Copper Alloy C14300
UNS C14300 · ASTM B105
Low-cadmium-content copper alloy that improves strength and wear/softening resistance versus pure copper while retaining most of copper's conductivity, historically used for overhead trolley/contact wire.
Reference datasheet — C14300 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 H04 condition
C14300 tempers and conditions
C14300 is supplied in 5 conditions, soft to hard. H04 is the default FabDigit quotes; the values on this page are for it.
Compare all 5 conditionsHide
| Condition · open for datasheet | Best for | Yield MPa | Tensile MPa | Elong. % | Hardness | Conductivity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Annealed to 0.025 mm grain size | Pick for maximum formability, deep drawing or when highest conductivity is needed before final forming. | 76 | 235 | 45 | 45 HB | 93 % IACS |
Half hard | Balanced strength and bend formability for stamped current-carrying parts and terminals. | 240 | 290 | 14 | 72 HB | 92 % IACS |
H04Default Full hard | Default stock condition — hard-drawn trolley/contact wire, commutator segments and wear-resistant conductors. | 305 | 345 | 8 | 90 HB | 90 % IACS |
Spring hard | Choose where spring force and high hardness must coexist with near-copper conductivity. | 350 | 380 | 4 | 100 HB | 89 % IACS |
Extra spring hard | Maximum strength/hardness condition for thin springs, contact fingers and fine hard wire; almost no remaining formability. | 370 | 400 | 3 | 106 HB | 88 % IACS |
What is C14300?
Low-cadmium-content copper alloy that improves strength and wear/softening resistance versus pure copper while retaining most of copper's conductivity, historically used for overhead trolley/contact wire. C14300 has a density of 8.89 g/cm³ (0.321 lb/in³), heavier than 72% of copper alloy grades. It melts at 1,076°C (1,969 °F). C14300 has a yield strength of 305 MPa (44.2 ksi) and a tensile strength of 345 MPa (50 ksi) — stronger than 62% of copper alloy grades. Elongation at break is 8% and the elastic modulus is 117 GPa (17 Msi).
What is C14300 used for?
- trolley and contact wire
- electrical connectors
- commutator segments
Advantages
- Conducts heat well — 350 W/m·K (202.2 BTU/hr·ft·°F), better than 88% of copper alloy grades
- High electrical conductivity — 90 % IACS, better than 87% of copper alloy grades
Limitations
- Limited ductility — 8%, worse than 83% of copper alloy grades
C14300 properties
Typical room-temperature values for C14300-H04; bars are the position among copper alloy grades.
Physical3
C14300 has a density of 8.89 g/cm³ (0.321 lb/in³), heavier than 72% of copper alloy grades. It melts at 1,076°C (1,969 °F).
Mechanical12
C14300 has a yield strength of 305 MPa (44.2 ksi) and a tensile strength of 345 MPa (50 ksi) — stronger than 62% of copper alloy grades. Elongation at break is 8% and the elastic modulus is 117 GPa (17 Msi).
Thermal6
C14300 is rated for continuous service to 200°C (392 °F). It conducts heat at 350 W/m·K (202.2 BTU/hr·ft·°F), better than 88% of copper alloy grades. Thermal expansion is 17 µm/m·K (9.44 µin/in·°F).
Electrical3
C14300 conducts electricity at 90 % IACS, better than 87% of copper alloy grades.
Chemical & Environmental3
Corrosion resistance is good (65/100), better than 58% of copper alloy grades.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of C14300 takes about 57 MJ of energy and emits 3.6 kg of CO₂ — less than 52% of copper alloy grades. Typical recycled content is 30%.
Manufacturability8
C14300's machinability is poor (30/100, worse than 67% of copper alloy grades); weldability fair (35/100); formability fair (40/100).
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. C14300 is highlighted; hover a dot for its name, or open the interactive family chart.
Working with C14300
Is C14300 easy to machine?
Machines like tough pitch copper — gummy, needs sharp positive-rake tools, high speed and flood coolant; local exhaust advised because cadmium-bearing fines/fumes are toxic.
Can C14300 be welded?
Resistance and brazing/soldering are excellent; fusion welding is difficult (high conductivity) and generates hazardous cadmium oxide fume, so forced ventilation is mandatory.
Can C14300 be formed, bent or molded?
Anneal to OS025 for deep drawing or heavy bending; H04–H10 tempers should only be gently formed and can be stress-relieved near 200 °C without much strength loss.
C14300 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Cdcadmium addition for strength and softening resistance | 0.05 – 0.15 | 0.1 |
| CuCu + Ag + Cd ≥ 99.9 % per CDA registration; oxygen-free or deoxidized base | ≥ 99.9 (balance) |
What surface finishes work on C14300?
Not anodizable; tin, silver or nickel plate for solderability and contact stability, or leave bright and expect a natural patina.
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 C14300 in FabDigit's catalog. Equivalence is nominal — check the exact specification when certification matters.
- ASTM
- B105
How much does C14300 cost?
C14300 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.
C14300 — frequently asked
What is C14300 used for?
C14300 is typically used for trolley and contact wire, electrical connectors and commutator segments. In short: wear-resistant conductor copper; 90% IACS with 305 MPa yield; legacy contact-wire grade.
What is the yield strength of C14300?
C14300 has a typical yield strength of 305 MPa (44.2 ksi) and a tensile strength of 345 MPa (50 ksi) — stronger than 62% of copper alloy grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 5 listed tempers.
Is C14300 easy to machine?
Not especially — machinability is rated poor (30/100, worse than 67% of copper alloy grades). Machines like tough pitch copper — gummy, needs sharp positive-rake tools, high speed and flood coolant; local exhaust advised because cadmium-bearing fines/fumes are toxic.
Can C14300 be welded?
With care — weldability is rated fair (35/100). Resistance and brazing/soldering are excellent; fusion welding is difficult (high conductivity) and generates hazardous cadmium oxide fume, so forced ventilation is mandatory.
What surface finishes work on C14300?
Not anodizable; tin, silver or nickel plate for solderability and contact stability, or leave bright and expect a natural patina.
Can C14300 be formed, bent or molded?
Anneal to OS025 for deep drawing or heavy bending; H04–H10 tempers should only be gently formed and can be stress-relieved near 200 °C without much strength loss.
What is the maximum service temperature of C14300?
C14300 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 C14300-H04 and C14300-OS025?
H04 is the default condition — default stock condition — hard-drawn trolley/contact wire, commutator segments and wear-resistant conductors. OS025: pick for maximum formability, deep drawing or when highest conductivity is needed before final forming. Yield strength is 305 MPa in H04 versus 76 MPa in OS025.
How much does C14300 cost?
C14300 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 B105 — Hard-Drawn Copper Alloy Wires for Electric Conductors — ASTM International (2018)
- CDA Standard Designation C14300 alloy datasheet — Copper Development Association (copper.org) (2023)
- ASM Handbook Vol.2 — Properties and Selection: Nonferrous Alloys and Special-Purpose Materials — ASM International (1990)
- ASTM B601 — Temper Designations for Copper and Copper Alloys — ASTM International (2019)
- ASM Handbook Vol.13 — Corrosion — 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.