Copper Alloy C11600
UNS C11600 · EN CW013A
C11600 is an electrolytic tough-pitch copper with a higher silver addition than C11300 or C11400, giving high softening resistance while retaining 98 % IACS conductivity and 385 W/m·K.
Reference datasheet — C11600 is not in the instant-quote catalog. Upload your part and an engineer will quote it in this grade or suggest the closest stocked equivalent.
Values for the H02 condition
C11600 tempers and conditions
C11600 is supplied in 11 conditions, soft to hard. H02 is the default FabDigit quotes; the values on this page are for it.
Compare all 11 conditionsHide
| Condition · open for datasheet | Best for | Yield MPa | Tensile MPa | Elong. % | Hardness | Conductivity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Hot rolled and annealed | Pick for maximum ductility and deep forming/spinning where strength is not required. | 76 | 221 | 45 | 45 HB | 100 % IACS |
Soft annealed | Standard soft strip/wire temper for stamping, riveting and coil winding. | 80 | 225 | 42 | 47 HB | 100 % IACS |
As hot rolled | Cheapest heavy plate/bar condition when only moderate strength and full conductivity are needed. | 90 | 235 | 40 | 48 HB | 100 % IACS |
1/8 hard | Slight stiffening over annealed while keeping near-full bend ductility. | 170 | 250 | 30 | 60 HB | 99 % IACS |
Quarter hard | Good compromise for formed contacts and gaskets that still need 90° bends. | 205 | 262 | 25 | 70 HB | 98 % IACS |
H02Default Half hard | Most stocked strip/bar temper: useful strength retained after soldering plus workable formability. | 250 | 290 | 14 | 80 HB | 98 % IACS |
Three-quarter hard | Higher strength for lightly formed conductive parts and commutator segments. | 275 | 315 | 10 | 88 HB | 97 % IACS |
Full hard | Standard hard temper for busbar, commutator strip and connectors that see soldering heat. | 310 | 345 | 6 | 95 HB | 97 % IACS |
Extra hard | For flat parts needing stiffness with only minor forming after rolling. | 330 | 365 | 5 | 100 HB | 97 % IACS |
Spring hard | Spring strip for conductive contacts and shielding clips retaining temper after soldering. | 345 | 379 | 4 | 105 HB | 96 % IACS |
Extra spring hard | Maximum cold-worked strength/stiffness for thin conductive springs; essentially no formability left. | 360 | 393 | 3 | 110 HB | 96 % IACS |
What is C11600?
C11600 is an electrolytic tough-pitch copper with a higher silver addition than C11300 or C11400, giving high softening resistance while retaining 98 % IACS conductivity and 385 W/m·K. It is used as strip, wire and segments for commutators, electrical contacts and conductors that must hold strength after soldering or brazing, with service to 250 °C; the listed temper gives 290 MPa tensile, 250 MPa yield and 14 % elongation. Oxygen-bearing copper is prone to hydrogen embrittlement, so avoid fusion welding and hydrogen atmospheres; C10100/C10200 are the oxygen-free alternatives, and machinability is poor at a 25 rating. C11600 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). C11600 has a yield strength of 250 MPa (36.3 ksi) and a tensile strength of 290 MPa (42.1 ksi) — stronger than 54% of copper alloy grades. Elongation at break is 14% and the elastic modulus is 117 GPa (17 Msi).
What is C11600 used for?
- commutator segments
- electrical contacts
- high-temperature conductors
Advantages
- High electrical conductivity — 98 % IACS, better than 94% of copper alloy grades
- Conducts heat well — 385 W/m·K (222.4 BTU/hr·ft·°F), better than 92% of copper alloy grades
Limitations
- Difficult to machine — 25/100, worse than 86% of copper alloy grades
C11600 properties
Typical room-temperature values for C11600-H02; bars are the position among copper alloy grades.
Physical3
C11600 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).
Mechanical13
C11600 has a yield strength of 250 MPa (36.3 ksi) and a tensile strength of 290 MPa (42.1 ksi) — stronger than 54% of copper alloy grades. Elongation at break is 14% and the elastic modulus is 117 GPa (17 Msi).
Thermal6
C11600 is rated for continuous service to 250°C (482 °F). It conducts heat at 385 W/m·K (222.4 BTU/hr·ft·°F), better than 92% of copper alloy grades. Thermal expansion is 17.7 µm/m·K (9.83 µin/in·°F).
Electrical3
C11600 conducts electricity at 98 % IACS, better than 94% of copper alloy grades.
Chemical & Environmental3
Corrosion resistance is good (58/100), worse than 76% of copper alloy grades.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of C11600 takes about 57 MJ of energy and emits 3.8 kg of CO₂ — less than 52% of copper alloy grades. Typical recycled content is 30%.
Manufacturability7
C11600's machinability is poor (25/100, worse than 86% of copper alloy grades); weldability fair (35/100); formability good (60/100).
