Copper Alloy銅合金

Copper and copper alloys are widely used in communication equipment, wire, electrical machinery, and electrical conductors. Among common metals, copper is second only to silver in thermal conductivity, so it is often used in radiators and refrigeration equipment. Copper is very ductile. Alloying it with other metals makes up for the softness of pure copper and gives hard, attractive brass, phosphor bronze, and others, used for precision electronic parts, daily-use goods, and art objects.

SummarySursun Metals supplies a range of copper alloys. For electrical and thermal conductivity choose pure copper C1020 or C1100. For ductility and plating quality choose brass (or bronze). For spring material choose phosphor bronze, nickel silver, or beryllium copper.

Grades at a Glance

Select a grade to jump to its details.

Copper grades supplied by Sursun Metals
Grade	Series	CNS standard	Characteristics	Main uses	Tempers supplied	Thickness supplied
C1020	Oxygen-free copper	CNS 11073	Excellent electrical conductivity, ductility, thermal conductivity, weldability, corrosion resistance, and weather resistance	Transformers, connectors, terminals, PCBs, heat sink parts	O, 1/2H, H	From 0.15 mm
C1100	Tough pitch copper	CNS 11073	Excellent electrical conductivity, ductility, thermal conductivity, corrosion resistance, and weather resistance	Transformers, connectors, terminals, PCBs, heat sink parts	O, 1/2H, H	From 0.15 mm
C1720	Beryllium copper (for springs)	CNS 3114	Good corrosion resistance and high ductility before age hardening	Spring materials, connectors, spring contacts	1/4H, 1/2H, H	From 0.06 mm
C2680	Brass	CNS 11073	Good ductility and plating quality	Door locks, crafts, terminals, bathroom fittings, plugs, buttons, lamp sockets	O, 1/2H, H	From 0.15 mm
C5191	Phosphor bronze	CNS 9503	Good ductility and corrosion resistance	Terminals, connectors, bearings	H	From 0.1 mm
C5210	Phosphor bronze (for springs)	CNS 3114	Good ductility and corrosion resistance	Terminals, connectors	H	From 0.1 mm
C7521	Nickel silver	CNS 9503	Good ductility and corrosion resistance	Coins, medical devices, musical instruments, electrical materials	H	From 0.1 mm

When you ask for a quote, please tell us the material (grade), thickness, width, required coil weight or length, and quantity. If your material is not listed, contact us.

Choosing a Grade by Need

If you are not sure which to choose, start by matching your needs below.

Choose a grade by use
Need	Suggested grade
Electrical and thermal conductivity, ductility (transformers, connectors, terminals, PCBs, heat sink parts)	C1020, C1100
No hydrogen embrittlement when heated at high temperature in a reducing atmosphere	C1020
Ductility and plating quality (door locks, crafts, terminals, bathroom fittings, plugs, buttons, lamp sockets)	C2680
Ductility and corrosion resistance, terminal connectors, bearings	C5191, C5210 (phosphor bronze)
Attractive luster, coins, medical devices, musical instruments, electrical materials	C7521 (nickel silver)
Spring materials, connectors, spring contacts; high strength after age hardening	C1720 (beryllium copper)

For fuller grade comparisons and FAQ, see Copper Alloy Knowledge.

Details by Grade

Actual composition and properties are as stated on the mill test certificate for each batch.

Pure copper (red copper)Excellent electrical and thermal conductivity

Copper alloy C1020Oxygen-free copper

CNS standard: CNS 11073
Characteristics: Excellent electrical conductivity, ductility, thermal conductivity, weldability, corrosion resistance, and weather resistance
Main uses: Transformers, connectors, terminals, PCBs, heat sink parts
Tempers supplied: O, 1/2H, H
Thickness supplied: From 0.15 mm

