Copper Alloy C1220
JIS C1220 · UNS C12200 · EN CR024A, Cu-DHP · GB TP1
JIS C1220 is a phosphorus-deoxidized copper (Cu-DHP, equivalent to C12200/TP1) in which residual phosphorus scavenges oxygen and eliminates hydrogen embrittlement during welding and brazing.
Reference datasheet — C1220 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 O condition
C1220 tempers and conditions
C1220 is supplied in 6 conditions, soft to hard. O is the default FabDigit quotes; the values on this page are for it.
Compare all 6 conditionsHide
| Condition · open for datasheet | Best for | Yield MPa | Tensile MPa | Elong. % | Hardness | Conductivity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
ODefault Annealed | Fully annealed soft coil tube, sheet and strip — maximum ductility for bending, flaring, expanding and deep drawing. | 70 | 225 | 45 | 45 HB | 85 % IACS |
Light drawn / light-annealed | Light-drawn straight tube keeping most annealed ductility but with better straightness and dent resistance — common for air-conditioning and refrigerant lines. | 160 | 260 | 45 | 60 HB | 85 % IACS |
Quarter hard | Mild cold work for sheet/strip needing more spring-back control than O while still allowing moderate bending. | 190 | 270 | 25 | 72 HB | 84 % IACS |
Half hard | Half-hard sheet, strip and tube — good compromise of strength and residual formability for pressed and roll-formed parts. | 250 | 305 | 15 | 40 HRB | 84 % IACS |
Hardened | Hard-drawn straight tube and hard sheet — highest pressure rating and stiffness for plumbing, medical gas and pressure lines; bend only with fittings. | 300 | 345 | 10 | 55 HRB | 84 % IACS |
Extra hard | Extra-hard strip/tube for maximum strength and spring-back where no further forming is required. | 350 | 390 | 5 | 115 HB | 83 % IACS |
What is C1220?
JIS C1220 is a phosphorus-deoxidized copper (Cu-DHP, equivalent to C12200/TP1) in which residual phosphorus scavenges oxygen and eliminates hydrogen embrittlement during welding and brazing. It is the standard tube and pipe grade for HVAC, refrigerant and plumbing work, and is also supplied as sheet and strip in O through EH tempers with a formability score of 98. Annealed material is soft: 70 MPa yield, 225 MPa tensile, 45 % elongation, 45 HB, with service to about 200 °C. The phosphorus residual lowers conductivity to 85 % IACS (339 W/m·K), so specify C1201 (Cu-DLP) or C10200 where electrical performance governs. C1220 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). C1220 has a yield strength of 70 MPa (10.2 ksi) and a tensile strength of 225 MPa (32.6 ksi) — weaker than 93% of copper alloy grades. Elongation at break is 45% and the elastic modulus is 117 GPa (17 Msi).
What is C1220 used for?
- refrigerant tubing
- plumbing pipe
- brazed heat exchangers
Advantages
- Forms and bends easily — 98/100, better than 99% of copper alloy grades
- Readily welded — 80/100, better than 93% of copper alloy grades
- Ductile — tolerates forming and impact — 45%, better than 91% of copper alloy grades
- Conducts heat well — 339 W/m·K (195.9 BTU/hr·ft·°F), better than 86% of copper alloy grades
- High electrical conductivity — 85 % IACS, better than 86% of copper alloy grades
Limitations
- Low strength — 70 MPa (10.2 ksi), worse than 93% of copper alloy grades
- Difficult to machine — 25/100, worse than 86% of copper alloy grades
C1220 properties
Typical room-temperature values for C1220-O; bars are the position among copper alloy grades.
Physical3
C1220 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
C1220 has a yield strength of 70 MPa (10.2 ksi) and a tensile strength of 225 MPa (32.6 ksi) — weaker than 93% of copper alloy grades. Elongation at break is 45% and the elastic modulus is 117 GPa (17 Msi).
Thermal6
C1220 is rated for continuous service to 200°C (392 °F). It conducts heat at 339 W/m·K (195.9 BTU/hr·ft·°F), better than 86% of copper alloy grades. Thermal expansion is 17.6 µm/m·K (9.78 µin/in·°F).
