Copper Alloy C17460
UNS C17460 · ASTM B441
C17460 is a low-beryllium precipitation-hardening copper to ASTM B441 that balances strength and conductivity with reduced cobalt content compared with related connector alloys.
Reference datasheet — C17460 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
C17460 tempers and conditions
C17460 is supplied in 8 conditions, soft to hard. TF00 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Solution heat treated | Softest condition for deep forming, stamping or machining before customer age hardening. | 170 | 340 | 28 | 95 HB | 28 % IACS |
Solution heat treated and cold worked, full hard | Cold-drawn/rolled but not aged; chosen when the part is formed then age hardened to HT. | 450 | 520 | 10 | 145 HB | 30 % IACS |
Mill hardened, half hard | Mill-hardened strip for formed contacts needing good bend ductility with no customer heat treatment. | 550 | 660 | 14 | 185 HB | 52 % IACS |
TF00Default Solution heat treated and precipitation hardened | Standard stocked rod/bar condition: peak-aged for balanced 700–830 MPa strength with ~50% IACS conductivity. | 620 | 760 | 12 | 95 HRB | 52 % IACS |
Mill hardened, full hard | Mid-range mill-hardened strip temper balancing forming and spring force. | 620 | 730 | 11 | 18 HRC | 52 % IACS |
Mill hardened, extra hard | Common connector strip temper: high contact force with moderate bendability transverse to rolling. | 710 | 800 | 9 | 22 HRC | 50 % IACS |
TD04 and precipitation hardened | Highest strength condition for springs and heavily loaded contacts where ductility can be low. | 740 | 830 | 8 | 25 HRC | 50 % IACS |
Mill hardened, spring hard | Highest mill-hardened strength for flat springs and minimal-deflection contacts; limited forming. | 780 | 860 | 7 | 24 HRC | 50 % IACS |
What is C17460?
C17460 is a low-beryllium precipitation-hardening copper to ASTM B441 that balances strength and conductivity with reduced cobalt content compared with related connector alloys. It is stocked as strip in TB00, TD04, TF00, TH04 and mill-hardened TM02–TM08 for stamped springs and contacts, giving 620 MPa yield, 760 MPa tensile, 12% elongation, 95 HRB, 52% IACS, 230 W/m·K and service to 340 °C. Formability is low (score 30) and machinability 45, and beryllium content requires exposure controls; C17450 is the alternative when tighter bends or higher conductivity are needed. C17460 has a density of 8.83 g/cm³ (0.319 lb/in³), heavier than 65% of copper alloy grades. It melts at 1,000°C (1,832 °F). C17460 has a yield strength of 620 MPa (89.9 ksi) and a tensile strength of 760 MPa (110 ksi) — stronger than 95% of copper alloy grades. Elongation at break is 12% and the elastic modulus is 138 GPa (20 Msi).
What is C17460 used for?
- Connector springs
- Electronic contacts
- Relay components
Advantages
- High strength — 620 MPa (89.9 ksi), better than 95% of copper alloy grades
- Stiff — 138 GPa (20 Msi), better than 95% of copper alloy grades
- High service temperature — 340°C (644 °F), better than 94% of copper alloy grades
- Conducts heat well — 230 W/m·K (132.9 BTU/hr·ft·°F), better than 81% of copper alloy grades
- High electrical conductivity — 52 % IACS, better than 80% of copper alloy grades
Limitations
- High embodied carbon — 6.5 kg CO₂/kg, worse than 94% of copper alloy grades
C17460 properties
Typical room-temperature values for C17460-TF00; bars are the position among copper alloy grades.
Physical3
C17460 has a density of 8.83 g/cm³ (0.319 lb/in³), heavier than 65% of copper alloy grades. It melts at 1,000°C (1,832 °F).
Mechanical13
C17460 has a yield strength of 620 MPa (89.9 ksi) and a tensile strength of 760 MPa (110 ksi) — stronger than 95% of copper alloy grades. Elongation at break is 12% and the elastic modulus is 138 GPa (20 Msi).
Thermal6
C17460 is rated for continuous service to 340°C (644 °F). It conducts heat at 230 W/m·K (132.9 BTU/hr·ft·°F), better than 81% of copper alloy grades. Thermal expansion is 17.5 µm/m·K (9.72 µin/in·°F).
