Copper Alloy C42500
UNS C42500 · EN CW454K
C42500 (CW454K) is a wrought tin brass from the C20000–C49999 family, strengthened by cold rolling rather than heat treatment and stocked in tempers from OS035 through H10.
Reference datasheet — C42500 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 H02 condition
C42500 tempers and conditions
C42500 is supplied in 9 conditions, soft to hard. H02 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Annealed to 0.035 mm grain size | Softest commercial strip temper; choose for deep drawing and severe forming before final stress relief. | 125 | 330 | 46 | 50 HRB | 28 % IACS |
Annealed to 0.015 mm grain size | Fine-grain anneal for formed parts needing a smooth surface after drawing (less orange peel) with slightly higher strength. | 150 | 360 | 42 | 58 HRB | 28 % IACS |
Quarter hard | Light cold work for parts that still need moderate bending but higher stiffness than annealed strip. | 305 | 400 | 25 | 68 HRB | 28 % IACS |
H02Default Half hard | Best all-round stocked strip temper: good balance of formability for stamped contacts and useful spring load. | 400 | 450 | 12 | 76 HRB | 28 % IACS |
Three-quarter hard | Choose when higher contact force is needed and only gentle, generous-radius bends are required. | 450 | 490 | 8 | 82 HRB | 28 % IACS |
Full hard | Standard high-strength connector strip temper for flat springs with bends across the rolling direction only. | 490 | 525 | 5 | 85 HRB | 28 % IACS |
Extra hard | For high-force, low-deflection springs and stamped blades where forming is limited to shallow bends. | 525 | 565 | 4 | 88 HRB | 28 % IACS |
Spring hard | Spring-quality strip for contact fingers and clips needing maximum elastic limit with minimal forming. | 565 | 600 | 3 | 91 HRB | 28 % IACS |
Extra spring hard | Maximum-strength strip for flat springs and shims; essentially no bending capability along the rolling direction. | 590 | 625 | 2 | 93 HRB | 28 % IACS |
What is C42500?
C42500 (CW454K) is a wrought tin brass from the C20000–C49999 family, strengthened by cold rolling rather than heat treatment and stocked in tempers from OS035 through H10. Engineers specify it as spring-temper strip for connectors and stampings: the default condition gives 400 MPa yield, 450 MPa tensile, 12% elongation, 76 HRB and 28% IACS conductivity. Limits are fusion weldability (zinc fume and porosity), a 180 °C maximum service temperature and season cracking in hard tempers. C42600 is the nearest alternative when more bend formability is needed. C42500 has a density of 8.78 g/cm³ (0.317 lb/in³), heavier than 53% of copper alloy grades. It melts at 990°C (1,814 °F). C42500 has a yield strength of 400 MPa (58 ksi) and a tensile strength of 450 MPa (65.3 ksi) — stronger than 80% of copper alloy grades. Elongation at break is 12% and the elastic modulus is 110 GPa (16 Msi).
What is C42500 used for?
- electrical connectors
- springs
- relay parts
Advantages
- High strength — 400 MPa (58 ksi), better than 80% of copper alloy grades
C42500 properties
Typical room-temperature values for C42500-H02; bars are the position among copper alloy grades.
Physical3
C42500 has a density of 8.78 g/cm³ (0.317 lb/in³), heavier than 53% of copper alloy grades. It melts at 990°C (1,814 °F).
Mechanical12
C42500 has a yield strength of 400 MPa (58 ksi) and a tensile strength of 450 MPa (65.3 ksi) — stronger than 80% of copper alloy grades. Elongation at break is 12% and the elastic modulus is 110 GPa (16 Msi).
Thermal6
C42500 is rated for continuous service to 180°C (356 °F). It conducts heat at 121 W/m·K (69.9 BTU/hr·ft·°F), better than 68% of copper alloy grades. Thermal expansion is 20.2 µm/m·K (11.2 µin/in·°F).
Electrical3
C42500 conducts electricity at 28 % IACS, better than 69% of copper alloy grades.