Source: CNS 11073 (2012), copper and copper alloy sheets and strips in coil

C1020 chemical composition (unit: %)
Cu	Other elements
≥99.96	Not specified

Mechanical Properties

Mechanical Properties
Temper	Thickness mm	Tensile strength N/mm²	Elongation %	Hardness HV (reference)
O	0.10–<0.15	≥195 (sheet only)	≥20	—
	0.15–<0.30	≥195 (sheet only)	≥30
	0.3–30 (sheet) / 0.3–3 (coil)	≥195 (sheet only)	≥35
1/2H	0.10–<0.15	235–315	—	75–120 HV
	0.15–<0.30	235–315	≥10
	0.3–20 (sheet) / 0.3–3 (coil)	245–315	≥15
H	All thicknesses	≥275	Not specified in CNS	≥80 HV

Electrical conductivity (%IACS, CNS 11073 data, for reference only)

Electrical conductivity
Temper	Thickness mm	Electrical conductivity %IACS
O	0.10–0.30	≥98
O	>0.30–0.50	≥99
O	>0.50	≥100
1/4H, 1/2H	≤2.0	≥97
1/4H, 1/2H	>2.0	≥98
H	≤2.0	≥96
H	>2.0	≥97

Hardness values are for reference. The thickness column shows the range the mechanical properties apply to. It is not Sursun’s supply range.

Copper alloy C1100Tough pitch copper

CNS standard: CNS 11073
Characteristics: Excellent electrical conductivity, ductility, thermal conductivity, corrosion resistance, and weather resistance
Main uses: Transformers, connectors, terminals, PCBs, heat sink parts
Tempers supplied: O, 1/2H, H
Thickness supplied: From 0.15 mm

Source: CNS 11073 (2012), copper and copper alloy sheets and strips in coil

C1100 chemical composition (unit: %)
Cu	Other elements
≥99.90	Not specified

Mechanical Properties

Mechanical Properties
Temper	Thickness mm	Tensile strength N/mm²	Elongation %	Hardness HV (reference)
O	0.10–<0.15	≥195	≥20	—
	0.15–<0.50	≥195	≥30
	0.5–30 (sheet) / 0.5–3 (coil)	≥195	≥35
1/2H	0.10–<0.15	235–315	—	75–120 HV
	0.15–<0.50	235–315	≥10
	0.5–20 (sheet) / 0.5–3 (coil)	245–315	≥15
H	All thicknesses	≥275	Not specified in CNS	≥80 HV

Electrical conductivity (%IACS, CNS 11073 data, for reference only)

Electrical conductivity
Temper	Thickness mm	Electrical conductivity %IACS
O	0.10–0.30	≥98
O	>0.30–0.50	≥99
O	>0.50	≥100
1/4H, 1/2H	≤2.0	≥97
1/4H, 1/2H	>2.0	≥98
H	≤2.0	≥96
H	>2.0	≥97

Hardness values are for reference. The thickness column shows the range the mechanical properties apply to. It is not Sursun’s supply range.

Beryllium copperAge-hardening spring material

Copper alloy C1720Beryllium copper (for springs)

CNS standard: CNS 3114
Characteristics: Good corrosion resistance and high ductility before age hardening
Main uses: Spring materials, connectors, spring contacts
Tempers supplied: 1/4H, 1/2H, H
Thickness supplied: From 0.06 mm

Source: CNS 3114 (2012), beryllium copper, titanium copper, phosphor bronze, nickel-tin copper and nickel silver sheets and strips in coil for springs

C1720 chemical composition (unit: %)
Be	Ni+Co	Ni+Co+Fe	Cu+Be+Ni+Co+Fe
1.80–2.00	≥0.20	≤0.6	≥99.5

BrassCopper-zinc alloy

Copper alloy C2680Brass

CNS standard: CNS 11073
Characteristics: Good ductility and plating quality
Main uses: Door locks, crafts, terminals, bathroom fittings, plugs, buttons, lamp sockets
Tempers supplied: O, 1/2H, H
Thickness supplied: From 0.15 mm

Source: CNS 11073 (2012), copper and copper alloy sheets and strips in coil

C2680 chemical composition (unit: %)
Cu	Pb	Fe	Zn	Others
64.0–68.0	≤0.05	≤0.05	Balance	Not specified

Mechanical Properties

Mechanical Properties
Temper	Thickness mm	Tensile strength N/mm²	Elongation %	Hardness HV (reference)
O	0.10–<0.30	≥275	≥35	—
O	0.3–30 (sheet) / 0.3–3 (coil)	≥275	≥40	—
1/2H	0.10–<0.30	355–450	≥23	85–145 HV
1/2H	0.3–20 (sheet) / 0.3–3 (coil)	355–440	≥28	85–145 HV
H	Sheet 0.10–10, coil 0.10–3	410–540	Not specified in CNS	105–175 HV

Hardness values are for reference. The thickness column shows the range the mechanical properties apply to. It is not Sursun’s supply range.

