Copper Alloy C18980
UNS C18980
C18980 is a deoxidized copper filler wire with small tin, manganese and silicon additions, used as GTAW and GMAW filler for copper and copper alloys rather than as a brazing alloy.
Reference datasheet — C18980 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 AW condition
C18980 tempers and conditions
C18980 is supplied in 3 conditions, soft to hard. AW is the default FabDigit quotes; the values on this page are for it.
Compare all 3 conditionsHide
| Condition · open for datasheet | Best for | Yield MPa | Tensile MPa | Elong. % | Hardness | Conductivity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Soft annealed | Pick for 1.6–4.0 mm cut-length TIG rods and gas-welding rods where the filler must be hand-fed and easily bent. | 70 | 230 | 42 | 48 HB | 36 % IACS |
AWDefault As-welded deposit | Default: properties of the undiluted ERCu weld deposit made by GTAW/GMAW with argon or Ar-He shielding. | 80 | 240 | 32 | 65 HB | 35 % IACS |
Hard-drawn spooled wire | Pick for spooled MIG/MAG wire (0.8–1.6 mm) where column strength and smooth feeding through a liner are needed. | 310 | 380 | 8 | 95 HB | 34 % IACS |
What is C18980?
C18980 is a deoxidized copper filler wire with small tin, manganese and silicon additions, used as GTAW and GMAW filler for copper and copper alloys rather than as a brazing alloy. It is chosen where the joint must carry current and heat: deposits hold about 35% IACS and 200 W/(m·K), with 80 MPa yield, 240 MPa tensile, 32% elongation and 65 HB (30 HRB). Available as as-welded deposit data plus H00 and O60 rod and spooled wire. Strength is the lowest in this filler group and service is limited to 200 °C; use a silicon bronze or brass filler where deposit strength matters more than conductivity. C18980 has a density of 8.9 g/cm³ (0.322 lb/in³), heavier than 77% of copper alloy grades. It melts at 1,065°C (1,949 °F). C18980 has a yield strength of 80 MPa (11.6 ksi) and a tensile strength of 240 MPa (34.8 ksi) — weaker than 90% of copper alloy grades. Elongation at break is 32% and the elastic modulus is 115 GPa (16.7 Msi).
What is C18980 used for?
- copper pipe and busbar welding
- copper vessel fabrication
- electrical conductor welding
Advantages
- Readily welded — 90/100, better than 98% of copper alloy grades
- Forms and bends easily — 88/100, better than 87% of copper alloy grades
- Conducts heat well — 200 W/m·K (115.6 BTU/hr·ft·°F), better than 78% of copper alloy grades
- Ductile — tolerates forming and impact — 32%, better than 77% of copper alloy grades
Limitations
- Difficult to machine — 22/100, worse than 94% of copper alloy grades
- Low strength — 80 MPa (11.6 ksi), worse than 90% of copper alloy grades
C18980 properties
Typical room-temperature values for C18980-AW; bars are the position among copper alloy grades.
Physical3
C18980 has a density of 8.9 g/cm³ (0.322 lb/in³), heavier than 77% of copper alloy grades. It melts at 1,065°C (1,949 °F).
Mechanical13
C18980 has a yield strength of 80 MPa (11.6 ksi) and a tensile strength of 240 MPa (34.8 ksi) — weaker than 90% of copper alloy grades. Elongation at break is 32% and the elastic modulus is 115 GPa (16.7 Msi).
Thermal6
C18980 is rated for continuous service to 200°C (392 °F). It conducts heat at 200 W/m·K (115.6 BTU/hr·ft·°F), better than 78% of copper alloy grades. Thermal expansion is 17.7 µm/m·K (9.83 µin/in·°F).
Electrical3
C18980 conducts electricity at 35 % IACS, better than 73% of copper alloy grades.
Chemical & Environmental3
Corrosion resistance is good (65/100), better than 58% of copper alloy grades.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of C18980 takes about 58 MJ of energy and emits 3.8 kg of CO₂ — more than 61% of copper alloy grades. Typical recycled content is 30%.