Chemical & Environmental3
Corrosion resistance is good (60/100), worse than 68% of copper alloy grades.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of C42500 takes about 60 MJ of energy and emits 4 kg of CO₂ — more than 69% of copper alloy grades. Typical recycled content is 40%.
Manufacturability8
C42500's machinability is poor (32/100, worse than 57% of copper alloy grades); weldability fair (45/100); formability fair (50/100).
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. C42500 is highlighted; hover a dot for its name, or open the interactive family chart.
Working with C42500
Is C42500 easy to machine?
Machinability about 30% of free-cutting brass — use sharp positive-rake tools, high speed and light feeds; strip parts are normally stamped rather than machined.
Can C42500 be welded?
Resistance and laser welding of thin strip are practical; fusion welding is fair at best due to zinc fume and porosity — soldering or brazing is preferred.
Can C42500 be formed, bent or molded?
Excellent stamping/drawing in OS or H01–H02 tempers; in H04 and harder, bend across the rolling direction with generous radii (≥2t) to avoid cracking.
C42500 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Cusilver may be counted as copper | 87 – 90 | 88.5 |
| Sn | 1.5 – 3 | 2 |
| P0.35 % max, added as deoxidizer | 0.35 | 0.1 |
| Pbimpurity limit | ≤ 0.05 | |
| Feimpurity limit | ≤ 0.05 | |
| Znremainder, ≈9–10 % | balance |
What surface finishes work on C42500?
Solders and brazes very well; commonly tin-, nickel- or gold-plated for contacts; not anodizable, and stress-relieve formed parts to prevent season cracking before plating.
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 C42500 in FabDigit's catalog. Equivalence is nominal — check the exact specification when certification matters.
- EN / DIN / Werkstoff-Nr.
- CW454K
How much does C42500 cost?
C42500 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.
C42500 — frequently asked
What is C42500 used for?
C42500 is typically used for electrical connectors, springs and relay parts. In short: higher-strength tin brass; spring-temper connector strip; 28% IACS conductivity.
What is the yield strength of C42500?
C42500 has a typical yield strength of 400 MPa (58 ksi) and a tensile strength of 450 MPa (65.3 ksi) — stronger than 80% of copper alloy grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 9 listed tempers.
Is C42500 easy to machine?
Not especially — machinability is rated poor (32/100, worse than 57% of copper alloy grades). Machinability about 30% of free-cutting brass — use sharp positive-rake tools, high speed and light feeds; strip parts are normally stamped rather than machined.
Can C42500 be welded?
With care — weldability is rated fair (45/100). Resistance and laser welding of thin strip are practical; fusion welding is fair at best due to zinc fume and porosity — soldering or brazing is preferred.
What surface finishes work on C42500?
Solders and brazes very well; commonly tin-, nickel- or gold-plated for contacts; not anodizable, and stress-relieve formed parts to prevent season cracking before plating.
Can C42500 be formed, bent or molded?
Excellent stamping/drawing in OS or H01–H02 tempers; in H04 and harder, bend across the rolling direction with generous radii (≥2t) to avoid cracking.
What is the maximum service temperature of C42500?
C42500 is rated for continuous use to about 180°C (356 °F). Strength falls off well before that limit — check the elevated-temperature data for load-bearing parts.
What is the difference between C42500-H02 and C42500-OS035?
H02 is the default condition — best all-round stocked strip temper: good balance of formability for stamped contacts and useful spring load. OS035: softest commercial strip temper; choose for deep drawing and severe forming before final stress relief. Yield strength is 400 MPa in H02 versus 125 MPa in OS035.
How much does C42500 cost?
C42500 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 B591 — Copper-Zinc-Tin Alloy Plate, Sheet, Strip and Rolled Bar — ASTM International (2022)
- CDA Alloy C42500 property sheet — Copper Development Association (copper.org) (2023)
- ASM Handbook Vol.2 — Properties and Selection: Nonferrous Alloys — ASM International (1990)
- EN 1652 / CW454K wrought copper alloy sheet and strip — CEN (1997)
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.