Copper Alloy C15100
UNS C15100 · ASTM B99
C15100 is a zirconium copper: a high-conductivity copper strengthened by a dilute zirconium addition plus cold work, supplied under the B99 family with a lower zirconium content than C15000.
Reference datasheet — C15100 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
C15100 tempers and conditions
C15100 is supplied in 8 conditions, soft to hard. H04 is the default FabDigit quotes; the values on this page are for it.
Compare all 8 conditionsHide
| Condition · open for datasheet | Best for | Yield MPa | Tensile MPa | Elong. % | Hardness | Conductivity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Annealed to 0.015 mm grain size | Softest condition — choose for deep drawing, severe bending or when maximum conductivity is required. | 80 | 235 | 40 | 50 HB | 95 % IACS |
Quarter hard | Light cold work for parts still needing appreciable bending while gaining stiffness over annealed stock. | 215 | 275 | 25 | 70 HB | 94 % IACS |
Half hard | Balanced strength/formability temper for stamped conductive contacts and terminals. | 270 | 310 | 14 | 88 HB | 93 % IACS |
Three-quarter hard | Use when H02 lacks yield strength but full-hard is too brittle for the required bend radius. | 305 | 335 | 9 | 98 HB | 92 % IACS |
H04Default Full hard | Most commonly stocked strip/rod condition — best general compromise of strength, conductivity and softening resistance. | 330 | 360 | 6 | 105 HB | 92 % IACS |
TD04 and precipitation hardened | Age the cold-worked strip/rod to recover conductivity and add ~10 % strength for resistance-welding electrodes and rotor bars. | 370 | 400 | 8 | 115 HB | 95 % IACS |
Extra hard | Heavier cold work for high-strength conductors and blades where forming is limited to flat work. | 375 | 400 | 4 | 118 HB | 91 % IACS |
Spring hard | Maximum as-drawn strength for conductive springs, clips and commutator/contact strip. | 405 | 430 | 3 | 128 HB | 90 % IACS |
What is C15100?
C15100 is a zirconium copper: a high-conductivity copper strengthened by a dilute zirconium addition plus cold work, supplied under the B99 family with a lower zirconium content than C15000. Engineers use it as strip, rod and wire where 92 % IACS electrical conductivity and 350 W/m·K thermal conductivity must be retained at service temperatures to 450 °C, with 330 MPa yield, 360 MPa tensile and 6 % elongation in the default temper (OS015 through H08 and TH04 on file). Machinability is poor (score 22) and cold-worked strength anneals out in any weld heat-affected zone; C15000 is the nearest alternative when a little more strength matters more than conductivity. C15100 has a density of 8.89 g/cm³ (0.321 lb/in³), heavier than 72% of copper alloy grades. It melts at 1,080°C (1,976 °F). C15100 has a yield strength of 330 MPa (47.9 ksi) and a tensile strength of 360 MPa (52.2 ksi) — stronger than 69% of copper alloy grades. Elongation at break is 6% and the elastic modulus is 120 GPa (17.4 Msi).
What is C15100 used for?
- Electrical connectors
- Lead frames
- Commutator segments
Advantages
- High service temperature — 450°C (842 °F), better than 98% of copper alloy grades
- High electrical conductivity — 92 % IACS, better than 89% of copper alloy grades
- Conducts heat well — 350 W/m·K (202.2 BTU/hr·ft·°F), better than 88% of copper alloy grades
Limitations
- Difficult to machine — 22/100, worse than 94% of copper alloy grades
- Limited ductility — 6%, worse than 89% of copper alloy grades
C15100 properties
Typical room-temperature values for C15100-H04; bars are the position among copper alloy grades.
Physical3
C15100 has a density of 8.89 g/cm³ (0.321 lb/in³), heavier than 72% of copper alloy grades. It melts at 1,080°C (1,976 °F).
Mechanical12
C15100 has a yield strength of 330 MPa (47.9 ksi) and a tensile strength of 360 MPa (52.2 ksi) — stronger than 69% of copper alloy grades. Elongation at break is 6% and the elastic modulus is 120 GPa (17.4 Msi).