Electrical3
C1220 conducts electricity at 85 % IACS, better than 86% of copper alloy grades.
Chemical & Environmental3
Corrosion resistance is good (68/100), better than 69% of copper alloy grades.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of C1220 takes about 57 MJ of energy and emits 3.8 kg of CO₂ — less than 52% of copper alloy grades. Typical recycled content is 35%.
Manufacturability8
C1220's machinability is poor (25/100, worse than 86% of copper alloy grades); weldability very good (80/100); formability excellent (98/100).
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. C1220 is highlighted; hover a dot for its name, or open the interactive family chart.
Working with C1220
Is C1220 easy to machine?
Gummy and stringy (≈20 % of AISI 1212) — use sharp positive-rake tools, high speed, generous coolant and chip breakers; half-hard/hard tempers cut cleaner than annealed.
Can C1220 be welded?
Deoxidised so no hydrogen embrittlement: GTAW/GMAW with ERCu or ERCuSi-A, preheat 200–400 °C on heavy sections due to the high thermal conductivity.
Can C1220 be formed, bent or molded?
Outstanding cold formability in O/OL — bending, flaring, expanding, deep drawing; interstage anneal at 400–600 °C when cold work exceeds ~50 %.
C1220 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Presidual deoxidiser — sets the ~85 % IACS conductivity | 0.02 – 0.04 | 0.03 |
| CuCu + Ag counted together; P included in the Cu figure per JIS | ≥ 99.9 (balance) | — |
What surface finishes work on C1220?
Solders and brazes exceptionally well (phosphorus self-fluxes on copper); polish, tin/nickel plate or apply benzotriazole/lacquer to control tarnish — anodising is not applicable.
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 C1220 in FabDigit's catalog. Equivalence is nominal — check the exact specification when certification matters.
How much does C1220 cost?
C1220 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.
C1220 — frequently asked
What is C1220 used for?
C1220 is typically used for refrigerant tubing, plumbing pipe and brazed heat exchangers. In short: standard HVAC copper tube; braze- and weld-safe copper; outstanding cold formability.
What is the yield strength of C1220?
C1220 has a typical yield strength of 70 MPa (10.2 ksi) and a tensile strength of 225 MPa (32.6 ksi) — weaker than 93% of copper alloy grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 6 listed tempers.
Is C1220 easy to machine?
Not especially — machinability is rated poor (25/100, worse than 86% of copper alloy grades). Gummy and stringy (≈20 % of AISI 1212) — use sharp positive-rake tools, high speed, generous coolant and chip breakers; half-hard/hard tempers cut cleaner than annealed.
Can C1220 be welded?
Yes — weldability is rated very good (80/100). Deoxidised so no hydrogen embrittlement: GTAW/GMAW with ERCu or ERCuSi-A, preheat 200–400 °C on heavy sections due to the high thermal conductivity.
What surface finishes work on C1220?
Solders and brazes exceptionally well (phosphorus self-fluxes on copper); polish, tin/nickel plate or apply benzotriazole/lacquer to control tarnish — anodising is not applicable.
Can C1220 be formed, bent or molded?
Outstanding cold formability in O/OL — bending, flaring, expanding, deep drawing; interstage anneal at 400–600 °C when cold work exceeds ~50 %.
What is the maximum service temperature of C1220?
C1220 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 C1220-O and C1220-EH?
O is the default condition — fully annealed soft coil tube, sheet and strip — maximum ductility for bending, flaring, expanding and deep drawing. EH: extra-hard strip/tube for maximum strength and spring-back where no further forming is required. Yield strength is 70 MPa in O versus 350 MPa in EH.
How much does C1220 cost?
C1220 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
- JIS H3300 Copper and copper alloy seamless pipes and tubes — JSA (2018)
- JIS H3100 Copper and copper alloy sheets, plates and strips — JSA (2018)
- ASTM B88 / B280 (C12200 water and ACR tube) — ASTM (2020)
- CDA Alloy C12200 (Cu-DHP) property datasheet — Copper Development Association (2023)
- ASM Handbook Vol.2 — Properties of Nonferrous Alloys — ASM International (1990)
- ASM Handbook Vol.13B — Corrosion of Copper and Copper Alloys — ASM International (2005)
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.