Copper Alloy C12200-H55
Temper
UNS C12200 · ASTM B280, B88 · EN Cu-DHP, CW024A · JIS C1220 · GB TU2, TP2
H55 = light drawn tube
Light-drawn tube temper (ASTM B75/B68 class) that still bends readily but ships straighter and stiffer than annealed coil.
Values for the H55 condition
Other C12200 tempers and conditions
C12200 is listed in 15 conditions; see the grade overview at C12200.
Compare all 15 conditionsHide
| Condition · open for datasheet | Best for | Yield MPa | Tensile MPa | Elong. % | Hardness | Conductivity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Hot rolled and annealed | Hot-rolled DHP copper plate given a full anneal — coarse-grain soft condition with maximum ductility and formability. | 70 | 220 | 45 | 42 HB | 85 % IACS |
As hot rolled | Mill temper of hot-rolled DHP copper plate/bar; soft, fully ductile condition with essentially annealed properties. | 75 | 225 | 45 | 45 HB | 85 % IACS |
ODefault Annealed | Default stock condition for tube, sheet and coil that must be bent, flared or deep drawn on site. | 76 | 235 | 45 | 45 HB | 85 % IACS |
Light anneal | Fine-grain soft temper for tube/strip needing soft forming but a smoother, less orange-peel surface than full anneal. | 95 | 245 | 42 | 50 HB | 85 % IACS |
Eighth Hard | Slight stiffening with nearly full formability — used for gaskets, roofing and deep-drawn parts needing handling rigidity. | 195 | 260 | 30 | 60 HB | 84 % IACS |
H55This page Light drawn tube | Light-drawn tube temper (ASTM B75/B68 class) that still bends readily but ships straighter and stiffer than annealed coil. | 200 | 260 | 25 | 65 HB | 84 % IACS |
Quarter hard | Balanced temper for moderate bending plus a useful strength gain in strip and plate work. | 220 | 275 | 25 | 70 HB | 84 % IACS |
Half hard | Common structural/strip temper: usable 90° bending with roughly triple the annealed yield strength. | 255 | 295 | 14 | 80 HB | 84 % IACS |
Three-quarter hard | Cold-rolled/drawn DHP copper worked to ~30% reduction, strength between half-hard and full-hard with limited remaining ductility. | 265 | 300 | 10 | 95 HB | 84 % IACS |
Drawn, general purpose | Standard rigid plumbing/ACR tube temper (ASTM B88 Type K/L/M drawn, B280); pick for straight lengths joined by brazing or soldering. | 275 | 305 | 12 | 85 HB | 83 % IACS |
Full hard | Choose when maximum as-supplied strength and stiffness matter more than bending, e.g. hard-drawn bar, busbar and rigid tube. | 310 | 345 | 8 | 95 HB | 83 % IACS |
Hard drawn | Fully hard-drawn tube for high-pressure lines and structural/handrail use where no field bending is required. | 315 | 345 | 8 | 95 HB | 83 % IACS |
Extra hard | Heavily cold-worked strip for flat springs, contacts and wear faces where forming is minimal. | 330 | 365 | 6 | 100 HB | 83 % IACS |
Extra spring hard | Heaviest standard cold-rolled temper of DHP copper strip — maximum strength and springback, very low ductility. | 335 | 365 | 4 | 110 HB | 83 % IACS |
Spring hard | Maximum cold-worked strength for spring strip and gasket seals; essentially no bend formability. | 345 | 380 | 5 | 105 HB | 82 % IACS |
What is C12200-H55?
C12200-H55 is C12200 in the H55 temper — light-drawn tube temper (ASTM B75/B68 class) that still bends readily but ships straighter and stiffer than annealed coil. C12200-H55 has a yield strength of 200 MPa (29 ksi) and a tensile strength of 260 MPa (37.7 ksi) — weaker than 54% of copper alloy grades. Elongation at break is 25% and the elastic modulus is 117 GPa (17 Msi). C12200-H55 has a density of 8.94 g/cm³ (0.323 lb/in³), heavier than 90% of copper alloy grades. It melts at 1,083°C (1,981 °F). O is the default condition FabDigit quotes; H55 is available on request or by drawing note.
Advantages
- Readily welded — 85/100, better than 95% of copper alloy grades
- Conducts heat well — 337 W/m·K (194.7 BTU/hr·ft·°F), better than 85% of copper alloy grades
- High electrical conductivity — 84 % IACS, better than 85% of copper alloy grades
- Forms and bends easily — 85/100, better than 85% of copper alloy grades
Limitations
- Limited service temperature — 150°C (302 °F), worse than 96% of copper alloy grades
C12200-H55 properties
Typical room-temperature values for C12200-H55; 19 are specific to this condition. Other listed values are C12200 reference data and may not represent this condition. Bars are the position among copper alloy grades.
Physical3
C12200-H55 has a density of 8.94 g/cm³ (0.323 lb/in³), heavier than 90% of copper alloy grades. It melts at 1,083°C (1,981 °F).
