Copper Alloy C17510 · temper · default condition
Copper Alloy C17510-A
Properties of the A condition, compared with the other C17510 tempers.
Pick for maximum formability/machining of complex shapes before customer age-hardening.
What is C17510-A?
C17510-A is C17510 in the A temper — pick for maximum formability/machining of complex shapes before customer age-hardening. C17510-A has a yield strength of 170 MPa (24.7 ksi) and a tensile strength of 310 MPa (45 ksi) — weaker than 61% of copper alloy grades. Elongation at break is 25% and the elastic modulus is 138 GPa (20 Msi). C17510-A has a density of 8.75 g/cm³ (0.316 lb/in³), lighter than 52% of copper alloy grades. It melts at 1,000°C (1,832 °F).
Advantages
- Stiff — 138 GPa (20 Msi), better than 95% of copper alloy grades
- Forms and bends easily — 85/100, better than 83% of copper alloy grades
Limitations
- Difficult to machine — 25/100, worse than 85% of copper alloy grades
- High embodied carbon — 4.6 kg CO₂/kg, worse than 82% of copper alloy grades
C17510-A properties
Typical room-temperature values for C17510-A — 9 properties are specific to this condition; the rest are grade-level values shared by every C17510 temper. Each bar shows where the value sits among the copper alloy grades in FabDigit's library — further right is higher.
Physical3
C17510-A has a density of 8.75 g/cm³ (0.316 lb/in³), lighter than 52% of copper alloy grades. It melts at 1,000°C (1,832 °F).
Mechanical10
C17510-A has a yield strength of 170 MPa (24.7 ksi) and a tensile strength of 310 MPa (45 ksi) — weaker than 61% of copper alloy grades. Elongation at break is 25% and the elastic modulus is 138 GPa (20 Msi).
Thermal5
C17510-A is rated for continuous service to 200°C (392 °F). It conducts heat at 105 W/m·K (60.7 BTU/hr·ft·°F), better than 56% of copper alloy grades. Thermal expansion is 17.6 µm/m·K (9.78 µin/in·°F).
Electrical3
C17510-A conducts electricity at 22 % IACS, better than 54% of copper alloy grades.
Chemical & Environmental3
Corrosion resistance is good (60/100), worse than 69% of copper alloy grades.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of C17510-A takes about 65 MJ of energy and emits 4.6 kg of CO₂ — more than 81% of copper alloy grades. Typical recycled content is 25%.
Manufacturability8
C17510-A's machinability is poor (25/100, worse than 85% of copper alloy grades); weldability good (55/100); formability excellent (85/100).
Common Calculations5
Values are nominal handbook figures for design screening. Certified mill or lot data ships with every FabDigit order on request.
Other C17510 tempers and conditions
C17510 is also supplied in 7 other conditions. The full side-by-side table is on the C17510 overview.
- ADefaultPick for maximum formability/machining of complex shapes before customer age-hardening.170 MPa yield · 35 HRB
- TH04C17510 cold worked to full hard before ageing, giving the peak strength and hardness of the alloy while keeping ~45–55 % IACS conductivity, at the cost of low ductility.760 MPa yield · 28 HRC
- HHighest strength condition of C17510 — pick for welding electrode holders, dies and high-load conductive springs.725 MPa yield · 28 HRC
- TH02Compromise between AT and TH04: higher strength than AT with more ductility than fully hard aged.690 MPa yield · 25 HRC
- ATStandard age-hardened condition for machined parts: high conductivity with 690–830 MPa strength and low residual stress.620 MPa yield · 22 HRC
- TD04Fully cold-drawn unaged rod/wire; ages to the highest strength (TH04).500 MPa yield · 80 HRB
- TD02Cold-worked stock used when a moderate strength increase after subsequent ageing is wanted.415 MPa yield · 72 HRB
Working with C17510-A
Is C17510 easy to machine?
Machine mainly in the aged condition with sharp carbide tools, positive rake and flood coolant; soft TB00 stock is gummy — always capture beryllium-bearing dust/mist with local exhaust and wet methods.
Can C17510 be welded?
