Copper Alloy C10800-M20
Finish state
UNS C10800
M20 = as hot rolled
Mill hot-rolled plate/bar bought for bus-bar and machined blanks where surface finish and light work-hardening are acceptable.
Values for the M20 condition
Other C10800 tempers and conditions
C10800 is listed in 10 conditions; see the grade overview at C10800.
Compare all 10 conditionsHide
| Condition · open for datasheet | Best for | Yield MPa | Tensile MPa | Elong. % | Hardness | Conductivity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
OS050Default Annealed to 0.050 mm grain size | Softest commercial condition; pick for deep drawing, bending, spinning and maximum conductivity. | 69 | 221 | 45 | 45 HB | 98 % IACS |
Hot rolled and annealed | Thick plate/bar annealed after hot rolling for uniform soft properties and maximum conductivity in heavy sections. | 69 | 221 | 45 | 45 HB | 98 % IACS |
M20This page As hot rolled | Mill hot-rolled plate/bar bought for bus-bar and machined blanks where surface finish and light work-hardening are acceptable. | 90 | 235 | 40 | 50 HB | 97 % IACS |
1/8 hard | Slight cold work for flatness and easier handling while retaining most of the annealed ductility. | 170 | 250 | 30 | 60 HB | 97 % IACS |
Light drawn | Light-drawn tube temper: bendable by hand tooling yet stronger than annealed — refrigeration and plumbing tube. | 195 | 255 | 25 | 70 HB | 97 % IACS |
Quarter hard | Good compromise of moderate strength with useful bending ductility for formed electrical parts. | 205 | 262 | 25 | 70 HB | 97 % IACS |
Half hard | Most common stock temper for strip, sheet and bus-bar needing strength plus mild forming. | 250 | 290 | 14 | 85 HB | 96 % IACS |
Hard drawn | Hard-drawn tube and rod for pressure lines and straight runs needing self-support; bend only with proper tooling. | 275 | 315 | 8 | 90 HB | 95 % IACS |
Full hard | Choose where stiffness and strength matter more than formability — flat bus-bar, contacts, machined parts. | 310 | 345 | 6 | 95 HB | 95 % IACS |
Spring hard | Heavily cold-worked strip/wire for springy contacts and clips where copper-level conductivity is required. | 345 | 380 | 4 | 100 HB | 94 % IACS |
What is C10800-M20?
C10800-M20 is C10800 supplied in the M20 condition — mill hot-rolled plate/bar bought for bus-bar and machined blanks where surface finish and light work-hardening are acceptable. C10800-M20 has a yield strength of 90 MPa (13.1 ksi) and a tensile strength of 235 MPa (34.1 ksi) — weaker than 88% of copper alloy grades. Elongation at break is 40% and the elastic modulus is 117 GPa (17 Msi). C10800-M20 has a density of 8.94 g/cm³ (0.323 lb/in³), heavier than 90% of copper alloy grades. It melts at 1,065°C (1,949 °F). OS050 is the default condition FabDigit quotes; M20 is available on request or by drawing note.
Advantages
- Conducts heat well — 389 W/m·K (224.8 BTU/hr·ft·°F), better than 96% of copper alloy grades
- High electrical conductivity — 97 % IACS, better than 92% of copper alloy grades
- Polishes to a fine finish — 85/100, better than 92% of copper alloy grades
- Readily welded — 78/100, better than 91% of copper alloy grades
- Forms and bends easily — 88/100, better than 87% of copper alloy grades
Limitations
- Low strength — 90 MPa (13.1 ksi), worse than 88% of copper alloy grades
C10800-M20 properties
Typical room-temperature values for C10800-M20; 19 are specific to this condition. Other listed values are C10800 reference data and may not represent this condition. Bars are the position among copper alloy grades.
Physical3
C10800-M20 has a density of 8.94 g/cm³ (0.323 lb/in³), heavier than 90% of copper alloy grades. It melts at 1,065°C (1,949 °F).
Mechanical12
C10800-M20 has a yield strength of 90 MPa (13.1 ksi) and a tensile strength of 235 MPa (34.1 ksi) — weaker than 88% of copper alloy grades. Elongation at break is 40% and the elastic modulus is 117 GPa (17 Msi).
