Copper and copper alloys are one of the major groups of commercial metals. They possess many properties, including excellent electrical and thermal conductivity, excellent corrosion resistance, good strength and fatigue resistance, and attractive appearance. They can be easily machined, welded, and brazed.

Key selection criteria include:

Electrical conductivity: copper has the highest electrical conductivity of any engineering metal. Silver or other elements can be added to increase strength, resistance to softening, or other properties without significantly reducing electrical conductivity.

Thermal conductivity: this property is similar to electrical conductivity. Copper alloys can be used for this property, where good corrosion resistance compensates for the loss of conductivity by strengthening the alloy.

Color and appearance: Many copper alloys have a characteristic color, which can change as the object weathers. For most alloys, surface preparation and maintenance to a high standard is easy, even under adverse corrosive conditions. Many alloys are used in decorative applications, either in their natural form or after plating. Alloys have specific colours, ranging from salmon pink of copper to gold, gold and green to dark bronze when weathered. Exposure to the atmosphere can produce green or bronze surfaces, and patinated alloys are available in a number of product forms.

Ease of fabrication: most alloys can be easily cast, hot or cold formed, machined, joined, etc. They are often the standard against which other metals are compared.

Many alloys are solution strengthened, but are based on the copper crystal structure and have good ductility. Most alloys can be further strengthened by cold working, which improves tensile and fatigue strength while retaining useful ductility. Some alloys can be dispersion strengthened, and a few can be age hardened to very high strength levels.

Metals are generally divided into six groups: copper, high copper alloys, brass, bronze, nickel, and nickel silver. Most alloys are available in wrought or cast form, with varying UNS numbers:

1. Copper is essentially pure commercial copper, usually very soft and ductile, containing up to about 0.7% total impurities. These materials are used for their electrical and thermal conductivity, corrosion resistance, appearance and color, and ease of workability. They have the highest electrical conductivity of any engineering metal, are very ductile and solderable, and are generally easy to weld. Typical applications include electrical wiring and fittings, busbars, heat exchangers, roofing, wall cladding, water, air, and process equipment.

2. High copper alloys contain small amounts of various alloying elements such as beryllium, chromium, zirconium, tin, silver, sulfur or iron. These elements modify one or more of the basic properties of copper, such as strength, creep resistance, machinability or weldability. Most applications are similar to those listed above for copper, but the application conditions are more severe.

3. Brass is a copper-zinc alloy containing up to about 45% zinc, with small amounts of lead added for machining and tin for strength. Copper-zinc alloys are monophase alloys, containing up to about 37% zinc in the wrought state. Monophase alloys have excellent ductility and are often used in the cold-worked state for better strength. Alloys containing more than 37% zinc are biphasic, with even higher strength, but less ductility at room temperature than single-phase alloys. Biphasic brasses are usually cast or hot-worked. Typical applications of brass are in architecture, pull and turn tanks and components, radiator cores and tanks, electrical connectors, lamp plugs and fittings, locks, door handles, nameplates, plumbing fittings, screws, cartridge cases, cylinder liners for pumps.

4. Bronzes are alloys of copper with tin, plus at least one of phosphorus, aluminum, silicon, manganese, and nickel. These alloys can achieve high strength, combined with good corrosion resistance. They are used for springs and fixtures, metal forming dies, bearings, bushings, connectors, contacts and connectors, architectural fittings, and other details. The use of cast bronze for statues is well known.

5. Copper nickels are alloys of copper and nickel, with small amounts of iron and sometimes other minor alloying elements such as chromium or tin. These alloys have excellent corrosion resistance in aquatic environments and are widely used in seawater applications such as heat exchangers, condensers, pumps and piping systems, and hulls for ships.

6. Copper Nickels Silvers contain 55 – 65% copper alloyed with nickel and zinc, and sometimes lead to improve machinability. These alloys are misleadingly named because of their appearance, which resembles pure silver, although they do not contain silver. They are used for jewelry and nameplates, as well as bases for silver plating (EPNS), springs, clasps, coins, keys and camera parts.

