Copper Alloy C62500
UNS C62500 · ASTM B150
C62500 is the highest-aluminum wrought aluminum bronze at about 13% Al (ASTM B150), giving the greatest strength and hardness of the C6xxxx series.
Reference datasheet — C62500 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 M30 condition
C62500 tempers and conditions
C62500 is supplied in 6 conditions, soft to hard. M30 is the default FabDigit quotes; the values on this page are for it.
Compare all 6 conditionsHide
| Condition · open for datasheet | Best for | Yield MPa | Tensile MPa | Elong. % | Hardness | Conductivity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Soft annealed | Slow-cooled anneal used to soften material for machining or stress relief before final quench hardening; lowest strength and still low ductility. | 340 | 620 | 3 | 13 HRC | 8.5 % IACS |
As hot forged and air cooled | Choose for near-net forged dies, wear rings and heavy sections where extruded stock sizes are unavailable. | 400 | 740 | 3 | 21 HRC | 8 % IACS |
M30Default As hot extruded | Standard stocked condition for C62500 rod and bar; good balance of hardness and availability, machine then use as-is. | 415 | 760 | 2 | 22 HRC | 8 % IACS |
Quench hardened and temper annealed | Quench plus temper anneal (typically 400–650 °C) to trade some hardness for toughness and dimensional stability in wear parts and bearings. | 480 | 790 | 3 | 30 HRC | 7.5 % IACS |
Full hard | Light cold draw or sizing pass on small-diameter rod for tighter tolerance and straightness; only small reductions are possible with 13% Al. | 500 | 800 | 1.5 | 25 HRC | 7.5 % IACS |
Quench hardened | Water-quenched from the beta field to give martensitic β′ — maximum hardness for dies, forming tools and wear plates; very brittle, machine before hardening. | 550 | 830 | 1 | 37 HRC | 7 % IACS |
What is C62500?
C62500 is the highest-aluminum wrought aluminum bronze at about 13% Al (ASTM B150), giving the greatest strength and hardness of the C6xxxx series. It reaches 415 MPa yield, 760 MPa tensile, 240 HB (22 HRC, 99 HRB) and 8% IACS with service to 300 °C, but elongation is only 2%, so it is used as wear stock, die material and hard-facing rod rather than as structural bar. It must be hot worked, welding is difficult because of brittle gamma-2 formation, and machining is slow and abrasive. Choose C62400 or C62300 when any ductility is needed. C62500 has a density of 7.16 g/cm³ (0.259 lb/in³), lighter than 100% of copper alloy grades. It melts at 1,035°C (1,895 °F). C62500 has a yield strength of 415 MPa (60.2 ksi) and a tensile strength of 760 MPa (110 ksi) — stronger than 82% of copper alloy grades. Elongation at break is 2% and the elastic modulus is 114 GPa (16.5 Msi).
What is C62500 used for?
- wear-resistant parts
- dies
- hard-facing stock
- high-load bushings
Advantages
- Lightweight — 7.16 g/cm³ (0.259 lb/in³), better than 100% of copper alloy grades
- High service temperature — 300°C (572 °F), better than 85% of copper alloy grades
- Good corrosion resistance — 72/100, better than 84% of copper alloy grades
- High strength — 415 MPa (60.2 ksi), better than 82% of copper alloy grades
Limitations
- Limited ductility — 2%, worse than 98% of copper alloy grades
- Difficult to machine — 22/100, worse than 94% of copper alloy grades
- Limited formability — 10/100, worse than 89% of copper alloy grades
- Poor heat conductor — 41.9 W/m·K (24.2 BTU/hr·ft·°F), worse than 81% of copper alloy grades
- Low electrical conductivity — 8 % IACS, worse than 81% of copper alloy grades
C62500 properties
Typical room-temperature values for C62500-M30; bars are the position among copper alloy grades.
Physical3
C62500 has a density of 7.16 g/cm³ (0.259 lb/in³), lighter than 100% of copper alloy grades. It melts at 1,035°C (1,895 °F).
Mechanical16
C62500 has a yield strength of 415 MPa (60.2 ksi) and a tensile strength of 760 MPa (110 ksi) — stronger than 82% of copper alloy grades. Elongation at break is 2% and the elastic modulus is 114 GPa (16.5 Msi).
Thermal6
C62500 is rated for continuous service to 300°C (572 °F). It conducts heat at 41.9 W/m·K (24.2 BTU/hr·ft·°F), worse than 81% of copper alloy grades. Thermal expansion is 16.2 µm/m·K (9 µin/in·°F).
