Copper Alloy C17000
UNS C17000 · EN CW100C
C17000 (CW100C) is a beryllium copper with a lower beryllium content than C17200, precipitation hardened to 1000 MPa yield, 1140 MPa tensile and 36 HRC in the aged default condition.
Reference datasheet — C17000 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 TF00 condition
C17000 tempers and conditions
C17000 is supplied in 14 conditions, soft to hard. TF00 is the default FabDigit quotes; the values on this page are for it.
Compare all 14 conditionsHide
| Condition · open for datasheet | Best for | Yield MPa | Tensile MPa | Elong. % | Hardness | Conductivity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Solution heat treated | Softest supply condition — deep draw, stamp or form complex parts, then age harden. | 240 | 480 | 45 | 110 HB | 17 % IACS |
Solution heat treated and cold worked, quarter hard | Light cold work for parts needing extra stiffness in forming while still bendable before aging. | 480 | 585 | 28 | 145 HB | 17 % IACS |
Solution heat treated and cold worked, half hard | Half-hard strip/rod for moderate forming with higher as-formed strength before age hardening. | 570 | 655 | 15 | 185 HB | 17 % IACS |
Mill hardened | Ready-to-use mill hardened strip: no customer aging, best formability of the TM series. | 620 | 760 | 16 | 22 HRC | 24 % IACS |
Solution heat treated and cold worked, full hard | Fully cold-worked temper for flat springs and contacts that receive only simple bends before aging. | 690 | 760 | 5 | 20 HRC | 17 % IACS |
mill hardened quarter hard | Mill hardened strip balancing forming of moderate bends with mid-level spring strength. | 690 | 830 | 14 | 25 HRC | 24 % IACS |
Mill hardened, half hard | Common connector-strip temper: no heat treat needed, good stress relaxation resistance. | 790 | 900 | 11 | 28 HRC | 24 % IACS |
Mill hardened, full hard | Higher-strength mill hardened strip for stamped springs with generous bend radii. | 860 | 965 | 9 | 30 HRC | 24 % IACS |
mill hardened extra hard | Extra-hard mill hardened temper for high-force contacts where only mild forming is required. | 930 | 1,035 | 7 | 33 HRC | 24 % IACS |
TF00Default Solution heat treated and precipitation hardened | Standard peak-aged bar/rod/plate condition for high-strength machined parts and molds. | 1,000 | 1,140 | 6 | 36 HRC | 23 % IACS |
Mill hardened, extra hard | Strongest mill hardened temper — near TH-level strength with no customer heat treatment. | 1,000 | 1,105 | 6 | 34 HRC | 24 % IACS |
TD01 and precipitation hardened | Formed from TD01 stock and aged — highest strength with some residual ductility. | 1,050 | 1,180 | 5 | 37 HRC | 23 % IACS |
TD02 and precipitation hardened | Aged half-hard strip for springs needing high yield strength and good fatigue life. | 1,085 | 1,220 | 4 | 38 HRC | 23 % IACS |
TD04 and precipitation hardened | Maximum-strength condition for flat springs, diaphragms and contact fingers with simple geometry. | 1,120 | 1,255 | 3 | 39 HRC | 23 % IACS |
What is C17000?
C17000 (CW100C) is a beryllium copper with a lower beryllium content than C17200, precipitation hardened to 1000 MPa yield, 1140 MPa tensile and 36 HRC in the aged default condition. It is supplied as strip, rod, wire and plate for springs, relay and switch parts and connectors that need high elastic strength together with 23 % IACS conductivity and 107 W/m·K. Peak strength is below C17200, service is limited to about 200 °C, and beryllium-bearing dust and fume require local exhaust; C17510 nickel-beryllium is the usual choice when conductivity matters more than strength. C17000 has a density of 8.41 g/cm³ (0.304 lb/in³), lighter than 72% of copper alloy grades. It melts at 866°C (1,591 °F). C17000 has a yield strength of 1,000 MPa (145 ksi) and a tensile strength of 1,140 MPa (165 ksi) — stronger than 99% of copper alloy grades. Elongation at break is 6% and the elastic modulus is 131 GPa (19 Msi).
What is C17000 used for?
- springs
- relay and switch parts
- electrical connectors
Advantages
- High strength — 1,000 MPa (145 ksi), better than 99% of copper alloy grades
- Polishes to a fine finish — 85/100, better than 92% of copper alloy grades
- Stiff — 131 GPa (19 Msi), better than 91% of copper alloy grades
Limitations
- High embodied carbon — 6.5 kg CO₂/kg, worse than 94% of copper alloy grades
- Limited ductility — 6%, worse than 89% of copper alloy grades
C17000 properties
Typical room-temperature values for C17000-TF00; bars are the position among copper alloy grades.