Phosphor bronzeCopper-tin-phosphorus alloy

Copper alloy C5191Phosphor bronze

CNS standard: CNS 9503
Characteristics: Good ductility and corrosion resistance
Main uses: Terminals, connectors, bearings
Tempers supplied: H
Thickness supplied: From 0.1 mm

Source: CNS 9503 (2012), phosphor bronze and nickel silver sheets and strips in coil

C5191 chemical composition (unit: %)
Cu	Pb	Fe	Sn	Zn	P	Cu+Sn+P
Not specified (balance)	≤0.02	≤0.10	5.5–7.0	≤0.20	0.03–0.35	≥99.5

Mechanical Properties

Applicable thickness range: 0.10–5 mm.

Mechanical Properties
Temper	Tensile strength N/mm²	Elongation %	Hardness HV (reference)
H	590–685	≥8	180–230

Hardness values are for reference. The thickness column shows the range the mechanical properties apply to. It is not Sursun’s supply range.

Copper alloy C5210Phosphor bronze (for springs)

CNS standard: CNS 3114
Characteristics: Good ductility and corrosion resistance
Main uses: Terminals, connectors
Tempers supplied: H
Thickness supplied: From 0.1 mm

Source: CNS 3114 (2012), beryllium copper, titanium copper, phosphor bronze, nickel-tin copper and nickel silver sheets and strips in coil for springs

C5210 chemical composition (unit: %)
Cu	Pb	Fe	Sn	Zn	P	Cu+Sn+P
Not specified (balance)	≤0.02	≤0.10	7.0–9.0	≤0.20	0.03–0.35	≥99.7

Mechanical Properties

Applicable thickness range: ≥0.10 mm.

Mechanical Properties
Temper	Tensile strength N/mm²	Elongation %	Spring limit value Kb0.1 N/mm²	Hardness HV
H	590–705	≥20	≥390	185–235

Hardness values are for reference. The thickness column shows the range the mechanical properties apply to. It is not Sursun’s supply range.

Nickel silverCopper-nickel-zinc alloy

Copper alloy C7521Nickel silver

CNS standard: CNS 9503
Characteristics: Good ductility and corrosion resistance
Main uses: Coins, medical devices, musical instruments, electrical materials
Tempers supplied: H
Thickness supplied: From 0.1 mm

Source: CNS 9503 (2012), phosphor bronze and nickel silver sheets and strips in coil

C7521 chemical composition (unit: %)
Cu	Pb	Fe	Zn	Mn	Ni
62.0–66.0	≤0.03	≤0.25	Balance	0–0.50	16.5–19.5

Mechanical Properties

Applicable thickness range: 0.10–5 mm.

Mechanical Properties
Temper	Tensile strength N/mm²	Elongation %	Hardness HV
H	540–640	0.10–<0.15 mm: —; 0.15–5 mm: ≥3	150–210

Hardness values are for reference. The thickness column shows the range the mechanical properties apply to. It is not Sursun’s supply range.

How to Read Temper Symbols

The temper shows how much a copper material has been work-hardened. The harder the temper, the higher the strength and the poorer the bendability.

Temper symbols in brief
Symbol	Description
O	Fully recrystallized or annealed condition, with the lowest tensile strength
1/4H, 1/2H, H	Work-hardened in order, with tensile strength rising step by step

Questions about copper alloy quotes or materials

Please contact Sursun Metals

02-2206-8688Phone Email

Copper Alloy Knowledge and FAQ →Questions including: What is the difference between C1020 and C1100? What is the conductivity of pure copper? What is IACS? Which copper alloy should I choose for springs?