Resistance, GTAW, EBW and laser welding are all practical (use matching or Cu-Ni filler); re-solution-treat and age welds to restore strength, and control fume exposure to Be.
Can C17510 be formed, bent or molded?
Form, bend and coin in the TB00/TD tempers, then age 3 h at ~480 °C (allow for slight growth and springback); avoid severe forming after ageing.
What surface finishes work on C17510?
Not anodizable — bright dip/passivate for a copper finish, or electroless nickel, silver or hard chrome plate for wear/contact surfaces; polishes to a mirror finish in the aged condition.
C17510 chemical composition (wt %)
Limits by weight percent from the governing specification, written the way the spec states them — a single maximum for impurities, a range for alloying elements, and the base element as balance. Nominal is the typical mid-range value.
| Element | Spec limit (wt %) | Nominal |
|---|---|---|
| Beberyllium — precipitation former | 0.2 – 0.6 | 0.35 |
| NiNi (Co may substitute in part per some specs) | 1.4 – 2.2 | 1.9 |
| Coincidental / partial Ni substitute | ≤ 0.3 | — |
| Feimpurity limit (typical mill practice) | ≤ 0.1 | — |
| CuCu + named elements ≥ 99.5 % | balance | — |
C17510-A — frequently asked
What is C17510-A used for?
C17510-A is typically used for resistance spot-welding electrode holders, welding electrode plunger tips, injection mould inserts and cores, high-current spring contacts, connector components and heat-sink and conductive structural parts. In short: spring-tempered copper.
What is the yield strength of C17510-A?
C17510-A has a typical yield strength of 170 MPa (24.7 ksi) and a tensile strength of 310 MPa (45 ksi) — weaker than 61% of copper alloy grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 8 listed tempers.
Is C17510-A easy to machine?
Not especially — machinability is rated poor (25/100, worse than 85% of copper alloy grades). Machine mainly in the aged condition with sharp carbide tools, positive rake and flood coolant; soft TB00 stock is gummy — always capture beryllium-bearing dust/mist with local exhaust and wet methods.
Can C17510-A be welded?
Yes — weldability is rated good (55/100). Resistance, GTAW, EBW and laser welding are all practical (use matching or Cu-Ni filler); re-solution-treat and age welds to restore strength, and control fume exposure to Be.
What surface finishes work on C17510-A?
Not anodizable — bright dip/passivate for a copper finish, or electroless nickel, silver or hard chrome plate for wear/contact surfaces; polishes to a mirror finish in the aged condition.
Can C17510-A be formed, bent or molded?
Form, bend and coin in the TB00/TD tempers, then age 3 h at ~480 °C (allow for slight growth and springback); avoid severe forming after ageing.
What is the maximum service temperature of C17510-A?
C17510-A is rated for continuous use to about 200°C (392 °F). Strength falls off well before that limit — check the elevated-temperature data for load-bearing parts.
What is the difference between C17510-A and C17510-TH04?
A is the default condition — pick for maximum formability/machining of complex shapes before customer age-hardening. TH04: c17510 cold worked to full hard before ageing, giving the peak strength and hardness of the alloy while keeping ~45–55 % IACS conductivity, at the cost of low ductility. Yield strength is 170 MPa in A versus 760 MPa in TH04.
Can FabDigit make parts in C17510-A?
Yes — C17510-A is available for CNC machining and sheet metal with instant online pricing. Upload a STEP file to get a price and a DFM check.
Sources
- ASTM B441 — Copper-Cobalt-Beryllium and Copper-Nickel-Beryllium Rod and Bar — ASTM (2019)
- ASTM B534 — Copper-Cobalt-Beryllium / Copper-Nickel-Beryllium Plate, Sheet, Strip and Rolled Bar — ASTM (2019)
- Materion Alloy 3 (C17510) technical datasheet — Materion Brush Performance Alloys (2022)
- C17510 alloy property sheet — Copper Development Association (copper.org) (2021)
- ASM Handbook Vol. 2 — Properties and Selection: Nonferrous Alloys — ASM International (1990)
Property data is compiled from published supplier and standards handbooks and normalised for comparison. Nothing on this page is a certification — request mill certs, CoC or material test reports with your order.