Copper Alloy C50100
UNS C50100
C50100 is a dilute phosphor bronze with about 1.25 % tin, deoxidized with phosphorus, sitting at the conductive end of the C5xxx wrought bronze family.
Reference datasheet — C50100 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 H04 condition
C50100 tempers and conditions
C50100 is supplied in 9 conditions, soft to hard. H04 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 | Choose for deep drawing, severe bending or maximum electrical conductivity before forming. | 95 | 255 | 45 | 55 HB | 52 % IACS |
Quarter hard | Light cold work when moderate strength must be combined with substantial bending ductility. | 240 | 300 | 25 | 85 HB | 51 % IACS |
Half hard | General-purpose stamping temper balancing strength and formability for terminals and clips. | 290 | 345 | 15 | 100 HB | 50 % IACS |
H04Default Full hard | Most commonly stocked strip temper for contacts, connectors and light spring parts. | 350 | 390 | 8 | 115 HB | 50 % IACS |
Stress-relieved / thermally stabilised hard strip | Low-temperature bake after cold rolling to raise elastic limit and cut stress relaxation in contact springs. | 375 | 400 | 8 | 120 HB | 53 % IACS |
Extra hard | Higher strength for flat springs where only gentle bends (large radii) are required. | 385 | 420 | 5 | 125 HB | 49 % IACS |
Hard drawn | Cold-drawn wire condition for conductor wire, pins and coiled springs. | 410 | 450 | 5 | 135 HB | 49 % IACS |
Spring hard | Spring-temper strip for contact springs needing high elastic limit and good conductivity. | 415 | 450 | 4 | 135 HB | 49 % IACS |
Extra spring hard | Maximum cold-rolled strength for flat springs with essentially no forming after rolling. | 440 | 470 | 3 | 142 HB | 48 % IACS |
What is C50100?
C50100 is a dilute phosphor bronze with about 1.25 % tin, deoxidized with phosphorus, sitting at the conductive end of the C5xxx wrought bronze family. It is used where a contact must carry current and still act as a spring: 50 % IACS conductivity with 350 MPa yield, 390 MPa tensile, 8 % elongation, 115 HB and service to 200 °C in the default temper, supplied as strip and coil in O61 through H10 plus HR50 and H80. Machining is poor (~20 % of AISI 1212) and it work-hardens quickly, so it suits stamped rather than turned parts. Choose C51100 when higher spring strength matters more than conductivity. C50100 has a density of 8.89 g/cm³ (0.321 lb/in³), heavier than 72% of copper alloy grades. It melts at 1,050°C (1,922 °F). C50100 has a yield strength of 350 MPa (50.8 ksi) and a tensile strength of 390 MPa (56.6 ksi) — stronger than 74% of copper alloy grades. Elongation at break is 8% and the elastic modulus is 117 GPa (17 Msi).
What is C50100 used for?
- electrical connectors
- spring contacts
- terminals
Advantages
- Forms and bends easily — 70/100, better than 80% of copper alloy grades
- Conducts heat well — 210 W/m·K (121.3 BTU/hr·ft·°F), better than 79% of copper alloy grades
- High electrical conductivity — 50 % IACS, better than 79% of copper alloy grades
- Readily welded — 60/100, better than 76% of copper alloy grades
Limitations
- Limited ductility — 8%, worse than 83% of copper alloy grades
C50100 properties
Typical room-temperature values for C50100-H04; bars are the position among copper alloy grades.
Physical3
C50100 has a density of 8.89 g/cm³ (0.321 lb/in³), heavier than 72% of copper alloy grades. It melts at 1,050°C (1,922 °F).
Mechanical11
C50100 has a yield strength of 350 MPa (50.8 ksi) and a tensile strength of 390 MPa (56.6 ksi) — stronger than 74% of copper alloy grades. Elongation at break is 8% and the elastic modulus is 117 GPa (17 Msi).
Thermal6
C50100 is rated for continuous service to 200°C (392 °F). It conducts heat at 210 W/m·K (121.3 BTU/hr·ft·°F), better than 79% of copper alloy grades. Thermal expansion is 17.8 µm/m·K (9.89 µin/in·°F).