Thermal6
C10800-M20 is rated for continuous service to 200°C (392 °F). It conducts heat at 389 W/m·K (224.8 BTU/hr·ft·°F), better than 96% of copper alloy grades. Thermal expansion is 17.7 µm/m·K (9.83 µin/in·°F).
Electrical3
C10800-M20 conducts electricity at 97 % IACS, better than 92% of copper alloy grades.
Chemical & Environmental3
Corrosion resistance is good (62/100), worse than 57% of copper alloy grades.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of C10800-M20 takes about 57 MJ of energy and emits 3.6 kg of CO₂ — less than 52% of copper alloy grades. Typical recycled content is 15%.
Manufacturability7
C10800-M20's machinability is poor (30/100, worse than 67% of copper alloy grades); weldability very good (78/100); formability excellent (88/100).
Values are nominal handbook figures for design screening. Confirm any required mill or lot documentation when quoting.
Working with C10800-M20
Is C10800 easy to machine?
Gummy and stringy — use sharp, high-rake tools, high speed, generous coolant; work in H02/H04 temper for cleaner chips, and expect ~20% of AISI 1212 rates.
Can C10800 be welded?
GTAW/GMAW readily with preheat on thick sections; phosphorus deoxidation avoids the hydrogen embrittlement seen in tough-pitch copper, but high conductivity demands high heat input.
Can C10800 be formed, bent or molded?
Excellent cold formability in OS050/O25 (deep draw, spin, tube bend); interanneal at 400–600 °C when cumulative reduction exceeds ~60%.
What surface finishes work on C10800?
Not anodizable — bright-dip/pickle then lacquer, or electroplate tin, nickel or silver for tarnish and contact resistance control; takes a high polish easily.
C10800 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 |
|---|---|---|
| PPhosphorus deoxidized, low-residual range | 0.01 | 0.01 |
| CuCu + Ag, min 99.95% including the P content per CDA/ASTM registration; oxygen-free | ≥ 99.95 (balance) | — |
C10800-M20 — frequently asked
What is C10800-M20 used for?
C10800-M20 is typically used for refrigeration and air-conditioning tubing, welded conductor assemblies, brazed heat-exchanger tube, busbar and electrical connector strip, welded pressure tubing and deep-drawn cups and shells. In short: weldable high-conductivity copper; low-phosphorus oxygen-free grade; excellent deep-draw formability.
What is the yield strength of C10800-M20?
C10800-M20 has a typical yield strength of 90 MPa (13.1 ksi) and a tensile strength of 235 MPa (34.1 ksi) — weaker than 88% of copper alloy grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 10 listed tempers.
Is C10800-M20 easy to machine?
Not especially — machinability is rated poor (30/100, worse than 67% of copper alloy grades). Gummy and stringy — use sharp, high-rake tools, high speed, generous coolant; work in H02/H04 temper for cleaner chips, and expect ~20% of AISI 1212 rates.
Can C10800-M20 be welded?
Yes — weldability is rated very good (78/100). GTAW/GMAW readily with preheat on thick sections; phosphorus deoxidation avoids the hydrogen embrittlement seen in tough-pitch copper, but high conductivity demands high heat input.
What surface finishes work on C10800-M20?
Not anodizable — bright-dip/pickle then lacquer, or electroplate tin, nickel or silver for tarnish and contact resistance control; takes a high polish easily.
Can C10800-M20 be formed, bent or molded?
Excellent cold formability in OS050/O25 (deep draw, spin, tube bend); interanneal at 400–600 °C when cumulative reduction exceeds ~60%.
What is the maximum service temperature of C10800-M20?
C10800-M20 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 C10800-OS050 and C10800-H08?
OS050 is the default condition — softest commercial condition; pick for deep drawing, bending, spinning and maximum conductivity. H08: heavily cold-worked strip/wire for springy contacts and clips where copper-level conductivity is required. Yield strength is 69 MPa in OS050 versus 345 MPa in H08.
Sources
- ASTM B152/B152M — Copper Sheet, Strip, Plate and Rolled Bar — ASTM International (2019)
- ASTM B280 — Seamless Copper Tube for ACR Field Service — ASTM International (2020)
- CDA Alloy Database — C10800 (oxygen-free, low phosphorus copper) — Copper Development Association (2023)
- ASM Handbook Vol. 2 — Properties and Selection: Nonferrous Alloys — ASM International (1990)
- GB/T 5231 — (TU1/TUP equivalents) — SAC (2022)
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.