Copper Alloy C55180
UNS C55180
C55180 is a silver-free copper-phosphorus brazing filler (nominally 5 % P) from the self-fluxing phos-copper family, used for copper-to-copper joints without a separate flux.
Reference datasheet — C55180 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.
C55180 tempers and conditions
C55180 is supplied in one standard condition, AS-BRAZED.
Supply forms, finishes and certifications
Ways C55180 is supplied — form, process route, surface or paperwork — without a datasheet of their own. The property values above apply.
| Option | What it is | Type |
|---|---|---|
RODDefault | As-supplied extruded/drawn rod | Supply form |
STRIP | Rolled strip / stamped preform | Supply form |
WIRE | Drawn wire / coil | Supply form |
POWDER | Atomized powder / paste | Printing process |
What is C55180?
C55180 is a silver-free copper-phosphorus brazing filler (nominally 5 % P) from the self-fluxing phos-copper family, used for copper-to-copper joints without a separate flux. Engineers select it as the lowest-cost self-fluxing filler for copper tube and fitting work, and it is stocked as rod, wire, strip and powder; as-brazed properties are about 250 MPa tensile strength, 6 % elongation and 90 HB. The alloy itself is brittle and must never contact iron, nickel or nickel-rich cupronickel, where brittle phosphides form at the interface. Where better flow and joint ductility are needed, the silver-bearing phos-coppers such as C55280 are the nearest alternative. C55180 has a density of 8.06 g/cm³ (0.291 lb/in³), lighter than 87% of copper alloy grades. It melts at 710°C (1,310 °F). C55180 has a yield strength of 150 MPa (21.8 ksi) and a tensile strength of 250 MPa (36.3 ksi) — weaker than 69% of copper alloy grades. Elongation at break is 6% and the elastic modulus is 110 GPa (16 Msi).
What is C55180 used for?
- copper pipe and tube joints
- electrical copper fittings
- refrigeration tubing
Limitations
- Hard to polish — 45/100, worse than 100% of copper alloy grades
- Difficult to machine — 20/100, worse than 98% of copper alloy grades
- Difficult to weld — 10/100, worse than 98% of copper alloy grades
- Limited service temperature — 150°C (302 °F), worse than 96% of copper alloy grades
- Limited ductility — 6%, worse than 89% of copper alloy grades
C55180 properties
Typical room-temperature values; bars are the position among copper alloy grades.
Physical3
C55180 has a density of 8.06 g/cm³ (0.291 lb/in³), lighter than 87% of copper alloy grades. It melts at 710°C (1,310 °F).
Mechanical8
C55180 has a yield strength of 150 MPa (21.8 ksi) and a tensile strength of 250 MPa (36.3 ksi) — weaker than 69% of copper alloy grades. Elongation at break is 6% and the elastic modulus is 110 GPa (16 Msi).
Thermal5
C55180 is rated for continuous service to 150°C (302 °F). It conducts heat at 60 W/m·K (34.7 BTU/hr·ft·°F), worse than 59% of copper alloy grades. Thermal expansion is 17 µm/m·K (9.44 µin/in·°F).
Electrical3
C55180 conducts electricity at 12 % IACS, worse than 62% of copper alloy grades.
Chemical & Environmental3
Corrosion resistance is good (60/100), worse than 68% of copper alloy grades.
Sustainability3
Producing a kilogram of C55180 takes about 55 MJ of energy and emits 3.8 kg of CO₂ — less than 72% of copper alloy grades. Typical recycled content is 30%.
Manufacturability6
C55180's machinability is poor (20/100, worse than 98% of copper alloy grades); weldability not recommended (10/100); formability fair (35/100).
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. C55180 is highlighted; hover a dot for its name, or open the interactive family chart.
Working with C55180
Is C55180 easy to machine?
Rarely machined — the Cu3P eutectic makes it hard and brittle; cut rod with shears or abrasive wheel rather than turning.
Can C55180 be welded?
Not a base metal for welding; as a filler it must never contact iron, nickel or Ni-rich cupronickel because brittle phosphides form at the interface.
Can C55180 be formed, bent or molded?
The 5 % P grade is the most ductile Cu-P filler and can be extruded and drawn to wire or rolled to strip preforms with intermediate anneals.
C55180 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Pself-fluxing deoxidizer; forms Cu3P eutectic | 4.8 – 5.2 | 5 |
| Other (total)total of all other elements, AWS A5.8 | ≤ 0.15 | |
| Cu | ≥ 94.7 (balance) |
What surface finishes work on C55180?
Joint fillets are self-fluxing on copper and need no post-braze flux removal; light wire-brushing or pickling restores appearance, and joints can be tinned or nickel-plated.
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 C55180 cost?
C55180 is a high-cost copper alloy ($$$$), pricier than about 78% of the materials FabDigit quotes. Part price depends far more on geometry, tolerance and quantity than on the raw stock — upload a CAD file for a live quote.
C55180 — frequently asked
What is C55180 used for?
C55180 is typically used for copper pipe and tube joints, electrical copper fittings and refrigeration tubing. In short: most ductile Cu-P filler; silver-free, self-fluxing on copper; copper-to-copper joints only.
What is the yield strength of C55180?
C55180 has a typical yield strength of 150 MPa (21.8 ksi) and a tensile strength of 250 MPa (36.3 ksi) — weaker than 69% of copper alloy grades.
Is C55180 easy to machine?
Not especially — machinability is rated poor (20/100, worse than 98% of copper alloy grades). Rarely machined — the Cu3P eutectic makes it hard and brittle; cut rod with shears or abrasive wheel rather than turning.
Can C55180 be welded?
Not readily — weldability is rated not recommended (10/100). Not a base metal for welding; as a filler it must never contact iron, nickel or Ni-rich cupronickel because brittle phosphides form at the interface.
What surface finishes work on C55180?
Joint fillets are self-fluxing on copper and need no post-braze flux removal; light wire-brushing or pickling restores appearance, and joints can be tinned or nickel-plated.
Can C55180 be formed, bent or molded?
The 5 % P grade is the most ductile Cu-P filler and can be extruded and drawn to wire or rolled to strip preforms with intermediate anneals.
What is the maximum service temperature of C55180?
C55180 is rated for continuous use to about 150°C (302 °F). Strength falls off well before that limit — check the elevated-temperature data for load-bearing parts.
How much does C55180 cost?
C55180 is a high-cost copper alloy ($$$$), 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 A5.8/A5.8M — Specification for Filler Metals for Brazing and Braze Welding (BCuP-1) — American Welding Society (2019)
- AWS Brazing Handbook, 5th ed. — Copper-Phosphorus Filler Metals — American Welding Society (2007)
- UNS C55180 copper alloy data — Copper Development Association (copper.org) (2023)
- GB/T 6418 (BCu93P) (2008)
- 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.