Copper Alloy C17510 · precip hard
Copper Alloy C17510-AT
Properties of the AT condition, compared with the other C17510 tempers.
Standard age-hardened condition for machined parts: high conductivity with 690–830 MPa strength and low residual stress.
What is C17510-AT?
C17510-AT is C17510 in the AT condition — standard age-hardened condition for machined parts: high conductivity with 690–830 MPa strength and low residual stress. C17510-AT has a yield strength of 620 MPa (89.9 ksi) and a tensile strength of 725 MPa (105 ksi) — stronger than 95% of copper alloy grades. Elongation at break is 15% and the elastic modulus is 138 GPa (20 Msi). C17510-AT has a density of 8.83 g/cm³ (0.319 lb/in³), heavier than 64% of copper alloy grades. It melts at 1,000°C (1,832 °F). A is the default condition FabDigit quotes; AT is available on request or by drawing note.
Advantages
- High service temperature — 400°C (752 °F), better than 97% of copper alloy grades
- High strength — 620 MPa (89.9 ksi), better than 95% of copper alloy grades
- Stiff — 138 GPa (20 Msi), better than 95% of copper alloy grades
- Conducts heat well — 240 W/m·K (138.7 BTU/hr·ft·°F), better than 80% of copper alloy grades
- High electrical conductivity — 50 % IACS, better than 78% of copper alloy grades
Limitations
- High embodied carbon — 6.5 kg CO₂/kg, worse than 94% of copper alloy grades
C17510-AT properties
Typical room-temperature values for C17510-AT — 39 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-AT has a density of 8.83 g/cm³ (0.319 lb/in³), heavier than 64% of copper alloy grades. It melts at 1,000°C (1,832 °F).
Mechanical10
C17510-AT has a yield strength of 620 MPa (89.9 ksi) and a tensile strength of 725 MPa (105 ksi) — stronger than 95% of copper alloy grades. Elongation at break is 15% and the elastic modulus is 138 GPa (20 Msi).
Thermal5
C17510-AT is rated for continuous service to 400°C (752 °F). It conducts heat at 240 W/m·K (138.7 BTU/hr·ft·°F), better than 80% of copper alloy grades. Thermal expansion is 17.6 µm/m·K (9.78 µin/in·°F).
Electrical3
C17510-AT conducts electricity at 50 % IACS, better than 78% of copper alloy grades.
Chemical & Environmental3
Corrosion resistance is good (62/100), worse than 57% of copper alloy grades.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of C17510-AT takes about 90 MJ of energy and emits 6.5 kg of CO₂ — more than 93% of copper alloy grades. Typical recycled content is 30%.
Manufacturability8
C17510-AT's machinability is fair (45/100, better than 64% of copper alloy grades); weldability good (55/100); formability poor (25/100).
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-AT
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-AT — frequently asked
What is C17510-AT used for?
C17510-AT 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-AT?
C17510-AT has a typical yield strength of 620 MPa (89.9 ksi) and a tensile strength of 725 MPa (105 ksi) — stronger than 95% of copper alloy grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 8 listed tempers.
Is C17510-AT easy to machine?
Reasonably — machinability is rated fair (45/100, better than 64% 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-AT 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-AT?
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-AT 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-AT?
C17510-AT is rated for continuous use to about 400°C (752 °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-AT?
Yes — C17510-AT 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.