Common Calculations5
Values are nominal handbook figures for design screening. Certified mill or lot data ships with every FabDigit order on request.
Strength versus weight in the copper alloy family
Yield strength against density for every copper alloy grade FabDigit runs. C11600 is highlighted; hover a dot for its name, or open the interactive family chart.
Working with C11600
Is C11600 easy to machine?
Gummy and low-rated (≈20 % of AISI 1212): use sharp positive-rake tools, high speed, low feed and generous coolant; hard tempers cut cleaner than annealed.
Can C11600 be welded?
Oxygen-bearing copper — avoid processes/atmospheres with hydrogen (risk of hydrogen embrittlement); prefer resistance welding, brazing or soldering, or switch to C10100/C10200 for fusion welding.
Can C11600 be formed, bent or molded?
Excellent cold formability in O25/O60 and H00–H02; hard tempers need generous bend radii or interstage annealing (300–500 °C), and silver delays softening so recovery anneals run hotter than for ETP.
C11600 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Ag≥25 troy oz/short ton; raises softening/recrystallisation temperature | ≥ 0.09 | 0.09 |
| Otough pitch oxygen, present as Cu2O | 0.02 – 0.05 | 0.04 |
| CuCu + Ag ≥ 99.90 % (oxygen excluded per ASTM convention) | ≥ 99.9 (balance) |
What surface finishes work on C11600?
Solders and brazes readily; accepts Ni, Sn, Ag and Au plating; can be mechanically polished or chemically patinated/lacquered — copper cannot be anodised.
Surface treatments FabDigit runs on copper alloy parts — pick them in the quote configurator or call them out on the drawing. Each links to its datasheet in the surface-finish library (thickness, specs, call-out, material verdicts).
Equivalent designations
Standards and trade names that resolve to Copper Alloy C11600 in FabDigit's catalog. Equivalence is nominal — check the exact specification when certification matters.
- EN / DIN / Werkstoff-Nr.
- CW013A
How much does C11600 cost?
C11600 is a high-cost copper alloy ($$$$), pricier than about 78% of the materials FabDigit quotes. Part price depends far more on geometry, tolerance and quantity than on the raw stock — upload a CAD file for a live quote.
C11600 — frequently asked
What is C11600 used for?
C11600 is typically used for commutator segments, electrical contacts and high-temperature conductors. In short: highest softening resistance ETP; silver-bearing contact copper; 250 °C service temperature.
What is the yield strength of C11600?
C11600 has a typical yield strength of 250 MPa (36.3 ksi) and a tensile strength of 290 MPa (42.1 ksi) — stronger than 54% of copper alloy grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 11 listed tempers.
Is C11600 easy to machine?
Not especially — machinability is rated poor (25/100, worse than 86% of copper alloy grades). Gummy and low-rated (≈20 % of AISI 1212): use sharp positive-rake tools, high speed, low feed and generous coolant; hard tempers cut cleaner than annealed.
Can C11600 be welded?
With care — weldability is rated fair (35/100). Oxygen-bearing copper — avoid processes/atmospheres with hydrogen (risk of hydrogen embrittlement); prefer resistance welding, brazing or soldering, or switch to C10100/C10200 for fusion welding.
What surface finishes work on C11600?
Solders and brazes readily; accepts Ni, Sn, Ag and Au plating; can be mechanically polished or chemically patinated/lacquered — copper cannot be anodised.
Can C11600 be formed, bent or molded?
Excellent cold formability in O25/O60 and H00–H02; hard tempers need generous bend radii or interstage annealing (300–500 °C), and silver delays softening so recovery anneals run hotter than for ETP.
What is the maximum service temperature of C11600?
C11600 is rated for continuous use to about 250°C (482 °F). Strength falls off well before that limit — check the elevated-temperature data for load-bearing parts.
What is the difference between C11600-H02 and C11600-O25?
H02 is the default condition — most stocked strip/bar temper: useful strength retained after soldering plus workable formability. O25: pick for maximum ductility and deep forming/spinning where strength is not required. Yield strength is 250 MPa in H02 versus 76 MPa in O25.
How much does C11600 cost?
C11600 is a high-cost copper alloy ($$$$), pricier than about 78% of the materials FabDigit quotes. Part price depends far more on geometry, tolerance and quantity than on the raw stock — upload a CAD file for a live quote.
Sources
- ASTM B152/B152M — Copper Sheet, Strip, Plate and Rolled Bar — ASTM (2019)
- ASTM B187/B187M — Copper Bar, Bus Bar, Rod and Shapes — ASTM (2020)
- EN 13601 / CW013A copper rod and bar for electrical purposes — CEN (2013)
- C11600 Silver-bearing Tough Pitch Copper alloy data — Copper Development Association (copper.org) (2023)
- 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; hardness values on non-Brinell scales are converted approximately for charting only. Manufacturability limits are FabDigit quote-engine defaults and may be relaxed by engineering review. Nothing on this page is a certification — request mill certs, CoC or material test reports with your order.