Classification of wrought copper alloys, names, UNS numbers, chemical composition of copper and applications:

1. Copper C10100 – C15760 (>99% Copper): Electrical conductors & connectors, water supply systems, heat exchangers, tanks, chemical equipment.

2. High copper alloy C16200 – C19600 (>96% Copper): Electrical wires & connectors, springs, screws

3. Brass C20500 – C28580 (Cu – Zn): Tanks, tanks, heat exchangers, architectural panels, coins.

- Lead brass C31200 – C38590 (Cu – Zn – Pb): Cylinders, construction accessories, wear-resistant plates, pins.

- Tin brass C40400 – C49080 (Cu – Zinc – Sn – (Pb): Electrical switches, springs, connectors, bearings.

- Other copper – zinc alloys C66400 – C69900: Valve shafts.

4. Phosphor bronze C50100 – C52400 (Cu – Sn – P): Locks, springs, chemical accessories, pins.

- Lead phosphor bronze C53200 – C54800 (Cu – Sn – Pb – P): Bearings, bushings, gears, valves.

- Aluminum brass C60600 – C64400 (Cu – Al – Ni – Fe – Si – Sn): Heat exchangers, pump parts, machine parts, structures.

- Silicon brass C64700 – C66100 (Cu – Si – Sn): Bolts, springs, connectors electrical.

5. Copper – nickel C70000 – C79900 (Cu – Ni – Fe): Condensers, heat exchangers, brake lines, salt water pipes.

6. Copper Silver Nickel C73200 – C79900 (Cu – Ni – Zn): Silver plates (EPNS), nameplates, hollow items.

Classification of cast copper alloys:

1. Copper C80100 – C81100 (>99% Cu): Electrical and thermal conductors.

2. High copper alloy C81300 – C82800 (>94% Copper): High strength electrical conductors, including spot welding rods.

3. Red brass C83300 – C85800 Cu – Zn – Sn – (Pb) (75 – 89% Cu): Valves, pump parts, water pipe fittings.

- Yellow brass C85200 – C85800 Cu – Zn – Sn – (Pb) (57 – 74% Cu): Accessories, decoration, construction accessories.

4. Manganese brass C86100 – C86800 Cu – Zn – Mn – Fe – (Pb): Gears, bearings, bushings, marine accessories.

- Silicon brass C87300 – C87900 (Cu – Zn – Si): Gears, bearings, bushings, marine accessories.

- Tin bronze C90200 – C94500 (Cu – Sn – Zn – (Pb): Gears, bearings, bushings, pump parts.

- Nickel – tin bronze C94700 – C94900 (Cu – Ni – Sn – Zn – (Pb): Wear-resistant parts, low-speed bearings.

- Aluminum bronze C95200 – C95810 (Cu – Al – Fe – Ni): Gears, bearings, bushings, parts pump parts, cleaning equipment, non-sparking tools.

5. Copper – nickel C96200 – C96800 (Cu – Ni – Fe): Valves, pumps, etc. resistant to seawater.

6. Copper – Silver – nickel C97300 – C97800 (Cu – Ni – Zn – (Pb) – Sn): Construction parts, valves, pumps.

Other alloys C99300 – C99750 ...

Copper & Copper alloy symbols: Alloys are classified according to many numbering systems, including AS, UNS, BS, JIS and other systems depending on requirements. Individual alloy data sheets provide equivalent alloys.

Apmetal provides a wide range of high-quality copper & copper alloy products for the mechanical industry, CNC machining, bolts and screws, shipbuilding, hydropower, thermal power, etc.

Apmetal Co.,ltd distribute copper alloy such as Copper nikel, Phosphor Bronze, Cubery... by mill maker in Japan, Taiwan, China, Europe, Korea. 

Standards: EN1652 DIN17670, JIS, GOST, UT-AP, I-6A, NACE MR0175, ASTM B505, AMS 4597, AMS 2154 class B, ASTM B608, BS 287, EEMUA, DIN 86018, Mil, SAE841.

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Apmetal Co., Ltd.

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