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Copper Alloy C95500 vs ZCuSn10Pb1

Copper Alloy · grade comparison

Copper Alloy C95500 and ZCuSn10Pb1 are both copper alloy grades. C95500 is the stronger of the two: yield strength 300 MPa (43.5 ksi) against 140 MPa (20.3 ksi) for ZCuSn10Pb1, about 114% more; tensile strength follows at 700 MPa (102 ksi) vs 260 MPa (37.7 ksi). C95500 is harder — 192 HB against 85 HB for ZCuSn10Pb1 — which matters for wear surfaces and threads. C95500 is lighter (7.53 g/cm³ vs 8.8 g/cm³ for ZCuSn10Pb1) and C95500 is stiffer (110 GPa vs 100 GPa). On the shop floor, ZCuSn10Pb1 machines more easily (50 vs 40 out of 100), C95500 welds better (good vs poor), and ZCuSn10Pb1 sits in a lower cost tier (high, $$$$) than C95500 (specialty, $$$$$).

C95500Choose it when strength drives the design, or when surface hardness matters.

ZCuSn10Pb1Choose it when the part is machined in volume, or when cost is the deciding factor.

C95500 vs ZCuSn10Pb1: properties

C95500ZCuSn10Pb1

Mechanical

Strength, stiffness, ductility and hardness at room temperature.

Elastic (Young's) Modulus

110 GPa16 Msi
100 GPa14.5 Msi

Shear Modulus

42 GPa6.1 Msi
40 GPa5.8 Msi

Bulk Modulus

102 GPa14.8 Msi
105 GPa15.2 Msi

Poisson's Ratio

0.32
0.34

Tensile Strength (Ultimate)

700 MPa102 ksi
260 MPa37.7 ksi

Yield Strength (0.2% offset)

300 MPa43.5 ksi
140 MPa20.3 ksi

Shear Strength

425 MPa61.6 ksi
190 MPa27.6 ksi

Fatigue Strength (Endurance Limit)

240 MPa34.8 ksi
90 MPa13.1 ksi

Fracture Toughness (K_IC)

50 MPa·√m45.5 ksi·√in
30 MPa·√m27.3 ksi·√in

Charpy V-Notch Impact (RT)

20 J14.8 ft·lbf
12 J8.9 ft·lbf

Hardness, Brinell

192 HB
85 HB

Hardness, Rockwell B

92 HRB
48 HRB

Reduction in Area

—
10%

Compressive Strength

—
360 MPa52.2 ksi

Hardness, Vickers

—
90 HV

Same in both: Elongation at Break 8%

Physical

Density and transition temperatures.

Density

7.53 g/cm³0.27 lb/in³
8.8 g/cm³0.32 lb/in³

Melting Point (Solidus)

1,054°C1,929 °F
830°C1,526 °F

Liquidus Temperature

1,064°C1,947 °F
1,000°C1,832 °F

Thermal

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

Thermal Conductivity

42 W/m·K24.3 BTU/hr·ft·°F
71 W/m·K41 BTU/hr·ft·°F

Specific Heat Capacity

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

Thermal Expansion (CTE, 20–100 °C)

16.2 µm/m·K9 µin/in·°F
18.4 µm/m·K10.2 µin/in·°F

Latent Heat of Fusion

210 J/g90.3 BTU/lb
170 J/g73.1 BTU/lb

Max Service Temperature (continuous)

300°C572 °F
250°C482 °F

Min Service Temperature

-100°C-148 °F
-200°C-328 °F

Electrical

Conductivity and insulation.

Electrical Conductivity

8.5 % IACS
11 % IACS

Electrical Resistivity

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

Chemical & Environmental

Corrosion and environmental resistance (0–100 scores).

Galvanic Potential (seawater, vs SCE)

-0.28 V
-0.27 V

Corrosion Resistance

80 / 100
70 / 100

Manufacturability

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

Machinability

40 / 100
50 / 100

Machinability Rating (AISI 1212 = 100 %)

50%
55%

Weldability

60 / 100
25 / 100

Formability (cold)

15 / 100
12 / 100

Castability

75 / 100
80 / 100

Brazeability / Solderability

30 / 100
85 / 100

Same in both: Polishability 70 / 100

Sustainability

Primary-production footprint per kilogram.

Embodied Energy (primary production)

60 MJ/kg25,795 BTU/lb
68 MJ/kg29,235 BTU/lb

Embodied Carbon (primary production)

4.2 kg CO₂/kg
4.6 kg CO₂/kg

Embodied Water

250 L/kg30 gal/lb
280 L/kg33.6 gal/lb

Typical Recycled Content

40%
45%

Common Calculations

Ratios derived from the values above.

Specific Strength (UTS / density)

93 kN·m/kg
30 kN·m/kg

Specific Stiffness (E / density)

14.6 MN·m/kg
11.4 MN·m/kg

Modulus of Resilience

409 kJ/m³
98 kJ/m³

Thermal Diffusivity

13.3 mm²/s
21.4 mm²/s

Thermal Shock Resistance Index

16
10

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 scaleC95500ZCuSn10Pb1

Manufacturing and finishing

CapabilityC95500ZCuSn10Pb1
CNC machiningYes—
Default conditionAs Cast—
Relative cost$$$$$ Specialty$$$$ High
Min. machined wall0.8 mm—
Best machined surfaceRa 1.6 µm—
Chrome PlatingYes—
ElectropolishingYes—
Nickel PlatingYes—
PaintingYes—
Tin PlatingYes—

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

C95500 vs ZCuSn10Pb1 — frequently asked

Is C95500 stronger than ZCuSn10Pb1?

Yes. C95500 has a typical yield strength of 300 MPa (43.5 ksi) against 140 MPa (20.3 ksi) for ZCuSn10Pb1 — about 114% more. Tensile strength is 700 MPa (102 ksi) vs 260 MPa (37.7 ksi).

Which is cheaper, C95500 or ZCuSn10Pb1?

ZCuSn10Pb1 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, C95500 or ZCuSn10Pb1?

ZCuSn10Pb1, by a small margin. Both rate fair for machinability — 50/100 against 40/100 for C95500; for welding the order is C95500 first (good, 60/100) then ZCuSn10Pb1 (poor, 25/100).

Ready to make it?

Upload a CAD file and FabDigit prices the part in C95500 and ZCuSn10Pb1 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.