Copper Alloy C50200
UNS C50200 · ASTM B103
C50200 is a low-tin, low-phosphorus wrought phosphor bronze covered by ASTM B103 and supplied in tempers from O60 and OS025 through H01-H10 and spring-hard H80.
Reference datasheet — C50200 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
C50200 tempers and conditions
C50200 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Soft annealed | Maximum ductility for deep drawing, severe bending and spinning; lowest strength. | 95 | 275 | 45 | 25 HRB | 56 % IACS |
Annealed to 0.025 mm grain size | Grain-size-controlled anneal for strip that must draw cleanly without orange peel. | 105 | 290 | 42 | 62 HB | 56 % IACS |
Quarter hard | Light cold work when moderate bending is still required after forming. | 250 | 325 | 25 | 95 HB | 55 % IACS |
H02Default Half hard | Default stocked strip temper: good balance of formability, strength and spring behaviour for terminals and clips. | 320 | 370 | 12 | 112 HB | 55 % IACS |
Full hard | Higher strength for flat springs and contacts with only gentle bends (large radii, bend across grain). | 390 | 420 | 6 | 130 HB | 54 % IACS |
Hard drawn | Cold-drawn rod/wire condition for cotter pins, wire forms and fasteners. | 400 | 450 | 8 | 140 HB | 54 % IACS |
Extra hard | Use where higher elastic limit is needed and forming is limited to simple flat blanking. | 425 | 455 | 4 | 145 HB | 54 % IACS |
Spring hard | Spring temper strip for contact fingers and washers; stress-relieve after forming to hold shape. | 460 | 490 | 3 | 158 HB | 53 % IACS |
Extra spring hard | Maximum cold-rolled strength for flat springs with essentially no forming other than blanking. | 490 | 515 | 2 | 168 HB | 53 % IACS |
What is C50200?
C50200 is a low-tin, low-phosphorus wrought phosphor bronze covered by ASTM B103 and supplied in tempers from O60 and OS025 through H01-H10 and spring-hard H80. Engineers choose it where deep drawing and severe bending matter more than maximum spring force: the default condition gives 370 MPa tensile, 320 MPa yield, 12 % elongation and 62 HRB with service to 150 °C, at lower cost than higher-tin phosphor bronzes. Machinability is only about 20 % of free-cutting brass and the elastic limit is below that of C50700 or C51000, which are the step-up grades for heavy springs. C50200 has a density of 8.89 g/cm³ (0.321 lb/in³), heavier than 72% of copper alloy grades. It melts at 1,060°C (1,940 °F). C50200 has a yield strength of 320 MPa (46.4 ksi) and a tensile strength of 370 MPa (53.7 ksi) — stronger than 68% of copper alloy grades. Elongation at break is 12% and the elastic modulus is 115 GPa (16.7 Msi).
What is C50200 used for?
- electrical contacts
- switch blades
- fasteners
- cotter pins
Advantages
- Conducts heat well — 215 W/m·K (124.2 BTU/hr·ft·°F), better than 80% of copper alloy grades
- High electrical conductivity — 55 % IACS, better than 80% of copper alloy grades
Limitations
- Limited service temperature — 150°C (302 °F), worse than 96% of copper alloy grades
C50200 properties
Typical room-temperature values for C50200-H02; bars are the position among copper alloy grades.
Physical3
C50200 has a density of 8.89 g/cm³ (0.321 lb/in³), heavier than 72% of copper alloy grades. It melts at 1,060°C (1,940 °F).
Mechanical15
C50200 has a yield strength of 320 MPa (46.4 ksi) and a tensile strength of 370 MPa (53.7 ksi) — stronger than 68% of copper alloy grades. Elongation at break is 12% and the elastic modulus is 115 GPa (16.7 Msi).
Thermal6
C50200 is rated for continuous service to 150°C (302 °F). It conducts heat at 215 W/m·K (124.2 BTU/hr·ft·°F), better than 80% of copper alloy grades. Thermal expansion is 17.8 µm/m·K (9.89 µin/in·°F).
Electrical3
C50200 conducts electricity at 55 % 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 C50200 takes about 57 MJ of energy and emits 3.9 kg of CO₂ — less than 52% of copper alloy grades. Typical recycled content is 40%.
Manufacturability7
C50200's machinability is poor (30/100, worse than 67% of copper alloy grades); weldability good (55/100); formability good (60/100).
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. C50200 is highlighted; hover a dot for its name, or open the interactive family chart.
Working with C50200
Is C50200 easy to machine?
Machinability ~20% of free-cutting brass; gummy chips — use sharp positive-rake tools, high speed, light feeds and good lubrication.
Can C50200 be welded?
Excellent soldering and brazing; resistance and GTAW welding are fair — avoid overheating and use phosphor-bronze filler; oxyacetylene welding not recommended.
Can C50200 be formed, bent or molded?
Outstanding cold formability in O60/OS tempers (deep draw, severe bend); interanneal 480–650 °C for heavy reductions and stress-relieve formed springs at 180–200 °C.
C50200 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Sn | 1 – 1.5 | 1.25 |
| Pdeoxidiser residual, kept low for conductivity | ≤ 0.04 | 0.03 |
| Feimpurity limit | ≤ 0.1 | |
| Znimpurity limit | ≤ 0.3 | |
| Pbimpurity limit | ≤ 0.05 | |
| CuCu + named elements ≥ 99.5 %; Ag counted as Cu | ≥ 98 (balance) |
What surface finishes work on C50200?
Takes tin, silver, nickel and gold plating readily; polishes well; no anodizing — protect against ammonia-bearing environments to avoid SCC in cold-worked tempers.
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 C50200 in FabDigit's catalog. Equivalence is nominal — check the exact specification when certification matters.
- ASTM
- B103
How much does C50200 cost?
C50200 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.
C50200 — frequently asked
What is C50200 used for?
C50200 is typically used for electrical contacts, switch blades, fasteners and cotter pins. In short: most formable phosphor bronze; low-cost spring bronze; good contact-plating base.
What is the yield strength of C50200?
C50200 has a typical yield strength of 320 MPa (46.4 ksi) and a tensile strength of 370 MPa (53.7 ksi) — stronger than 68% of copper alloy grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 9 listed tempers.
Is C50200 easy to machine?
Not especially — machinability is rated poor (30/100, worse than 67% of copper alloy grades). Machinability ~20% of free-cutting brass; gummy chips — use sharp positive-rake tools, high speed, light feeds and good lubrication.
Can C50200 be welded?
Yes — weldability is rated good (55/100). Excellent soldering and brazing; resistance and GTAW welding are fair — avoid overheating and use phosphor-bronze filler; oxyacetylene welding not recommended.
What surface finishes work on C50200?
Takes tin, silver, nickel and gold plating readily; polishes well; no anodizing — protect against ammonia-bearing environments to avoid SCC in cold-worked tempers.
Can C50200 be formed, bent or molded?
Outstanding cold formability in O60/OS tempers (deep draw, severe bend); interanneal 480–650 °C for heavy reductions and stress-relieve formed springs at 180–200 °C.
What is the maximum service temperature of C50200?
C50200 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 C50200-H02 and C50200-O60?
H02 is the default condition — default stocked strip temper: good balance of formability, strength and spring behaviour for terminals and clips. O60: maximum ductility for deep drawing, severe bending and spinning; lowest strength. Yield strength is 320 MPa in H02 versus 95 MPa in O60.
How much does C50200 cost?
C50200 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 B103/B103M — Phosphor Bronze Plate, Sheet, Strip and Rolled Bar — ASTM International (2019)
- CDA Copper Alloy Datasheet C50200 — Copper Development Association (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.