FabDigit

Copper Alloy C55284

UNS C55284

C55284 (Sil-Fos 15) is a silver-bearing phosphor-copper brazing filler from the copper-phosphorus family, with 15% Ag for flow and joint ductility and phosphorus that makes it self-fluxing on copper.

High cost $$$$

Reference datasheet — C55284 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 AS-BRAZED condition

C55284 tempers and conditions

C55284 is supplied in one standard condition, AS-BRAZED. AS-BRAZED is the default FabDigit quotes; the values on this page are for it.

Supply forms, finishes and certifications

Ways C55284 is supplied — form, process route, surface or paperwork — without a datasheet of their own. The property values above apply.

OptionWhat it isType
FLUX-COATED
Flux-coated rodSupply form
PREFORM
Stamped/formed rings, washers and shapesSupply form
ROD
Straight-length bare brazing rodSupply form
STRIP
Strip / FoilSupply form
WIRE
Coiled/spooled bare filler wireSupply form
PASTE
Paste / PowderPrinting process

What is C55284?

C55284 (Sil-Fos 15) is a silver-bearing phosphor-copper brazing filler from the copper-phosphorus family, with 15% Ag for flow and joint ductility and phosphorus that makes it self-fluxing on copper. It is chosen for copper and copper-to-brass joints in HVAC/R, electrical and instrumentation work, and is supplied as wire, rod, strip, preform, flux-coated rod and paste. As-brazed deposits reach about 275 MPa tensile with 6% elongation, 85 HB, 50 W/(m·K) and 10% IACS, with service limited to 200 °C. It must never be used on steel, cast iron or copper alloys above 10% Ni, where brittle phosphides form. C55284 has a density of 8.4 g/cm³ (0.303 lb/in³), lighter than 75% of copper alloy grades. It melts at 643°C (1,189 °F). C55284 has a tensile strength of 275 MPa (39.9 ksi), weaker than 77% of copper alloy grades. Elongation at break is 6% and the elastic modulus is 95 GPa (13.8 Msi).

What is C55284 used for?

  • copper and copper-brass pipe brazing
  • HVAC/R systems
  • electrical and instrumentation joints
  • general copper fabrication

Limitations

  • High embodied carbon — 20 kg CO₂/kg, worse than 100% of copper alloy grades
  • Difficult to weld — 10/100, worse than 98% of copper alloy grades
  • Low stiffness — 95 GPa (13.8 Msi), worse than 93% of copper alloy grades
  • Hard to polish — 60/100, worse than 92% of copper alloy grades
  • Limited ductility — 6%, worse than 89% of copper alloy grades

C55284 properties

Typical room-temperature values for C55284-AS-BRAZED; bars are the position among copper alloy grades.

Physical3

C55284 has a density of 8.4 g/cm³ (0.303 lb/in³), lighter than 75% of copper alloy grades. It melts at 643°C (1,189 °F).

Density8.4 g/cm³0.3 lb/in³
Melting Point (Solidus)643°C1,189 °F
Liquidus Temperature813°C1,495 °F

Mechanical6

C55284 has a tensile strength of 275 MPa (39.9 ksi), weaker than 77% of copper alloy grades. Elongation at break is 6% and the elastic modulus is 95 GPa (13.8 Msi).

Elastic (Young's) Modulus95 GPa13.8 Msi
Poisson's Ratio0.34
Tensile Strength (Ultimate)275 MPa39.9 ksi
Elongation at Break6%
Shear Strength170 MPa24.7 ksi
Hardness, Brinell85 HB

Thermal6

C55284 is rated for continuous service to 200°C (392 °F). It conducts heat at 50 W/m·K (28.9 BTU/hr·ft·°F), worse than 66% of copper alloy grades. Thermal expansion is 17 µm/m·K (9.44 µin/in·°F).

Thermal Conductivity50 W/m·K28.9 BTU/hr·ft·°F
Specific Heat Capacity380 J/kg·K0.09 BTU/lb·°F
Thermal Expansion (CTE, 20–100 °C)17 µm/m·K9.4 µin/in·°F
Latent Heat of Fusion190 J/g81.7 BTU/lb
Max Service Temperature (continuous)200°C392 °F
Min Service Temperature-196°C-321 °F

Electrical3

C55284 conducts electricity at 10 % IACS, worse than 74% of copper alloy grades.

Electrical Conductivity10 % IACS
Electrical Resistivity1.7×10⁻⁷ Ω·m6.69 µΩ·in
Magnetic Responsenon-magnetic

Chemical & Environmental3

Corrosion resistance is good (55/100), worse than 86% of copper alloy grades.

