) thermal-heatsinkable overcoat.

123
Schematic, not to scale — generated from the layer data
#LayerMaterial & reference
1Solid 32 AWG or 36 AWG Phosphor-Bronze / Manganin wireNon-magnetic Phosphor-Bronze CDA 510 (Cu94.8Sn5P0.2) or low-TCR Manganin (Cu86Mn12Ni2) solid wireBlocks room-temperature heat conduction into 4 K / 100 mK stages
2Heavy Polyimide (NEMA MW 16-C) or Formvar enamelConcentric 12–18 µm aromatic Polyimide (ML) or Formvar/Polyurethane-Nylon enamel in Clear/Amber, Red, Green, BlueUltra-thin wall maximizes thermal coupling to copper heatsink bobbins
3Precision-twist duo (WDT) or quad (WQT) lay + bondcoatControlled 3.9 to 5.5 twists/cm (10–14 twists/in) cancelling dΦ/dt pickup in swept superconducting magnetsWQT combines 2 colour-coded pairs for 4-wire I+/I-/V+/V- Kelvin sensors

WDT-32 / WDT-36 (Phosphor-Bronze Twisted Pair)

2-wire twisted pair (32 or 36 AWG Phosphor-Bronze) for non-magnetic cryo sensors and heaters

WQT-32 / WQT-36 (Phosphor-Bronze 4-Wire Quad)

4-wire quad (2 twisted pairs × 32 or 36 AWG Phosphor-Bronze) for 4-terminal Cernox/RuO₂ sensors

WDT-MN-36 / WQT-MN-36 (Manganin Pair / Quad)

36 AWG Manganin twisted pair or quad with flat resistance vs temperature (300 K to 4 K)

Technical data

Ratings & operating limits

Typical values: Typical values for this cable type, based on NEMA MW 1000 (MW 16-C / MW 28-C) / ASTM B103. Values for your order are confirmed in the datasheet and quotation.

Electrical

DC resistance @ 295 K (PhBr)
19.0 Ω/m (32 AWG) · 48.0 Ω/m (36 AWG) per single conductor
DC resistance @ 4.2 K (PhBr)
16.5 Ω/m (32 AWG) · 41.8 Ω/m (36 AWG) — RRR ≈ 1.15
DC resistance @ 295 K (Mang.)
13.7 Ω/m (32 AWG) · 34.7 Ω/m (36 AWG) — ΔR < 10 % to 4 K
Dielectric breakdown
≥ 600 V rms (twist test per NEMA MW 1000)

Thermal

Operating temperature
10 mK (-273.14 °C) to 400 K (+127 °C) · Polyimide to +220 °C
Thermal cond. (PhBr)
≈ 48 W/(m·K) @ 300 K · ≈ 12 W/(m·K) @ 77 K · ≈ 2.2 W/(m·K) @ 4.2 K
Thermal cond. (Manganin)
≈ 22 W/(m·K) @ 300 K · ≈ 6.5 W/(m·K) @ 77 K · ≈ 0.5 W/(m·K) @ 4.2 K

Mechanical

Bare / insulated wire Ø
32 AWG: 0.202 / 0.236 mm · 36 AWG: 0.127 / 0.155 mm
Finished bundle OD
0.31–0.47 mm (WDT Pair) · 0.62–0.94 mm (WQT Quad)
Twist pitch
3.9 to 5.5 twists/cm (10 to 14 twists/inch)

Resistance

Magnetic susceptibility
Phosphor-Bronze: strictly non-ferromagnetic (zero Ni / Fe)
UHV outgassing
Polyimide ML passes NASA SP-R-0022A (TML < 1.0 %, CVCM < 0.1 %)
Cryo varnish compatibility
Resistant to GE 7031 varnish, Stycast 2850FT & Apiezon N

Reference standards

Magnet wire standard
NEMA MW 1000 (MW 16-C Polyimide / MW 28-C Polyurethane-Nylon)
Alloy standard
ASTM B103 (C51000 Phosphor Bronze) & DIN 17471 (Manganin)
RoHS & REACH
2011/65/EU & EC 1907/2006 compliant

Identification

WQT 4-wire colour code
Pair 1: Clear + Red (I+/I-) · Pair 2: Green + Blue/Amber (V+/V-)
Customs tariff (HS)
8544.1900
Supply spools
Supplied on 15 m, 30 m, 100 m and 300 m cleanroom spools

Sizes

4 standard WDT (Twisted Pair) & WQT (4-Wire Quad) cryogenic configurations

Wire gauge, alloy, bundle diameter, room-temperature vs 4.2 K resistance and 4.2 K thermal conductivity.