Electrical3
C17460 conducts electricity at 52 % IACS, better than 80% of copper alloy grades.
Chemical & Environmental3
Corrosion resistance is good (65/100), better than 58% of copper alloy grades.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of C17460 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
C17460's machinability is fair (45/100, better than 64% of copper alloy grades); weldability fair (45/100); 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. C17460 is highlighted; hover a dot for its name, or open the interactive family chart.
Working with C17460
Is C17460 easy to machine?
Machines like a hard bronze — carbide tooling, positive rake, flood coolant; wet-cut and capture fines/dust because of beryllium content (OSHA/ACGIH exposure controls).
Can C17460 be welded?
Resistance and electron-beam welding good; GTAW possible with matching filler but the heat-affected zone loses age-hardened strength and normally needs re-solutioning and re-aging.
Can C17460 be formed, bent or molded?
Form in TB00/TD04 then age (600–800 °F class cycle, roughly 3 h at ~480 °C) for peak properties; mill-hardened TM tempers are formed as delivered with grain-direction bend limits.
C17460 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Beberyllium provides precipitation hardening | 0.15 – 0.5 | 0.3 |
| Ni | 1 – 1.4 | 1.2 |
| Curemainder; named impurities limited per ASTM B441/B534 | balance |
What surface finishes work on C17460?
Not anodizable; electroplate Ni barrier plus Sn, Ag or Au for contacts, or passivate/lacquer to limit tarnish; polishes to a bright 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 C17460 in FabDigit's catalog. Equivalence is nominal — check the exact specification when certification matters.
- ASTM
- B441
How much does C17460 cost?
C17460 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.
C17460 — frequently asked
What is C17460 used for?
C17460 is typically used for connector springs, electronic contacts and relay components. In short: highest service temp in group; low-cobalt connector alloy; limited cold formability.
What is the yield strength of C17460?
C17460 has a typical yield strength of 620 MPa (89.9 ksi) and a tensile strength of 760 MPa (110 ksi) — stronger than 95% of copper alloy grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 8 listed tempers.
Is C17460 easy to machine?
Reasonably — machinability is rated fair (45/100, better than 64% of copper alloy grades). Machines like a hard bronze — carbide tooling, positive rake, flood coolant; wet-cut and capture fines/dust because of beryllium content (OSHA/ACGIH exposure controls).
Can C17460 be welded?
With care — weldability is rated fair (45/100). Resistance and electron-beam welding good; GTAW possible with matching filler but the heat-affected zone loses age-hardened strength and normally needs re-solutioning and re-aging.
What surface finishes work on C17460?
Not anodizable; electroplate Ni barrier plus Sn, Ag or Au for contacts, or passivate/lacquer to limit tarnish; polishes to a bright finish.
Can C17460 be formed, bent or molded?
Form in TB00/TD04 then age (600–800 °F class cycle, roughly 3 h at ~480 °C) for peak properties; mill-hardened TM tempers are formed as delivered with grain-direction bend limits.
What is the maximum service temperature of C17460?
C17460 is rated for continuous use to about 340°C (644 °F). Strength falls off well before that limit — check the elevated-temperature data for load-bearing parts.
What is the difference between C17460-TF00 and C17460-TB00?
TF00 is the default condition — standard stocked rod/bar condition: peak-aged for balanced 700–830 MPa strength with ~50% IACS conductivity. TB00: softest condition for deep forming, stamping or machining before customer age hardening. Yield strength is 620 MPa in TF00 versus 170 MPa in TB00.
How much does C17460 cost?
C17460 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 B441 — Copper-Cobalt-Beryllium and Copper-Nickel-Beryllium Rod and Bar — ASTM International (2021)
- ASTM B534 — Copper-Cobalt-Beryllium / Copper-Nickel-Beryllium Plate, Sheet, Strip and Rolled Bar — ASTM International (2018)
- Alloy 174 (C17460) high-conductivity beryllium copper data — Materion Brush Performance Alloys (2021)
- UNS C17460 alloy datasheet — Copper Development Association (copper.org) (2023)
- 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.