Electrical3
C50100 conducts electricity at 50 % IACS, better than 79% of copper alloy grades.
Chemical & Environmental3
Corrosion resistance is good (66/100), better than 64% of copper alloy grades.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of C50100 takes about 57 MJ of energy and emits 3.6 kg of CO₂ — less than 52% of copper alloy grades. Typical recycled content is 40%.
Manufacturability7
C50100's machinability is poor (30/100, worse than 67% of copper alloy grades); weldability good (60/100); 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. C50100 is highlighted; hover a dot for its name, or open the interactive family chart.
Working with C50100
Is C50100 easy to machine?
Gummy and low-rated (~20 % of AISI 1212): use sharp positive-rake tools, high speed, light feeds and good lubrication; not a free-machining alloy.
Can C50100 be welded?
Resistance and gas-shielded arc welding are acceptable with matched or CuSn filler; oxyfuel welding is poor — avoid overheating to prevent P loss and porosity.
Can C50100 be formed, bent or molded?
Excellent cold formability in O61/H01; work-hardens quickly, so interstage anneals near 480–650 °C are used for deep-drawn or severely bent parts.
C50100 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Snlow-tin phosphor bronze; some references quote up to ~1.25 % Sn for this family | 0.5 – 0.8 | 0.65 |
| Pdeoxidiser / solid-solution strengthener | 0.01 – 0.05 | 0.03 |
| Fe | ≤ 0.05 | |
| Zn | ≤ 0.3 | |
| Pb | ≤ 0.05 | |
| Curemainder, Cu + named elements ≥ 99.5 % | balance |
What surface finishes work on C50100?
Solders and brazes very well; commonly tin-, nickel-, silver- or gold-plated for contacts; takes a bright mechanical polish but tarnishes without plating or lacquer.
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).
How much does C50100 cost?
C50100 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.
C50100 — frequently asked
What is C50100 used for?
C50100 is typically used for electrical connectors, spring contacts and terminals. In short: highest-conductivity phosphor bronze; conductive spring contact strip; poor machinability.
What is the yield strength of C50100?
C50100 has a typical yield strength of 350 MPa (50.8 ksi) and a tensile strength of 390 MPa (56.6 ksi) — stronger than 74% of copper alloy grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 9 listed tempers.
Is C50100 easy to machine?
Not especially — machinability is rated poor (30/100, worse than 67% of copper alloy grades). Gummy and low-rated (~20 % of AISI 1212): use sharp positive-rake tools, high speed, light feeds and good lubrication; not a free-machining alloy.
Can C50100 be welded?
Yes — weldability is rated good (60/100). Resistance and gas-shielded arc welding are acceptable with matched or CuSn filler; oxyfuel welding is poor — avoid overheating to prevent P loss and porosity.
What surface finishes work on C50100?
Solders and brazes very well; commonly tin-, nickel-, silver- or gold-plated for contacts; takes a bright mechanical polish but tarnishes without plating or lacquer.
Can C50100 be formed, bent or molded?
Excellent cold formability in O61/H01; work-hardens quickly, so interstage anneals near 480–650 °C are used for deep-drawn or severely bent parts.
What is the maximum service temperature of C50100?
C50100 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 C50100-H04 and C50100-O61?
H04 is the default condition — most commonly stocked strip temper for contacts, connectors and light spring parts. O61: choose for deep drawing, severe bending or maximum electrical conductivity before forming. Yield strength is 350 MPa in H04 versus 95 MPa in O61.
How much does C50100 cost?
C50100 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
- CDA/UNS Alloy Data Sheet C50100 (phosphor bronze) — Copper Development Association (2023)
- ASTM B103/B103M — Phosphor Bronze Plate, Sheet, Strip and Rolled Bar — ASTM International (2019)
- ASTM B105 — Hard-Drawn Copper Alloy Wires for Electric Conductors — ASTM International (2018)
- ASM Handbook Vol. 2 — Properties and Selection: Nonferrous Alloys — ASM International (1990)
- GB/T 2059 / GB/T 2040 / (2017)
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.