Electrical3
C62500 conducts electricity at 8 % IACS, worse than 81% of copper alloy grades.
Chemical & Environmental3
Corrosion resistance is very good (72/100), better than 84% of copper alloy grades.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of C62500 takes about 62 MJ of energy and emits 3.9 kg of CO₂ — more than 76% of copper alloy grades. Typical recycled content is 35%.
Manufacturability8
C62500's machinability is poor (22/100, worse than 94% of copper alloy grades); weldability poor (25/100); formability not recommended (10/100).
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. C62500 is highlighted; hover a dot for its name, or open the interactive family chart.
Working with C62500
Is C62500 easy to machine?
Machine in the as-extruded or annealed condition with rigid setups, sharp carbide tooling, positive rake, low speed (~25–45 m/min) and heavy flood coolant; chips are short and abrasive, rating ≈20% of free-cutting brass.
Can C62500 be welded?
Poor weldability — GTAW/GMAW with matching aluminium-bronze filler only where unavoidable, preheat 150–250 °C, low heat input and post-weld temper to limit brittle gamma-2 and quench cracking; not recommended for hardened parts.
Can C62500 be formed, bent or molded?
Essentially a hot-working alloy: forge/extrude at 750–870 °C; cold forming and bending should be avoided because elongation is typically ≤3%.
C62500 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Al | 12.5 – 13.5 | 13 |
| Fe | 3.5 – 5.5 | 4.3 |
| Mn | ≤ 2 | 0.5 |
| Other (total)sum of unnamed elements | ≤ 0.5 | |
| Curemainder, Cu + named elements ≥ 99.5% | ≥ 78.5 (balance) |
What surface finishes work on C62500?
Takes a bright polish and can be tin/nickel/chrome plated after thorough alumina-film removal; not anodizable — grind or hard-turn hardened parts and passivate or oil for storage.
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 C62500 in FabDigit's catalog. Equivalence is nominal — check the exact specification when certification matters.
- ASTM
- B150
How much does C62500 cost?
C62500 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.
C62500 — frequently asked
What is C62500 used for?
C62500 is typically used for wear-resistant parts, dies, hard-facing stock and high-load bushings. In short: hardest wrought aluminum bronze; wear and die stock; almost no ductility.
What is the yield strength of C62500?
C62500 has a typical yield strength of 415 MPa (60.2 ksi) and a tensile strength of 760 MPa (110 ksi) — stronger than 82% of copper alloy grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 6 listed tempers.
Is C62500 easy to machine?
Not especially — machinability is rated poor (22/100, worse than 94% of copper alloy grades). Machine in the as-extruded or annealed condition with rigid setups, sharp carbide tooling, positive rake, low speed (~25–45 m/min) and heavy flood coolant; chips are short and abrasive, rating ≈20% of free-cutting brass.
Can C62500 be welded?
Not readily — weldability is rated poor (25/100). Poor weldability — GTAW/GMAW with matching aluminium-bronze filler only where unavoidable, preheat 150–250 °C, low heat input and post-weld temper to limit brittle gamma-2 and quench cracking; not recommended for hardened parts.
What surface finishes work on C62500?
Takes a bright polish and can be tin/nickel/chrome plated after thorough alumina-film removal; not anodizable — grind or hard-turn hardened parts and passivate or oil for storage.
Can C62500 be formed, bent or molded?
Essentially a hot-working alloy: forge/extrude at 750–870 °C; cold forming and bending should be avoided because elongation is typically ≤3%.
What is the maximum service temperature of C62500?
C62500 is rated for continuous use to about 300°C (572 °F). Strength falls off well before that limit — check the elevated-temperature data for load-bearing parts.
What is the difference between C62500-M30 and C62500-TQ50?
M30 is the default condition — standard stocked condition for C62500 rod and bar; good balance of hardness and availability, machine then use as-is. TQ50: water-quenched from the beta field to give martensitic β′ — maximum hardness for dies, forming tools and wear plates; very brittle, machine before hardening. Yield strength is 415 MPa in M30 versus 550 MPa in TQ50.
How much does C62500 cost?
C62500 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 B150/B150M — Aluminum Bronze Rod, Bar, and Shapes — ASTM International (2019)
- ASTM B601 — Temper Designations for Copper and Copper Alloys — ASTM International (2019)
- CDA Alloy Database — UNS C62500 — Copper Development Association (2023)
- ASM Handbook Vol. 2 — Properties and Selection: Nonferrous Alloys — ASM International (1990)
- ASM Handbook Vol. 13B — Corrosion: Materials — ASM International (2005)
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.