Copper Alloy C62500-TQ50
Supply condition
UNS C62500 · ASTM B150
TQ50 = 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.
Values for the TQ50 condition
Other C62500 tempers and conditions
C62500 is listed in 6 conditions; see the grade overview at C62500.
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 |
TQ50This page 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-TQ50?
C62500-TQ50 is C62500 supplied in the TQ50 condition — water-quenched from the beta field to give martensitic β′ — maximum hardness for dies, forming tools and wear plates; very brittle, machine before hardening. C62500-TQ50 has a yield strength of 550 MPa (79.8 ksi) and a tensile strength of 830 MPa (120 ksi) — stronger than 92% of copper alloy grades. Elongation at break is 1% and the elastic modulus is 114 GPa (16.5 Msi). C62500-TQ50 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). M30 is the default condition FabDigit quotes; TQ50 is available on request or by drawing note.
Advantages
- Lightweight — 7.16 g/cm³ (0.259 lb/in³), better than 100% of copper alloy grades
- High strength — 550 MPa (79.8 ksi), better than 92% of copper alloy grades
Limitations
- Difficult to machine — 14/100, worse than 100% of copper alloy grades
- Limited formability — 3/100, worse than 100% of copper alloy grades
- Limited ductility — 1%, worse than 99% of copper alloy grades
- Difficult to weld — 12/100, worse than 96% of copper alloy grades
- Low electrical conductivity — 7 % IACS, worse than 86% of copper alloy grades
C62500-TQ50 properties
Typical room-temperature values for C62500-TQ50; 22 are specific to this condition. Other listed values are C62500 reference data and may not represent this condition. Bars are the position among copper alloy grades.
Physical3
C62500-TQ50 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-TQ50 has a yield strength of 550 MPa (79.8 ksi) and a tensile strength of 830 MPa (120 ksi) — stronger than 92% of copper alloy grades. Elongation at break is 1% and the elastic modulus is 114 GPa (16.5 Msi).
Thermal6
C62500-TQ50 is rated for continuous service to 250°C (482 °F). It conducts heat at 38 W/m·K (22 BTU/hr·ft·°F), worse than 84% of copper alloy grades. Thermal expansion is 16.2 µm/m·K (9 µin/in·°F).
Electrical3
C62500-TQ50 conducts electricity at 7 % IACS, worse than 86% of copper alloy grades.
Chemical & Environmental3
Corrosion resistance is good (66/100), better than 64% of copper alloy grades.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of C62500-TQ50 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-TQ50's machinability is not recommended (14/100, worse than 100% of copper alloy grades); weldability not recommended (12/100); formability not recommended (3/100).
Values are nominal handbook figures for design screening. Confirm any required mill or lot documentation when quoting.
Working with C62500-TQ50
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%.
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.
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) | — |
C62500-TQ50 — frequently asked
What is C62500-TQ50 used for?
C62500-TQ50 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-TQ50?
C62500-TQ50 has a typical yield strength of 550 MPa (79.8 ksi) and a tensile strength of 830 MPa (120 ksi) — stronger than 92% of copper alloy grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 6 listed tempers.
Is C62500-TQ50 easy to machine?
Not especially — machinability is rated not recommended (14/100, worse than 100% 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-TQ50 be welded?
Not readily — weldability is rated not recommended (12/100). 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-TQ50?
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-TQ50 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-TQ50?
C62500-TQ50 is rated for continuous use to about 250°C (482 °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.
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. Nothing on this page is a certification — request mill certs, CoC or material test reports with your order.