Copper Alloy C15900
UNS C15900
Copper strengthened by a fine dispersion of aluminum oxide particles, retaining high electrical/thermal conductivity plus strength at elevated temperature where age-hardened copper alloys would overage.
Reference datasheet — C15900 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
C15900 tempers and conditions
C15900 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Hot isostatic pressed | Consolidated powder billet supplied for customers who will forge, extrude or back-extrude the part themselves. | 310 | 400 | 22 | 105 HB | 86 % IACS |
As hot extruded | Pick for large-section bar, forging stock and parts that will be heavily machined or subsequently hot worked. | 370 | 450 | 20 | 118 HB | 86 % IACS |
Cold worked then stress relieved / brazing-cycle exposed | Represents the property level after vacuum brazing or high-temperature stress relief — chosen when the part must be joined or thermally cycled and still carry load. | 395 | 470 | 18 | 125 HB | 86 % IACS |
Quarter hard | Compromise temper when some bending/staking is still required but higher yield than mill condition is wanted. | 430 | 490 | 16 | 130 HB | 85 % IACS |
Half hard | Typical for strip, small rod and contact supports needing balanced strength and residual ductility. | 470 | 515 | 14 | 138 HB | 85 % IACS |
H04Default Full hard | Standard stocked condition for resistance-welding electrodes, high heat-flux inserts and structural conductors. | 505 | 550 | 12 | 145 HB | 85 % IACS |
Spring hard | Highest strength condition, used for fine wire, contact springs and small-diameter conductors. | 570 | 610 | 8 | 160 HB | 84 % IACS |
What is C15900?
Copper strengthened by a fine dispersion of aluminum oxide particles, retaining high electrical/thermal conductivity plus strength at elevated temperature where age-hardened copper alloys would overage. C15900 has a density of 8.86 g/cm³ (0.32 lb/in³), heavier than 68% of copper alloy grades. It melts at 1,083°C (1,981 °F). C15900 has a yield strength of 505 MPa (73.2 ksi) and a tensile strength of 550 MPa (79.8 ksi) — stronger than 90% of copper alloy grades. Elongation at break is 12% and the elastic modulus is 130 GPa (18.9 Msi).
What is C15900 used for?
- resistance welding electrodes
- rocket engine combustion chamber liners
- high-temperature electrical contacts
Advantages
- High service temperature — 500°C (932 °F), better than 99% of copper alloy grades
- High strength — 505 MPa (73.2 ksi), better than 90% of copper alloy grades
- Stiff — 130 GPa (18.9 Msi), better than 89% of copper alloy grades
- High electrical conductivity — 85 % IACS, better than 86% of copper alloy grades
- Conducts heat well — 330 W/m·K (190.7 BTU/hr·ft·°F), better than 85% of copper alloy grades
Limitations
- Hard to polish — 65/100, worse than 87% of copper alloy grades
- Difficult to weld — 25/100, worse than 78% of copper alloy grades
C15900 properties
Typical room-temperature values for C15900-H04; bars are the position among copper alloy grades.
Physical3
C15900 has a density of 8.86 g/cm³ (0.32 lb/in³), heavier than 68% of copper alloy grades. It melts at 1,083°C (1,981 °F).
Mechanical13
C15900 has a yield strength of 505 MPa (73.2 ksi) and a tensile strength of 550 MPa (79.8 ksi) — stronger than 90% of copper alloy grades. Elongation at break is 12% and the elastic modulus is 130 GPa (18.9 Msi).
Thermal6
C15900 is rated for continuous service to 500°C (932 °F). It conducts heat at 330 W/m·K (190.7 BTU/hr·ft·°F), better than 85% of copper alloy grades. Thermal expansion is 16.6 µm/m·K (9.22 µin/in·°F).
Electrical3
C15900 conducts electricity at 85 % IACS, better than 86% of copper alloy grades.
Chemical & Environmental3
Corrosion resistance is good (55/100), worse than 86% of copper alloy grades.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of C15900 takes about 65 MJ of energy and emits 4.2 kg of CO₂ — more than 81% of copper alloy grades. Typical recycled content is 5%.
