Copper Alloy C17300
UNS C17300 · ASTM B196 · EN CuBe2Pb, CW102C
C17300 is a free-machining beryllium bronze — high-strength C17200 with about 0.2–0.6 % lead added so chips break on automatic lathes — supplied as rod and wire to ASTM B196 (CuBe2Pb, CW102C); ageing response matches C17200.
Values for the A condition
C17300 tempers and conditions
C17300 is supplied in 9 conditions, soft to hard. A is the default FabDigit quotes; the values on this page are for it.
Compare all 9 conditionsHide
| Condition · open for datasheet | Best for | Yield MPa | Tensile MPa | Elong. % | Hardness | Conductivity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
ADefault Solution annealed | Soft, most-stocked supply condition for machining or forming before customer ageing. | 220 | 470 | 40 | 110 HB | 18 % IACS |
Solution heat treated and cold worked, quarter hard | Light cold work for straighter, stiffer bar that will still be age hardened later. | 450 | 560 | 25 | 150 HB | 18 % IACS |
Solution heat treated and cold worked, half hard | Medium cold work; higher pre-age strength for parts machined then aged. | 550 | 640 | 15 | 12 HRC | 18 % IACS |
Solution heat treated and cold worked, full hard | Maximum cold-worked strength without ageing; best chip control on screw machines. | 660 | 760 | 6 | 22 HRC | 18 % IACS |
Hardened | Standard fully heat-treated condition (≈315 °C/3 h) for springs, tooling and high-strength machined parts. | 1,035 | 1,220 | 5 | 39 HRC | 23 % IACS |
Solution heat treated and precipitation hardened | Solution-annealed C17300 given a full precipitation age (~315–345 °C), giving peak strength and hardness with the free-machining benefit of the lead addition; ductility is low. | 1,035 | 1,210 | 5 | 39 HRC | 24 % IACS |
TD01 and precipitation hardened | Slightly higher strength than AT with retained ductility for machined spring parts. | 1,105 | 1,240 | 4 | 40 HRC | 23 % IACS |
TD02 and precipitation hardened | Higher yield strength for heavily loaded pins, bushings and die inserts. | 1,150 | 1,290 | 3 | 41 HRC | 23 % IACS |
TD04 and precipitation hardened | Peak strength and hardness condition; choose for maximum wear/bearing loads, ductility is minimal. | 1,240 | 1,380 | 2 | 42 HRC | 23 % IACS |
What is C17300?
C17300 is a free-machining beryllium bronze — high-strength C17200 with about 0.2–0.6 % lead added so chips break on automatic lathes — supplied as rod and wire to ASTM B196 (CuBe2Pb, CW102C); ageing response matches C17200. Solution treated and aged it reaches 1200–1400 MPa tensile strength and 38–44 HRC at roughly 20 % IACS, non-magnetic, corrosion resistant and fatigue resistant, while Condition A stock runs 470 MPa tensile, 220 MPa yield and 40 % elongation. Limits are beryllium dust toxicity, the lead content (rules out lead-free and fusion-welded parts), service temperature of only about 150–200 °C, and high cost. Use C17200 where lead is not permitted. C17300 has a density of 8.26 g/cm³ (0.298 lb/in³), lighter than 83% of copper alloy grades. It melts at 865°C (1,589 °F). C17300 has a yield strength of 220 MPa (31.9 ksi) and a tensile strength of 470 MPa (68.2 ksi) — weaker than 51% of copper alloy grades. Elongation at break is 40% and the elastic modulus is 128 GPa (18.6 Msi).
What is C17300 used for?
- Automatic-lathe pins and plungers
- Machined electrical contacts
- Miniature connector sockets
- Valve components
- Mould and die inserts
- Non-sparking safety tools
- Threaded spring-contact parts
Advantages
- Ductile — tolerates forming and impact — 40%, better than 84% of copper alloy grades
- Forms and bends easily — 70/100, better than 80% of copper alloy grades
Limitations
- High embodied carbon — 7.5 kg CO₂/kg, worse than 97% of copper alloy grades
- Limited service temperature — 150°C (302 °F), worse than 96% of copper alloy grades
- Difficult to weld — 15/100, worse than 94% of copper alloy grades
C17300 properties
Typical room-temperature values for C17300-A; bars are the position among copper alloy grades.
Physical3
C17300 has a density of 8.26 g/cm³ (0.298 lb/in³), lighter than 83% of copper alloy grades. It melts at 865°C (1,589 °F).
Mechanical13
C17300 has a yield strength of 220 MPa (31.9 ksi) and a tensile strength of 470 MPa (68.2 ksi) — weaker than 51% of copper alloy grades. Elongation at break is 40% and the elastic modulus is 128 GPa (18.6 Msi).
Thermal6
C17300 is rated for continuous service to 150°C (302 °F). It conducts heat at 105 W/m·K (60.7 BTU/hr·ft·°F), better than 56% of copper alloy grades. Thermal expansion is 17.5 µm/m·K (9.72 µin/in·°F).
Electrical3
C17300 conducts electricity at 18 % IACS, better than 51% of copper alloy grades.
Chemical & Environmental3
Corrosion resistance is good (62/100), worse than 57% of copper alloy grades.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of C17300 takes about 120 MJ of energy and emits 7.5 kg of CO₂ — more than 98% of copper alloy grades. Typical recycled content is 35%.