Manufacturability8
C18980's machinability is poor (22/100, worse than 94% of copper alloy grades); weldability excellent (90/100); formability excellent (88/100).
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. C18980 is highlighted; hover a dot for its name, or open the interactive family chart.
Working with C18980
Is C18980 easy to machine?
Weld deposits are soft and gummy — use sharp positive-rake tools, high speed, generous coolant; expect long stringy chips (≈20 % of AISI 1212).
Can C18980 be welded?
Designed for GTAW/GMAW of deoxidized and tough-pitch copper with Ar or Ar-He; preheat 200–500 °C on sections over ~3 mm and keep interpass heat up to offset copper's heat sinking.
Can C18980 be formed, bent or molded?
Annealed rod bends and hammer-peens readily; hard-drawn spool wire should not be sharply re-bent before feeding.
C18980 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Snstrength / fluidity | 0.2 – 1 | 0.6 |
| Mndeoxidizer | 0.1 – 0.5 | 0.3 |
| Sideoxidizer, arc stability | 0.1 – 0.5 | 0.25 |
| Presidual deoxidizer | ≤ 0.15 | 0.05 |
| Al | ≤ 0.01 | |
| Pb | ≤ 0.02 | |
| Other, total | ≤ 0.5 | |
| CuCu + Ag, 98.0 % min per AWS A5.7 ERCu | ≥ 98 (balance) |
What surface finishes work on C18980?
Cannot be anodized — clean flux/oxide with dilute acid pickle, then leave bright, patinate, lacquer, or Ni/Sn plate for service.
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 C18980 in FabDigit's catalog. Equivalence is nominal — check the exact specification when certification matters.
- Trade names
- ERCu
How much does C18980 cost?
C18980 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.
C18980 — frequently asked
What is C18980 used for?
C18980 is typically used for copper pipe and busbar welding, copper vessel fabrication and electrical conductor welding. In short: highest-conductivity filler here; for GTAW/GMAW of copper; soft, ductile deposit.
What is the yield strength of C18980?
C18980 has a typical yield strength of 80 MPa (11.6 ksi) and a tensile strength of 240 MPa (34.8 ksi) — weaker than 90% of copper alloy grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 3 listed tempers.
Is C18980 easy to machine?
Not especially — machinability is rated poor (22/100, worse than 94% of copper alloy grades). Weld deposits are soft and gummy — use sharp positive-rake tools, high speed, generous coolant; expect long stringy chips (≈20 % of AISI 1212).
Can C18980 be welded?
Yes — weldability is rated excellent (90/100). Designed for GTAW/GMAW of deoxidized and tough-pitch copper with Ar or Ar-He; preheat 200–500 °C on sections over ~3 mm and keep interpass heat up to offset copper's heat sinking.
What surface finishes work on C18980?
Cannot be anodized — clean flux/oxide with dilute acid pickle, then leave bright, patinate, lacquer, or Ni/Sn plate for service.
Can C18980 be formed, bent or molded?
Annealed rod bends and hammer-peens readily; hard-drawn spool wire should not be sharply re-bent before feeding.
What is the maximum service temperature of C18980?
C18980 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 C18980-AW and C18980-H00?
AW is the default condition — default: properties of the undiluted ERCu weld deposit made by GTAW/GMAW with argon or Ar-He shielding. H00: pick for spooled MIG/MAG wire (0.8–1.6 mm) where column strength and smooth feeding through a liner are needed. Yield strength is 80 MPa in AW versus 310 MPa in H00.
How much does C18980 cost?
C18980 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
- AWS A5.7/A5.7M — Specification for Copper and Copper Alloy Bare Welding Rods and Electrodes (ERCu) — American Welding Society (2011)
- UNS C18980 copper alloy data / Standard Designations for Wrought and Cast Copper — Copper Development Association (copper.org) (2023)
- ASM Handbook Vol. 2 — Properties and Selection: Nonferrous Alloys — ASM International (1990)
- ASM Handbook Vol. 6 — Welding, Brazing and Soldering (welding of copper alloys) — ASM International (1993)
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.