Manufacturability7
C15900's machinability is fair (35/100, better than 51% of copper alloy grades); weldability poor (25/100); formability poor (30/100).
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. C15900 is highlighted; hover a dot for its name, or open the interactive family chart.
Working with C15900
Is C15900 easy to machine?
Machines like tough copper but the Al₂O₃ is abrasive — use sharp, polished uncoated carbide or PCD, positive rake, high speed with flood coolant, and expect 3–5× the tool wear of C11000.
Can C15900 be welded?
Avoid fusion welding (GTAW/GMAW) — melting agglomerates the dispersoid and causes porosity; join by vacuum/furnace brazing, electron-beam, friction or resistance welding, all of which leave the base metal strength intact.
Can C15900 be formed, bent or molded?
Cold form only with generous radii and limited reduction per pass; hot working (700–900 °C extrusion/forging) is the normal route and does not soften the material.
C15900 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Alpresent as internally-oxidised Al₂O₃ dispersoid (≈0.4–1.1 wt% Al₂O₃), not in solid solution | 0.2 – 0.6 | 0.35 |
| Ocombined as Al₂O₃; residual free oxygen kept low | 0.15 – 0.55 | 0.3 |
| Other (each)incidental impurities from powder route | ≤ 0.05 | |
| Cumatrix, high-purity oxygen-free copper | balance |
What surface finishes work on C15900?
Not anodisable; electroplate Ni, Ag or hard Cr for wear/oxidation protection, or leave bare with periodic oxide removal — polishes to a copper lustre but the dispersoid can leave a slightly matte finish.
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 C15900 in FabDigit's catalog. Equivalence is nominal — check the exact specification when certification matters.
- Trade names
- Glidcop
How much does C15900 cost?
C15900 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.
C15900 — frequently asked
What is C15900 used for?
C15900 is typically used for resistance welding electrodes, rocket engine combustion chamber liners and high-temperature electrical contacts. In short: highest-temperature conductive copper; non-softening to 500 °C; dispersion-strengthened, not age-hardened.
What is the yield strength of C15900?
C15900 has a typical yield strength of 505 MPa (73.2 ksi) and a tensile strength of 550 MPa (79.8 ksi) — stronger than 90% of copper alloy grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 7 listed tempers.
Is C15900 easy to machine?
Not especially — machinability is rated fair (35/100, better than 51% of copper alloy grades). Machines like tough copper but the Al₂O₃ is abrasive — use sharp, polished uncoated carbide or PCD, positive rake, high speed with flood coolant, and expect 3–5× the tool wear of C11000.
Can C15900 be welded?
Not readily — weldability is rated poor (25/100). Avoid fusion welding (GTAW/GMAW) — melting agglomerates the dispersoid and causes porosity; join by vacuum/furnace brazing, electron-beam, friction or resistance welding, all of which leave the base metal strength intact.
What surface finishes work on C15900?
Not anodisable; electroplate Ni, Ag or hard Cr for wear/oxidation protection, or leave bare with periodic oxide removal — polishes to a copper lustre but the dispersoid can leave a slightly matte finish.
Can C15900 be formed, bent or molded?
Cold form only with generous radii and limited reduction per pass; hot working (700–900 °C extrusion/forging) is the normal route and does not soften the material.
What is the maximum service temperature of C15900?
C15900 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 C15900-H04 and C15900-HIP?
H04 is the default condition — standard stocked condition for resistance-welding electrodes, high heat-flux inserts and structural conductors. HIP: consolidated powder billet supplied for customers who will forge, extrude or back-extrude the part themselves. Yield strength is 505 MPa in H04 versus 310 MPa in HIP.
How much does C15900 cost?
C15900 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 B902 — Compacted and Sintered Dispersion-Strengthened Copper Structural Materials — ASTM International (2020)
- CDA/UNS Copper Alloy Registration — C159xx dispersion-strengthened coppers — Copper Development Association (2023)
- GlidCop Dispersion Strengthened Copper AL-15 / AL-25 / AL-60 property data — SCM Metal Products / Höganäs (2019)
- ASM Handbook Vol. 2 — Properties and Selection: Nonferrous Alloys and Special-Purpose Materials — ASM International (1990)
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.