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Copper Alloy C86700 vs C95500

Copper Alloy · grade comparison

Copper Alloy C86700 and C95500 are both copper alloy grades. C95500 is the stronger of the two: tensile strength 700 MPa (102 ksi) against 620 MPa (89.9 ksi) for C86700, about 13% more. In exchange, C86700 is the more ductile: elongation 18% versus 8% for C95500, and C95500 is harder (192 HB vs 170 HB). C95500 is lighter (7.53 g/cm³ vs 8.3 g/cm³ for C86700) and C95500 is stiffer (110 GPa vs 103 GPa). On the shop floor, C86700 machines more easily (good vs fair), C95500 welds better (good vs poor), and C86700 sits in a lower cost tier (high, $$$$) than C95500 (specialty, $$$$$).

C86700Choose it when the part is bent, formed or impact-loaded, or when the part is machined in volume.

C95500Choose it when strength drives the design, or when weight is the constraint.

C86700 vs C95500: properties

C86700C95500

Mechanical

Strength, stiffness, ductility and hardness at room temperature.

Elastic (Young's) Modulus

103 GPa14.9 Msi
110 GPa16 Msi

Shear Modulus

39 GPa5.7 Msi
42 GPa6.1 Msi

Bulk Modulus

110 GPa16 Msi
102 GPa14.8 Msi

Poisson's Ratio

0.34
0.32

Tensile Strength (Ultimate)

620 MPa89.9 ksi
700 MPa102 ksi

Yield Strength (0.2% offset)

310 MPa45 ksi
300 MPa43.5 ksi

Elongation at Break

18%
8%

Reduction in Area

20%
—

Compressive Strength

380 MPa55.1 ksi
—

Shear Strength

380 MPa55.1 ksi
425 MPa61.6 ksi

Fatigue Strength (Endurance Limit)

170 MPa24.7 ksi
240 MPa34.8 ksi

Hardness, Brinell

170 HB
192 HB

Hardness, Rockwell B

88 HRB
92 HRB

Hardness, Vickers

178 HV
—

Fracture Toughness (K_IC)

—
50 MPa·√m45.5 ksi·√in

Same in both: Charpy V-Notch Impact (RT) 20 J14.8 ft·lbf

Physical

Density and transition temperatures.

Density

8.3 g/cm³0.3 lb/in³
7.53 g/cm³0.27 lb/in³

Melting Point (Solidus)

862°C1,584 °F
1,054°C1,929 °F

Liquidus Temperature

880°C1,616 °F
1,064°C1,947 °F

Thermal

How each material carries heat and how hot it can run.

Thermal Conductivity

36 W/m·K20.8 BTU/hr·ft·°F
42 W/m·K24.3 BTU/hr·ft·°F

Specific Heat Capacity

377 J/kg·K0.09 BTU/lb·°F
419 J/kg·K0.1 BTU/lb·°F

Thermal Expansion (CTE, 20–100 °C)

20.3 µm/m·K11.3 µin/in·°F
16.2 µm/m·K9 µin/in·°F

Latent Heat of Fusion

175 J/g75.2 BTU/lb
210 J/g90.3 BTU/lb

Max Service Temperature (continuous)

200°C392 °F
300°C572 °F

Same in both: Min Service Temperature -100°C-148 °F

Electrical

Conductivity and insulation.

Electrical Conductivity

11 % IACS
8.5 % IACS

Electrical Resistivity

1.57×10⁻⁷ Ω·m6.18 µΩ·in
2.03×10⁻⁷ Ω·m7.99 µΩ·in

Chemical & Environmental

Corrosion and environmental resistance (0–100 scores).

Corrosion Resistance

52 / 100
80 / 100

Same in both: Galvanic Potential (seawater, vs SCE) -0.28 V

Manufacturability

FabDigit workshop ratings (0–100 scores) — how each material behaves on the machine.

Machinability

60 / 100
40 / 100

Machinability Rating (AISI 1212 = 100 %)

60%
50%

Weldability

25 / 100
60 / 100

Castability

85 / 100
75 / 100

Brazeability / Solderability

40 / 100
30 / 100

Same in both: Formability (cold) 15 / 100 · Polishability 70 / 100

Sustainability

Primary-production footprint per kilogram.

Embodied Energy (primary production)

45 MJ/kg19,347 BTU/lb
60 MJ/kg25,795 BTU/lb

Embodied Carbon (primary production)

3.4 kg CO₂/kg
4.2 kg CO₂/kg

Embodied Water

320 L/kg38.3 gal/lb
250 L/kg30 gal/lb

Typical Recycled Content

75%
40%

Common Calculations

Ratios derived from the values above.

Specific Strength (UTS / density)

75 kN·m/kg
93 kN·m/kg

Specific Stiffness (E / density)

12.4 MN·m/kg
14.6 MN·m/kg

Modulus of Resilience

467 kJ/m³
409 kJ/m³

Thermal Diffusivity

11.5 mm²/s
13.3 mm²/s

Thermal Shock Resistance Index

11
16

Strength versus weight

Yield strength against density for every copper alloy grade in the FabDigit library; the compared grades are highlighted. Up and left is stronger for its weight.

501002005001,0007.588.599.5Density (g/cm³)Yield strength (MPa) — log scaleC95500C86700

Manufacturing and finishing

CapabilityC86700C95500
CNC machining—Yes
Default condition—As Cast
Relative cost$$$$ High$$$$$ Specialty
Min. machined wall—0.8 mm
Best machined surface—Ra 1.6 µm
Chrome Plating—Yes
Electropolishing—Yes
Nickel Plating—Yes
Painting—Yes
Tin Plating—Yes

They share 4 finishes: Copper Plating, Electroless Nickel (EN), Gold Plating, Silver Plating.

C86700 vs C95500 — frequently asked

Is C95500 stronger than C86700?

Yes. C95500 has a typical tensile strength of 700 MPa (102 ksi) against 620 MPa (89.9 ksi) for C86700 — about 13% more.

Which is cheaper, C86700 or C95500?

C86700 is the lower-cost material: it sits in the high tier ($$$$) while C95500 is specialty ($$$$$). Part price depends far more on geometry, tolerance and quantity than on raw stock — upload a CAD file for a live quote.

Which is easier to machine, C86700 or C95500?

C86700. Its machinability rates good (60/100) against fair (40/100) for C95500; for welding the order is C95500 first (good, 60/100) then C86700 (poor, 25/100).

Ready to make it?

Upload a CAD file and FabDigit prices the part in C86700 and C95500 side by side — material, machining time, tolerance and finish in one quote. Certified material data ships with the order on request.

Typical handbook values for the conditions named above, normalised for comparison. Hardness on non-Brinell scales is converted approximately for charting only. Request certified data with your order for design-critical properties.