Physical3
C17000 has a density of 8.41 g/cm³ (0.304 lb/in³), lighter than 72% of copper alloy grades. It melts at 866°C (1,591 °F).
Mechanical16
C17000 has a yield strength of 1,000 MPa (145 ksi) and a tensile strength of 1,140 MPa (165 ksi) — stronger than 99% of copper alloy grades. Elongation at break is 6% and the elastic modulus is 131 GPa (19 Msi).
Thermal6
C17000 is rated for continuous service to 200°C (392 °F). It conducts heat at 107 W/m·K (61.8 BTU/hr·ft·°F), better than 58% of copper alloy grades. Thermal expansion is 17 µm/m·K (9.44 µin/in·°F).
Electrical3
C17000 conducts electricity at 23 % IACS, better than 56% 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 C17000 takes about 95 MJ of energy and emits 6.5 kg of CO₂ — more than 95% of copper alloy grades. Typical recycled content is 30%.
Manufacturability8
C17000's machinability is fair (40/100, better than 57% of copper alloy grades); weldability fair (50/100); formability poor (20/100).
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. C17000 is highlighted; hover a dot for its name, or open the interactive family chart.
Working with C17000
Is C17000 easy to machine?
Machine in the aged (TF00/TH) condition with sharp carbide tools, positive rake and flood coolant; capture all chips/dust — beryllium-bearing particulate requires local exhaust and no dry grinding.
Can C17000 be welded?
Resistance, electron-beam and laser welding are preferred; GTAW is possible with matching filler but the weld zone softens and must be re-solution treated and aged; ventilate fumes.
Can C17000 be formed, bent or molded?
Form in TB00 or TD tempers before precipitation aging (typically ~315–330 °C for 2–3 h); aged material has limited bend ductility and springback is high.
C17000 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Be | 1.6 – 1.79 | 1.7 |
| Co+Niminimum combined cobalt + nickel | ≥ 0.2 | 0.3 |
| Co+Ni+Femaximum combined | ≤ 0.6 | |
| Curemainder, including listed additions | balance |
What surface finishes work on C17000?
Takes a high mirror polish for mold inserts; electroless nickel, nickel/gold or silver plating is common for contacts; avoid ammonia-based cleaners to prevent stress-corrosion cracking.
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 C17000 in FabDigit's catalog. Equivalence is nominal — check the exact specification when certification matters.
- EN / DIN / Werkstoff-Nr.
- CW100C
How much does C17000 cost?
C17000 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.
C17000 — frequently asked
What is C17000 used for?
C17000 is typically used for springs, relay and switch parts and electrical connectors. In short: high-strength beryllium copper; 1000 MPa yield after aging; formable before age hardening.
What is the yield strength of C17000?
C17000 has a typical yield strength of 1,000 MPa (145 ksi) and a tensile strength of 1,140 MPa (165 ksi) — stronger than 99% of copper alloy grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 14 listed tempers.
Is C17000 easy to machine?
Not especially — machinability is rated fair (40/100, better than 57% of copper alloy grades). Machine in the aged (TF00/TH) condition with sharp carbide tools, positive rake and flood coolant; capture all chips/dust — beryllium-bearing particulate requires local exhaust and no dry grinding.
Can C17000 be welded?
With care — weldability is rated fair (50/100). Resistance, electron-beam and laser welding are preferred; GTAW is possible with matching filler but the weld zone softens and must be re-solution treated and aged; ventilate fumes.
What surface finishes work on C17000?
Takes a high mirror polish for mold inserts; electroless nickel, nickel/gold or silver plating is common for contacts; avoid ammonia-based cleaners to prevent stress-corrosion cracking.
Can C17000 be formed, bent or molded?
Form in TB00 or TD tempers before precipitation aging (typically ~315–330 °C for 2–3 h); aged material has limited bend ductility and springback is high.
What is the maximum service temperature of C17000?
C17000 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 C17000-TF00 and C17000-TB00?
TF00 is the default condition — standard peak-aged bar/rod/plate condition for high-strength machined parts and molds. TB00: softest supply condition — deep draw, stamp or form complex parts, then age harden. Yield strength is 1,000 MPa in TF00 versus 240 MPa in TB00.
How much does C17000 cost?
C17000 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 B194 / B196 / B197 — Beryllium copper strip, rod and wire — ASTM International (2020)
- CDA Alloy C17000 property datasheet — Copper Development Association (2023)
- Alloy 165 (C17000) technical data — Materion Brush Performance Alloys (2022)
- ASM Handbook Vol. 2 — Properties and Selection: Nonferrous Alloys — 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.