Copper Alloy C15760
UNS C15760
C15760, also sold as Glidcop AL-20, is a dispersion-strengthened copper containing about 0.2 wt% Al2O3 particles rather than solid-solution alloying additions, so the strengthening survives temperatures that soften conventional coppers.
Reference datasheet — C15760 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
C15760 tempers and conditions
C15760 is supplied in 7 conditions, soft to hard. H04 is the default FabDigit quotes; the values on this page are for it.
Compare all 7 conditionsHide
| Condition · open for datasheet | Best for | Yield MPa | Tensile MPa | Elong. % | Hardness | Conductivity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H04 + 1 h / 900 °C exposure | Reference condition showing property retention after brazing or high-temperature service — this is why DS copper is specified. | 360 | 470 | 20 | 120 HB | 79 % IACS |
As hot-extruded / as-consolidated | Pick for large-section bar, forging stock or parts that will see heavy machining and high-temperature brazing. | 385 | 490 | 18 | 130 HB | 78 % IACS |
HIP / forged plate & block | Choose for thick plate, heat-sink blocks and near-isotropic properties in large cross-sections. | 400 | 505 | 17 | 135 HB | 78 % IACS |
Quarter hard | Compromise temper when some bending or staking of the finished part is still required. | 440 | 525 | 16 | 140 HB | 78 % IACS |
Half hard | Use for machined electrode holders and mould inserts where a little residual ductility is wanted. | 490 | 555 | 14 | 152 HB | 78 % IACS |
H04Default Full hard | Standard stocked condition for resistance-welding electrodes, contacts and high-heat-flux components. | 545 | 600 | 11 | 165 HB | 78 % IACS |
Spring hard | Highest strength option for small-diameter electrode tips, pins and wire where ductility is not needed. | 615 | 655 | 8 | 178 HB | 77 % IACS |
What is C15760?
C15760, also sold as Glidcop AL-20, is a dispersion-strengthened copper containing about 0.2 wt% Al2O3 particles rather than solid-solution alloying additions, so the strengthening survives temperatures that soften conventional coppers. Engineers select it where a part must hold 545 MPa yield and 600 MPa tensile while still delivering 78 % IACS and 322 W/m·K, typically as rod, bar, plate, forged AE shapes and HIP-consolidated electrode blanks. It resists softening to about 500 °C but cannot be cast or freely fusion welded without disrupting the dispersion, and machinability is low. Cu-Cr-Zr C18150 is the cheaper alternative where service stays well below that limit. C15760 has a density of 8.81 g/cm³ (0.318 lb/in³), heavier than 63% of copper alloy grades. It melts at 1,083°C (1,981 °F). C15760 has a yield strength of 545 MPa (79 ksi) and a tensile strength of 600 MPa (87 ksi) — stronger than 92% of copper alloy grades. Elongation at break is 11% and the elastic modulus is 130 GPa (18.9 Msi).
What is C15760 used for?
- resistance welding electrodes
- rocket engine combustion liners
- high-temperature electrical contacts
- vacuum furnace fixtures
Advantages
- High service temperature — 500°C (932 °F), better than 99% of copper alloy grades
- High strength — 545 MPa (79 ksi), better than 92% of copper alloy grades
- Stiff — 130 GPa (18.9 Msi), better than 89% of copper alloy grades
- Conducts heat well — 322 W/m·K (186 BTU/hr·ft·°F), better than 84% of copper alloy grades
- High electrical conductivity — 78 % IACS, better than 83% of copper alloy grades
Limitations
- Needs corrosion protection — 45/100, worse than 98% of copper alloy grades
- Hard to polish — 60/100, worse than 92% of copper alloy grades
- High embodied carbon — 4.6 kg CO₂/kg, worse than 82% of copper alloy grades
C15760 properties
Typical room-temperature values for C15760-H04; bars are the position among copper alloy grades.
Physical3
C15760 has a density of 8.81 g/cm³ (0.318 lb/in³), heavier than 63% of copper alloy grades. It melts at 1,083°C (1,981 °F).
Mechanical16
C15760 has a yield strength of 545 MPa (79 ksi) and a tensile strength of 600 MPa (87 ksi) — stronger than 92% of copper alloy grades. Elongation at break is 11% and the elastic modulus is 130 GPa (18.9 Msi).
Thermal6
C15760 is rated for continuous service to 500°C (932 °F). It conducts heat at 322 W/m·K (186 BTU/hr·ft·°F), better than 84% of copper alloy grades. Thermal expansion is 16.6 µm/m·K (9.22 µin/in·°F).