Galvanic Potential (seawater, vs SCE)-0.2 V
Corrosion ResistanceGood55/100
Chemical Resistance SummaryGood in water, air, refrigerants and mild atmospheres like copper itself; attacked by sulfur/sulfide-bearing environments (Ag2S/Cu2S), ammonia and strong oxidizers; must not be used on iron-, nickel- or high-nickel copper alloys because brittle phosphides form.

Sustainability4

Producing a kilogram of C55284 takes about 270 MJ of energy and emits 20 kg of CO₂ — more than 100% of copper alloy grades. Typical recycled content is 30%.

Embodied Energy (primary production)270 MJ/kg116,079 BTU/lb
Embodied Carbon (primary production)20 kg CO₂/kg
Embodied Water400 L/kg47.9 gal/lb
Typical Recycled Content30%

Manufacturability6

C55284's machinability is poor (25/100, worse than 86% of copper alloy grades); weldability not recommended (10/100); formability good (55/100).

MachinabilityPoor25/100
WeldabilityNot recommended10/100
Formability (cold)Good55/100
CastabilityVery good75/100
Brazeability / SolderabilityExcellent98/100
PolishabilityGood60/100

Common Calculations4

Specific Strength (UTS / density)calculated33 kN·m/kg
Specific Stiffness (E / density)calculated11.3 MN·m/kg
Thermal Diffusivitycalculated15.7 mm²/s
Thermal Shock Resistance Indexcalculated9

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. C55284 is highlighted; hover a dot for its name, or open the interactive family chart.

501002005001,0007.588.599.5Density (g/cm³)Yield strength (MPa) — log scale

Working with C55284

Is C55284 easy to machine?

Not a structural machining stock; excess fillet is best removed by abrasive or file since the cast deposit is hard and notch-sensitive.

Can C55284 be welded?

This is the filler itself — braze at 704–816 °C with fast, uniform heat; never apply to steel, cast iron or >10 % Ni copper alloys (brittle phosphide layer).

Can C55284 be formed, bent or molded?

Supplied drawn or rolled; wire bends into rings readily but severe cold bending of thick rod can crack the alloy — warm-form or use preforms.

C55284 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.

ElementSpec limit (wt %)Nominal
Agsilver — widens plastic range, improves ductility and flow14.5 – 15.515
Pphosphorus — self-fluxing agent on copper4.8 – 5.25
Other (total)sum of unspecified elements per AWS A5.8≤ 0.15
Cubalance

What surface finishes work on C55284?

Joints clean up with mild acid or citric flux-residue rinse; the silvery fillet takes plating (Ni/Sn) and polishing, but avoid sulfur-bearing polish compounds that tarnish it.

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 C55284 in FabDigit's catalog. Equivalence is nominal — check the exact specification when certification matters.

Trade names
Sil-Fos 15

How much does C55284 cost?

C55284 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.

C55284 — frequently asked

What is C55284 used for?

C55284 is typically used for copper and copper-brass pipe brazing, HVAC/R systems, electrical and instrumentation joints and general copper fabrication. In short: self-fluxing on copper; highest-silver phosphor-copper filler; not for steel or high-Ni alloys.

What is the tensile strength of C55284?

C55284 has a typical tensile strength of 275 MPa (39.9 ksi) — weaker than 77% of copper alloy grades.

Is C55284 easy to machine?

Not especially — machinability is rated poor (25/100, worse than 86% of copper alloy grades). Not a structural machining stock; excess fillet is best removed by abrasive or file since the cast deposit is hard and notch-sensitive.

Can C55284 be welded?

Not readily — weldability is rated not recommended (10/100). This is the filler itself — braze at 704–816 °C with fast, uniform heat; never apply to steel, cast iron or >10 % Ni copper alloys (brittle phosphide layer).

What surface finishes work on C55284?

Joints clean up with mild acid or citric flux-residue rinse; the silvery fillet takes plating (Ni/Sn) and polishing, but avoid sulfur-bearing polish compounds that tarnish it.

Can C55284 be formed, bent or molded?

Supplied drawn or rolled; wire bends into rings readily but severe cold bending of thick rod can crack the alloy — warm-form or use preforms.

What is the maximum service temperature of C55284?

C55284 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.

How much does C55284 cost?

C55284 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

  1. AWS A5.8/A5.8M — Specification for Filler Metals for Brazing and Braze Welding (BCuP-5) — American Welding Society (2019)
  2. ASTM B260 — Standard Specification for Brazing Filler Metal — ASTM International (2020)
  3. GB/T 6418 (BCu80AgP) — SAC / (2008)
  4. ASM Handbook Vol. 6 — Welding, Brazing and Soldering — ASM International (1993)
  5. Sil-Fos 15 (BCuP-5) brazing alloy datasheet — Lucas-Milhaupt / Handy & Harman (2022)
  6. CDA copper alloy designation C55284 — Copper Development Association (2023)

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.