Manufacturability8
C17300's machinability is fair (50/100, better than 69% of copper alloy grades); weldability poor (15/100); formability very good (70/100).
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. C17300 is highlighted; hover a dot for its name, or open the interactive family chart.
Working with C17300
Is C17300 easy to machine?
Lead makes it the easiest BeCu to turn (~60 % of AISI 1212); machine in Condition A or TD tempers, use carbide, flood coolant and wet dust control — beryllium-containing swarf and dust must be captured.
Can C17300 be welded?
Fusion welding is not recommended because of the lead; use resistance/spot welding, mechanical joints, or silver brazing with careful flux and post-braze re-ageing.
Can C17300 be formed, bent or molded?
Form, bend and thread only in Condition A or 1/4–1/2 hard; age at ~315 °C for 2–3 h afterwards, allowing ~0.1–0.2 % dimensional shrinkage.
Manufacturability
The process limits FabDigit applies to C17300. Every C17300 part is priced by an engineer; design inside these and the quote comes back without a redesign loop.
CNC machining
| Machinability | Fair50 / 100 |
|---|---|
| ISO material group | N.5 |
| Cutting speed (rough / finish) | 180 / 220 m/min |
| Minimum wall | 0.8 mm |
| Minimum internal radius | 1 mm |
| Drill depth limit | 6× diameter |
| Best surface (machined / polished) | Ra 1.6 / — |
| Hardenable after machining | No |
Sheet metal
| Formability | Fair70 / 100 |
|---|---|
| Weldability | Fair15 / 100 |
| Bendable | Yes |
C17300 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 |
|---|---|---|
| BeASTM B196 C17300 | 1.8 – 2 | 1.9 |
| Pbfree-machining addition | 0.2 – 0.6 | 0.4 |
| Ni+Co0.20 % minimum | ≥ 0.2 | 0.3 |
| Ni+Co+Fe0.6 % maximum combined | ≤ 0.6 | |
| Curemainder, ~97.3 % | balance |
What surface finishes work on C17300?
Not anodizable; electroless Ni, Ni/Au or Ag plating, passivation or bright polishing are standard — 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).
Passivation
Plating
Organic Coating
Equivalent designations
Standards and trade names that resolve to Copper Alloy C17300 in FabDigit's catalog. Equivalence is nominal — check the exact specification when certification matters.
- ASTM
- B196
- EN / DIN / Werkstoff-Nr.
- CuBe2PbCW102C
- Trade names
- Leaded BeCuFree-Machining Beryllium Copper
How much does C17300 cost?
C17300 is a specialty-cost copper alloy ($$$$$), pricier than about 99% 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.
C17300 — frequently asked
What is C17300 used for?
C17300 is typically used for automatic-lathe pins and plungers, machined electrical contacts, miniature connector sockets, valve components, mould and die inserts and non-sparking safety tools. In short: high-strength copper; conductive.
What is the yield strength of C17300?
C17300 has a typical yield strength of 220 MPa (31.9 ksi) and a tensile strength of 470 MPa (68.2 ksi) — weaker than 51% of copper alloy grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 9 listed tempers.
Is C17300 easy to machine?
Reasonably — machinability is rated fair (50/100, better than 69% of copper alloy grades). Lead makes it the easiest BeCu to turn (~60 % of AISI 1212); machine in Condition A or TD tempers, use carbide, flood coolant and wet dust control — beryllium-containing swarf and dust must be captured.
Can C17300 be welded?
Not readily — weldability is rated poor (15/100). Fusion welding is not recommended because of the lead; use resistance/spot welding, mechanical joints, or silver brazing with careful flux and post-braze re-ageing.
What surface finishes work on C17300?
Not anodizable; electroless Ni, Ni/Au or Ag plating, passivation or bright polishing are standard — avoid ammonia-based cleaners to prevent stress-corrosion cracking.
Can C17300 be formed, bent or molded?
Form, bend and thread only in Condition A or 1/4–1/2 hard; age at ~315 °C for 2–3 h afterwards, allowing ~0.1–0.2 % dimensional shrinkage.
What is the maximum service temperature of C17300?
C17300 is rated for continuous use to about 150°C (302 °F). Strength falls off well before that limit — check the elevated-temperature data for load-bearing parts.
What is the difference between C17300-A and C17300-TH04?
A is the default condition — soft, most-stocked supply condition for machining or forming before customer ageing. TH04: peak strength and hardness condition; choose for maximum wear/bearing loads, ductility is minimal. Yield strength is 220 MPa in A versus 1,240 MPa in TH04.
How much does C17300 cost?
C17300 is a specialty-cost copper alloy ($$$$$), pricier than about 99% 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.
Can FabDigit make parts in C17300?
Yes — C17300 is available for CNC machining and sheet metal; every part is priced by an engineer rather than instantly. Upload a STEP file to get a price and a DFM check.
Sources
- ASTM B196/B196M — Copper-Beryllium Alloy Rod and Bar — ASTM International (2018)
- ASTM B441 — Copper-Cobalt-Beryllium and Copper-Beryllium Rod/Bar (related tempers) — ASTM International (2019)
- CDA Alloy C17300 property sheet — Copper Development Association (2023)
- Alloy 25 / Alloy M25 technical data — Materion Brush Performance Alloys (2022)
- ASM Handbook Vol. 2 — Properties of 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.