Copper is an important engineering material since it is widely used in its pure state and also in alloys with other metals. In its pure state it is the most important material in the electrical industry. It has high electrical conductivity and corrosion resistance and is easy to fabricate. It has reasonable tensile strength, controllable annealing properties and general soldering and joining characteristics. Alloyed copper in the form of brass, and bronze is used extensively throughout the mechanical engineering industry.
Copper alloys do not have a sharply defined yield point, so yield strength is reported either as 0.5% extension under load, or as 0.2% offset or 0,05% offset. On the basis (0.5% extension), yield strength of annealed material is approximately one-third the tensile strength. As the material is cold worked or hardened, it becomes less ductile, and yield strength approaches tensile strength.
Copper is specified according to temper, which is established by cold working or annealing. Typical levels are: soft, half-hard, hard, spring, and extra-spring. Yield strength of a hard-temper copper is approximately two-thirds of tensile strength. For brasses, phosphor bronzes, or other commonly cold-worked grades, the hardest available tempers are also the strongest. Ductility is sacrificed, of course, to gain strength. Copper-beryllium alloys can be precipitation hardened to the highest strength levels attainable in copper-base alloys.
Relevant Standards
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Sample Unalloyed Wrought Copper Properties
Notes:
The values shown are for general guidance only for detailed values refer to standards, and supplier literature..
The mechanical property ranges from minimum (No temper- anealed) to maximum (Full temper)
| Unalloyed Copper | ||||||||||
| Number | Cu | P | Pb | Sn | Zn | Notes | 0.2%Proof Strength | Tensile Strength | Elong'n | ISO spec'n |
| % | % | % | % | % | MPa | MPa | % | |||
| CW004A | 99.9 | Suitable for conductors/fabricated electrical components - not in reducing atm's | 50-340 | 200-400 | 50-5 | Cu-ETP | ||||
| CW006A | 99.9 | General engineering and building applications - not in red atm's. | 50-340 | 200-400 | 50-5 | Cu-FRTP | ||||
| CW008A | 99.95 | Oxygen-free version of Cu-ETP for use in red'g atmos's. | 50-340 | 200-400 | 50-5 | Cu-OF | ||||
Brass
The copper-zinc brasses consist of a series of alloys of copper up to about 40% Zinc. The property of the alloy varies as the zinc percentage changes. One of the most useful alloys is the 70%Cu and 30% Zn alloy is famed for its deep-drawing ability. This alloy is known as cartridge brass. It is also used for radiator cores, tanks, lamp fixtures etc. Copper-Zinc brasses containing additional elements such as tin, aluminium, silicon, manganese, nickel, and lead are referred to as "alloy brasses". These alloys alloy further property enhancements to enable the brasses to be used for a wider range of applications.
Notes:
The values shown are for general guidance only for detailed values refer to standards, and supplier literature..
The mechanical property ranges from minimum (No temper- anealed) to maximum (Full temper)
| Brass | ||||||||||
| Number | Cu | P | Pb | Sn | Zn | Notes | 0.2%Proof Strength | Tensile Strength | Elong'n | ISO spec'n |
| % | % | % | % | % | MPa | MPa | % | |||
| CW500L | 94.0-96.0 | Rem. | Very good cold working properties for electrical | 60-420 | 240-420 | 45-4 | CuZn5 | |||
| CW504L | 71.0-73.0 | Rem. | Very good cold working properties for extreme deep drawing | 120-420 | 310-500 | 30-2 | CuZn28 | |||
| CW509L | 59.5-61.5 | Rem. | Muntz metal - good hot and cold working properties. | 200-420 | 340-500 | 45-2 | CuZn40 | |||
Sample Wrought Leaded Brass Properties
| Leaded Brass | ||||||||||
| Number | Cu | P | Pb | Sn | Zn | Notes | 0.2%Proof Strength | Tensile Strength | Elong'n | ISO spec'n |
| % | % | % | % | % | MPa | MPa | % | |||
| CW603N | 60.0-62.0 | 2.5-3.5 | 2.5-3.5 | Rem. | These alloys have excellent machinability but very limited cold workability | 160-450 | 340-580 | 35-5 | CuZn36Pb3 | |
| CW606N | 61.0-62.0 | 1.6-2.5 | Rem. | Good machinability.Reasonable cold working. | 160-450 | 300-580 | 45-5 | CuZn37Pb2 | ||
| CW610N | 59.0-60.5 | 0.2-0.8 | Rem. | Machinable, Good cold working, | 150-450 | 360-580 | 40-5 | CuZn39Pb0.5 | ||
Copper-Tin Bronze
Alloys consisting of principally copper and tin are properly called "tin bronzes". since phosphorus is usually added to these alloys as a deoxidising agent during casting, the tin bronzes are commercially known as "phosphur bronzes". These alloys possess desirable properties such as high strength, wear resistance, and good sea water resistance.
