Copper Alloy C55180 AS-BRAZED
Heat-treated state
UNS C55180
Design condition for the finished lap joint made with C55180 on copper, brazed at 790–925 °C.
Values for the AS-BRAZED condition
What is C55180 AS-BRAZED?
C55180 AS-BRAZED is C55180 heat treated to AS-BRAZED — design condition for the finished lap joint made with C55180 on copper, brazed at 790–925 °C. C55180 AS-BRAZED has a yield strength of 150 MPa (21.8 ksi) and a tensile strength of 210 MPa (30.5 ksi) — weaker than 69% of copper alloy grades. Elongation at break is 6% and the elastic modulus is 110 GPa (16 Msi). C55180 AS-BRAZED 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).
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 AS-BRAZED properties
Typical room-temperature values for C55180 AS-BRAZED; 4 are specific to this condition. Other listed values are C55180 reference data and may not represent this condition. Bars are the position among copper alloy grades.
Physical3
C55180 AS-BRAZED 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 AS-BRAZED has a yield strength of 150 MPa (21.8 ksi) and a tensile strength of 210 MPa (30.5 ksi) — weaker than 69% of copper alloy grades. Elongation at break is 6% and the elastic modulus is 110 GPa (16 Msi).
Thermal5
C55180 AS-BRAZED 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 AS-BRAZED 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 AS-BRAZED 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 AS-BRAZED's machinability is poor (20/100, worse than 98% of copper alloy grades); weldability not recommended (10/100); formability fair (35/100).
Values are nominal handbook figures for design screening. Confirm any required mill or lot documentation when quoting.
Working with C55180 AS-BRAZED
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.
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.
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) |
C55180 AS-BRAZED — frequently asked
What is C55180 AS-BRAZED used for?
C55180 AS-BRAZED 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 AS-BRAZED?
C55180 AS-BRAZED has a typical yield strength of 150 MPa (21.8 ksi) and a tensile strength of 210 MPa (30.5 ksi) — weaker than 69% of copper alloy grades.
Is C55180 AS-BRAZED 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 AS-BRAZED 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 AS-BRAZED?
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 AS-BRAZED 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 AS-BRAZED?
C55180 AS-BRAZED 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.
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. Nothing on this page is a certification — request mill certs, CoC or material test reports with your order.