Mechanical11
C12200-H55 has a yield strength of 200 MPa (29 ksi) and a tensile strength of 260 MPa (37.7 ksi) — weaker than 54% of copper alloy grades. Elongation at break is 25% and the elastic modulus is 117 GPa (17 Msi).
Thermal6
C12200-H55 is rated for continuous service to 150°C (302 °F). It conducts heat at 337 W/m·K (194.7 BTU/hr·ft·°F), better than 85% of copper alloy grades. Thermal expansion is 17 µm/m·K (9.44 µin/in·°F).
Electrical3
C12200-H55 conducts electricity at 84 % IACS, better than 85% of copper alloy grades.
Chemical & Environmental3
Corrosion resistance is very good (70/100), better than 76% of copper alloy grades.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of C12200-H55 takes about 55 MJ of energy and emits 3.8 kg of CO₂ — less than 72% of copper alloy grades. Typical recycled content is 35%.
Manufacturability7
C12200-H55's machinability is poor (30/100, worse than 67% of copper alloy grades); weldability excellent (85/100); formability excellent (85/100).
Values are nominal handbook figures for design screening. Confirm any required mill or lot documentation when quoting.
Working with C12200-H55
Is C12200 easy to machine?
Gummy and stringy at ~20 % of AISI 1212 — use sharp positive-rake tools, high speed, generous coolant, and prefer H02/H04 temper over annealed for better chip break.
Can C12200 be welded?
Best-welding copper grade: GTAW/GMAW with ERCu or ERCuSi-A, preheat 200–500 °C on heavy sections because of the huge thermal conductivity; no hydrogen embrittlement since it is deoxidized.
Can C12200 be formed, bent or molded?
Outstanding cold formability in O temper (deep draw, flare, bend to 1T); interstage anneal 400–600 °C after ~60 % reduction, hot work 750–950 °C.
What surface finishes work on C12200?
Not anodizable — solders and brazes exceptionally well (BCuP self-fluxing on copper), takes bright polish, tin/nickel/silver plating, or chemical patina/lacquer to control natural oxidation.
C12200 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 deoxidizer; sets the ~85 % IACS conductivity | 0.02 – 0.04 | 0.03 |
| CuCu + Ag, min 99.90 % per ASTM B75/B152; balance | ≥ 99.9 (balance) | — |
C12200-H55 — frequently asked
What is C12200-H55 used for?
C12200-H55 is typically used for plumbing and potable-water tubing, heat exchanger and refrigeration coils, medical gas lines, brazed heat sinks and cold plates, roofing, flashing and formed sheet parts and gaskets and sealing washers. In short: general purpose soft copper.
What is the yield strength of C12200-H55?
C12200-H55 has a typical yield strength of 200 MPa (29 ksi) and a tensile strength of 260 MPa (37.7 ksi) — weaker than 54% of copper alloy grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 15 listed tempers.
Is C12200-H55 easy to machine?
Not especially — machinability is rated poor (30/100, worse than 67% of copper alloy grades). Gummy and stringy at ~20 % of AISI 1212 — use sharp positive-rake tools, high speed, generous coolant, and prefer H02/H04 temper over annealed for better chip break.
Can C12200-H55 be welded?
Yes — weldability is rated excellent (85/100). Best-welding copper grade: GTAW/GMAW with ERCu or ERCuSi-A, preheat 200–500 °C on heavy sections because of the huge thermal conductivity; no hydrogen embrittlement since it is deoxidized.
What surface finishes work on C12200-H55?
Not anodizable — solders and brazes exceptionally well (BCuP self-fluxing on copper), takes bright polish, tin/nickel/silver plating, or chemical patina/lacquer to control natural oxidation.
Can C12200-H55 be formed, bent or molded?
Outstanding cold formability in O temper (deep draw, flare, bend to 1T); interstage anneal 400–600 °C after ~60 % reduction, hot work 750–950 °C.
What is the maximum service temperature of C12200-H55?
C12200-H55 is rated for continuous use to about 150°C (302 °F). Strength falls off well before that limit — check the elevated-temperature data for load-bearing parts.
What is the difference between C12200-O and C12200-H08?
O is the default condition — default stock condition for tube, sheet and coil that must be bent, flared or deep drawn on site. H08: maximum cold-worked strength for spring strip and gasket seals; essentially no bend formability. Yield strength is 76 MPa in O versus 345 MPa in H08.
Can FabDigit make parts in C12200-H55?
Yes — C12200-H55 is available for CNC machining and sheet metal; every part is priced by an engineer rather than instantly. Upload a STEP file to get a price and a DFM check.
Sources
- ASTM B75/B75M Seamless Copper Tube — ASTM International (2019)
- ASTM B88 Seamless Copper Water Tube — ASTM International (2020)
- ASTM B152/B152M Copper Sheet, Strip, Plate and Rolled Bar — ASTM International (2019)
- CDA Alloy Database — C12200 (DHP copper) — Copper Development Association (2023)
- ASM Handbook Vol. 2 — Properties and Selection: Nonferrous Alloys — ASM International (1990)
- GB/T 1527 / GB/T 17791 TP2 — SAC (2017)
- EN 12449 / EN 1652 Cu-DHP (CW024A) — CEN (2016)
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.