Notes:
The values shown are for general guidance only for detailed values refer to standards, and supplier literature..
The mechanical property ranges from minimum (No temper- anealed) to maximum (Full temper)
| Tin Bronze | ||||||||||
| Number | Cu | P | Pb | Sn | Zn | Notes | 0.2%Proof Strength | Tensile Strength | Elong'n | ISO Spec'n |
| % | % | % | % | % | MPa | MPa | % | |||
| CW450K | Rem. | 0.01-0.4 | 3.5-4.5 | Strength increases as tin content increases. Good | 140-850 | 320-950 | 60-1 | CuSn4 | ||
| CW452K | Rem. | 0.01-0.4 | 5.5-7.0 | Springs, instrument components, wire | 140-950 | 340-1000 | 60-1 | CuSn6 | ||
| CW460K | Rem. | 0.2-0.4 | 0.1-0.5 | 7.5-9.0 | 280-550 | 460-650 | 40-5 | CuSn8PbP | ||
Sample Wrought Copper Aluminium properties
Notes:
The values shown are for general guidance only for detailed values refer to standards, and supplier literature..
The mechanical property ranges from minimum (No temper- anealed) to maximum (Full temper)
| Copper Aluminium | |||||||||||
| Number | Cu | Al | Fe | Ni | As | Mn | Notes | 0.2%Proof Strength | Tensile Strength | Elong'n | ISO Spec'n |
| % | % | % | % | % | % | MPa | MPa | % | |||
| CW300G | Rem. | 4.0-6.5 | 0.1-0.4 | - | Alpha phase alloy for tube making. May beheavily cold worked | 130 | 380 | 55 | CuAl5As | ||
| CW306G | Rem. | 9.0-11.0 | 2.0-4.0 | 1.5-3.5 | High strength alloys for usein aggressive media when | 330-510 | 600-720 | 15-5 | CuAl10Fe3Mn2 | ||
| CW308G | Rem. | 10.5-12.5 | 5.0-7.0 | 5.0-7.0 | - | High Strength, Good wear & impact strength. | 500-680 | 750-850 | 10-5 | CuAl11Fe6Ni6 | |
Sample Wrought Copper Nickel alloy properties
| Copper Nickel | |||||||||||
| Number | Cu | Al | Fe | Ni | As | Mn | Notes | 0.2%Proof Strength | Tensile Strength | Elong'n | ISO Spec'n |
| % | % | % | % | % | % | MPa | MPa | % | |||
| CW350H | Rem. | 24.0-26.0 | UK 'silver' coinage alloy. | 120 | 300 | - | CuNi25 | ||||
| CW352H | Rem. | 1.0-2.0 | 9.0-11.0 | 0.5-1.0 | Excellent sea-water corrosion resistance. | 100-420 | 290-520 | 35-8 | CuNi10Fe1Mn | ||
| CW354H | Rem. | 0.4-1.0 | 30.0-32.0 | 0.5-1.5 | Excellent sea-water corrosion resistance. Erosion resistant | 130-330 | 350-520 | 35-12 | CuNi30Mn1Fe | ||