Cryogenic electrical & thermal properties
Order designationConfiguration & alloyBundle Ø
mm		R @ 295K
Ω/m		R @ 4.2K
Ω/m		k @ 4.2K
W/m·K		Enquiry
Cryogenic Twisted Pair (WDT) & 4-Wire Quad (WQT) Sensor Leads
WDT-32 (Phos-Bronze Pair)2-Wire Pair × 32 AWG Phosphor-Bronze0.4719.016.52.2
WDT-36 (Phos-Bronze Pair)2-Wire Pair × 36 AWG Phosphor-Bronze0.3148.041.82.2
WQT-32 (Phos-Bronze Quad)4-Wire Quad (2P) × 32 AWG Phosphor-Bronze0.9419.016.52.2
WQT-36 (Phos-Bronze Quad)4-Wire Quad (2P) × 36 AWG Phosphor-Bronze0.6248.041.82.2
  • Typical values for this cable type; dimensions and weights for your order are confirmed in the quotation.
  • Resistance values are per single conductor. Manganin versions (WDT-MN-36 / WQT-MN-36) are also stocked.

Quality & approvals

Testing & inspection

Routine tests on every production length, sample and type tests per batch — documented on an EN 10204 3.1 inspection certificate.

  1. ConductorClass 5 stranding
  2. Spark test100 % in-line
  3. Lay-upCores, earth, fillers
  4. SheathingInner, braid / screen, outer
  5. Electrical testsAC voltage, resistance
  6. DimensionsOD, wall thickness
  7. Inspection documents & dispatchDrum & dispatch
Testing & inspectionTest value / referenceFrequency
Routine tests
100 % NEMA MW 1000 high-voltage pinhole count & DC resistance checkZero enamel pinholes per 30 m and R within ±3 % of alloy specEvery manufactured spool
Sample tests
SQUID magnetometer ferromagnetic impurity screeningZero ferromagnetic remanence on Phosphor-Bronze (CuSn5) lotsPer alloy melt
20× liquid nitrogen / liquid helium (77 K / 4.2 K) thermal shock testZero enamel crazing and ≥ 600 V rms twisted-pair breakdown retentionPer production lot

Inspection certificate

Issued with every drum, listing the routine test results for that length.

Product approvals

NEMA MW 1000 CompliantASTM B103 C51000 AlloyNASA SP-R-0022A Low Outgas

Company certificates

ISO 9001ISO 14001ISO 45001VDE marks approvalUL / cULCE · LVD / EMC

Marking & supply

Ordering & delivery

Sheath marking

Spool label: TEBAOFLEX WDT / WQT CRYOGENIC PHOSPHOR-BRONZE / MANGANIN
Delivery form
Fumigated wooden drums, steel reels or precision spools
Standard lengths
500 m · 1000 m (or custom cut/spooled lengths)
MOQ
100 m (standard) · 500 m (custom)
Lead time
2–4 weeks ex-works
Incoterms
EXW, FOB, CIF, DAP

Technical documents

Downloads

PDFWDT / WQT Cryogenic Twisted Pair – technical datasheet4 sizes · construction, technical data, approvalsXLSXWDT / WQT Cryogenic Twisted Pair spec data (Excel)All 4 sizes with dimensions and data, for your BOM or quotation
Revision
2026-10-20
Updated
2026-10-20

FAQ

Questions engineers ask first

Not covered here? Send your drawing — an engineer replies within 2 business hours.

Why can't standard copper hook-up wire be used to wire sensors inside a 4 K or 10 mK cryostat?
Pure annealed copper has a thermal conductivity of ~400 W/(m·K) at 300 K and up to 600–1,000 W/(m·K) around 20–40 K! A single 24 AWG copper wire running from 300 K to 4 K conducts hundreds of milliwatts of heat, boiling off liquid helium or overwhelming a dilution refrigerator's cooling power. Phosphor-Bronze (WDT/WQT) and Manganin have 20× to 200× lower thermal conductivity.
When should we choose Phosphor-Bronze (WDT/WQT) vs. Manganin (WMW) vs. Stainless Steel (WSL)?
Choose Phosphor-Bronze (CuSn5) for high-magnetic-field cryostats because it contains zero Nickel or Iron (completely non-magnetic). Choose Manganin (Cu86Mn12Ni2) when you want ultra-low thermal EMF (< 1.5 µV/K vs Cu) and < 10 % lead-resistance change from 300 K to 4 K. Choose Stainless Steel 304 (WSL-32/36) for the lowest possible thermal conductivity (< 0.3 W/m·K @ 4 K) on high-impedance voltage leads.
Why is WQT (Quad-Twist 4-Wire) preferred for Cernox and RuO₂ resistance thermometers?
Because low-thermal-conductivity wires have high electrical resistance (16–48 Ω/m), a 2-wire measurement would add tens of ohms of lead error. WQT twists two colour-coded pairs (I+/I- excitation and V+/V- voltage sense) together so lead resistance cancels out and magnetic dB/dt pickup is rejected.
If we need 12 twisted pairs (24 wires) in a flat loom for a dilution refrigerator, what should we order?
Order WQL Cryogenic Ribbon (12 twisted pairs of 36 AWG woven into a flat polyester/PEEK loom).

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WDT / WQT Cryogenic Twisted Pair

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