Thermal6
C15100 is rated for continuous service to 450°C (842 °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 17.6 µm/m·K (9.78 µin/in·°F).
Electrical3
C15100 conducts electricity at 92 % IACS, better than 89% of copper alloy grades.
Chemical & Environmental3
Corrosion resistance is good (60/100), worse than 68% of copper alloy grades.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of C15100 takes about 55 MJ of energy and emits 3.8 kg of CO₂ — less than 72% of copper alloy grades. Typical recycled content is 25%.
Manufacturability8
C15100's machinability is poor (22/100, worse than 94% of copper alloy grades); weldability fair (45/100); 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. C15100 is highlighted; hover a dot for its name, or open the interactive family chart.
Working with C15100
Is C15100 easy to machine?
Gummy like OFHC copper (~20 % of free-cutting brass) — use sharp positive-rake carbide, high speed, generous coolant and chip breaking.
Can C15100 be welded?
GTAW/EB/laser possible with matching or Cu-Si filler but the HAZ anneals and loses cold-work strength; resistance welding is poor because of high conductivity.
Can C15100 be formed, bent or molded?
Excellent cold formability in OS015/H01; keep bend radii ≥1–2t in H04 and above, and inter-anneal at 500–600 °C for deep-drawn parts.
C15100 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Zrzirconium is the sole intentional addition | 0.05 – 0.15 | 0.1 |
| CuCu + Ag + Zr ≥ 99.9 % typical; oxygen-free base | ≥ 99.8 (balance) |
What surface finishes work on C15100?
Not anodisable; bright-dip or pickle then silver, nickel or tin plate for contacts; polishes well but tarnishes without a lacquer or passivation.
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 C15100 in FabDigit's catalog. Equivalence is nominal — check the exact specification when certification matters.
- ASTM
- B99
- Also called
- CuZr
- Similar grades
- C15000
How much does C15100 cost?
C15100 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.
C15100 — frequently asked
What is C15100 used for?
C15100 is typically used for electrical connectors, lead frames and commutator segments. In short: near-pure copper conductivity; higher conductivity than C15000; holds strength to 450 °C.
What is the yield strength of C15100?
C15100 has a typical yield strength of 330 MPa (47.9 ksi) and a tensile strength of 360 MPa (52.2 ksi) — stronger than 69% of copper alloy grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 8 listed tempers.
Is C15100 easy to machine?
Not especially — machinability is rated poor (22/100, worse than 94% of copper alloy grades). Gummy like OFHC copper (~20 % of free-cutting brass) — use sharp positive-rake carbide, high speed, generous coolant and chip breaking.
Can C15100 be welded?
With care — weldability is rated fair (45/100). GTAW/EB/laser possible with matching or Cu-Si filler but the HAZ anneals and loses cold-work strength; resistance welding is poor because of high conductivity.
What surface finishes work on C15100?
Not anodisable; bright-dip or pickle then silver, nickel or tin plate for contacts; polishes well but tarnishes without a lacquer or passivation.
Can C15100 be formed, bent or molded?
Excellent cold formability in OS015/H01; keep bend radii ≥1–2t in H04 and above, and inter-anneal at 500–600 °C for deep-drawn parts.
What is the maximum service temperature of C15100?
C15100 is rated for continuous use to about 450°C (842 °F). Strength falls off well before that limit — check the elevated-temperature data for load-bearing parts.
What is the difference between C15100-H04 and C15100-OS015?
H04 is the default condition — most commonly stocked strip/rod condition — best general compromise of strength, conductivity and softening resistance. OS015: softest condition — choose for deep drawing, severe bending or when maximum conductivity is required. Yield strength is 330 MPa in H04 versus 80 MPa in OS015.
How much does C15100 cost?
C15100 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 B937 / UNS C15100 registered composition (CDA) — ASTM / Copper Development Association (2021)
- CDA alloy datasheet C15100 (zirconium copper) property and temper tables — copper.org (2023)
- ASM Handbook Vol. 2 — Properties and Selection: Nonferrous Alloys — ASM International (1990)
- GB/T 5231 / GB/T 21652 (2022)
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.