Electrical3
C15760 conducts electricity at 78 % IACS, better than 83% of copper alloy grades.
Chemical & Environmental3
Corrosion resistance is fair (45/100), worse than 98% of copper alloy grades.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of C15760 takes about 75 MJ of energy and emits 4.6 kg of CO₂ — more than 88% of copper alloy grades. Typical recycled content is 0%.
Manufacturability8
C15760's machinability is poor (30/100, worse than 67% of copper alloy grades); weldability poor (30/100); formability fair (35/100).
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. C15760 is highlighted; hover a dot for its name, or open the interactive family chart.
Working with C15760
Is C15760 easy to machine?
Machine like tough OFC but with sharp carbide/PCD tooling, positive rake and generous coolant — the Al₂O₃ dispersoids abrade edges and rating is only ~20 % of AISI 1212.
Can C15760 be welded?
Avoid fusion welding where possible (porosity and dispersoid disruption); electron-beam, friction/inertia and resistance welding or vacuum brazing with Ag-Cu or Cu-Au fillers are the qualified routes.
Can C15760 be formed, bent or molded?
Cold bending is limited by the low uniform elongation; hot work above ~800 °C or specify the AE temper for forged shapes — it cannot be cast, since melting destroys the dispersion.
C15760 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Al2O3dispersed alumina formed by internal oxidation of Cu-Al powder (~0.58 wt% Al equivalent) | 1.02 – 1.24 | 1.1 |
| Altotal aluminium, present as Al2O3 — designation AL-60 | 0.54 – 0.66 | 0.58 |
| Cu98.6 min including Ag | balance |
What surface finishes work on C15760?
Not anodisable; electroplate Ni/Ag for contact and vacuum service, or leave bare and expect normal copper tarnish above 200 °C in air.
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 C15760 in FabDigit's catalog. Equivalence is nominal — check the exact specification when certification matters.
- Trade names
- Glidcop AL-20
How much does C15760 cost?
C15760 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.
C15760 — frequently asked
What is C15760 used for?
C15760 is typically used for resistance welding electrodes, rocket engine combustion liners, high-temperature electrical contacts and vacuum furnace fixtures. In short: softening-resistant conductive copper; holds strength to 500 °C; long-life welding electrode alloy.
What is the yield strength of C15760?
C15760 has a typical yield strength of 545 MPa (79 ksi) and a tensile strength of 600 MPa (87 ksi) — stronger than 92% of copper alloy grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 7 listed tempers.
Is C15760 easy to machine?
Not especially — machinability is rated poor (30/100, worse than 67% of copper alloy grades). Machine like tough OFC but with sharp carbide/PCD tooling, positive rake and generous coolant — the Al₂O₃ dispersoids abrade edges and rating is only ~20 % of AISI 1212.
Can C15760 be welded?
Not readily — weldability is rated poor (30/100). Avoid fusion welding where possible (porosity and dispersoid disruption); electron-beam, friction/inertia and resistance welding or vacuum brazing with Ag-Cu or Cu-Au fillers are the qualified routes.
What surface finishes work on C15760?
Not anodisable; electroplate Ni/Ag for contact and vacuum service, or leave bare and expect normal copper tarnish above 200 °C in air.
Can C15760 be formed, bent or molded?
Cold bending is limited by the low uniform elongation; hot work above ~800 °C or specify the AE temper for forged shapes — it cannot be cast, since melting destroys the dispersion.
What is the maximum service temperature of C15760?
C15760 is rated for continuous use to about 500°C (932 °F). Strength falls off well before that limit — check the elevated-temperature data for load-bearing parts.
What is the difference between C15760-H04 and C15760-AE?
H04 is the default condition — standard stocked condition for resistance-welding electrodes, contacts and high-heat-flux components. AE: pick for large-section bar, forging stock or parts that will see heavy machining and high-temperature brazing. Yield strength is 545 MPa in H04 versus 385 MPa in AE.
How much does C15760 cost?
C15760 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
- CDA/UNS alloy record C15760 (Cu-Al2O3 dispersion strengthened copper) — Copper Development Association (2023)
- GlidCop Dispersion Strengthened Copper AL-15/AL-25/AL-60 property data — SCM Metal Products / Höganäs (2020)
- ASM Handbook Vol. 2 — Properties and Selection: Nonferrous Alloys, dispersion-strengthened coppers — ASM International (1990)
- ASTM B934 / RWMA Class 20 practice for dispersion-strengthened copper — ASTM / RWMA (2019)
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.