Copper Alloy C77600
UNS C77600
C77600 is a general-purpose wrought nickel silver (Cu-Ni-Zn) supplied as strip, sheet and wire in O60, H01, H02, H04, H06, H08, H10 and HR50 tempers, strengthened by cold work.
Reference datasheet — C77600 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 H02 condition
C77600 tempers and conditions
C77600 is supplied in 8 conditions, soft to hard. H02 is the default FabDigit quotes; the values on this page are for it.
Compare all 8 conditionsHide
| Condition · open for datasheet | Best for | Yield MPa | Tensile MPa | Elong. % | Hardness | Conductivity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Soft annealed | Pick for deep drawing, spinning and severe forming of hardware and instrument parts. | 170 | 400 | 40 | 90 HB | 5.8 % IACS |
Quarter hard | Pick when moderate bending or forming is still needed but annealed strength is too low. | 380 | 480 | 20 | 127 HB | 5.6 % IACS |
H02Default Half hard | Default stock condition — best balance of strength, bendability and surface finish for hardware and fittings. | 470 | 550 | 10 | 150 HB | 5.5 % IACS |
Drawn and stress-relieved | Pick for cold-worked parts that must resist stress-corrosion cracking in ammonia-bearing or humid service. | 480 | 560 | 10 | 155 HB | 5.5 % IACS |
Full hard | Pick for flat stamped parts, screws and fittings needing higher strength with only gentle bends. | 550 | 620 | 5 | 10 HRC | 5.4 % IACS |
Extra hard | Pick for flat springs and contacts where high strength matters more than formability. | 610 | 690 | 3 | 14 HRC | 5.3 % IACS |
Spring hard | Pick for spring washers, clips and elastic contact members made by simple forming. | 660 | 740 | 2 | 17 HRC | 5.3 % IACS |
Extra spring hard | Pick for the highest strength flat springs in thin strip; forming limited to very large bend radii. | 700 | 780 | 2 | 20 HRC | 5.2 % IACS |
What is C77600?
C77600 is a general-purpose wrought nickel silver (Cu-Ni-Zn) supplied as strip, sheet and wire in O60, H01, H02, H04, H06, H08, H10 and HR50 tempers, strengthened by cold work. It is chosen where a bright, corrosion-resistant silver-white surface is needed with moderate strength: the default condition gives 470 MPa yield, 550 MPa tensile, 10% elongation and 80 HRB. The alloy is unleaded, so machinability is roughly 20% of free-cutting brass and formability is mid-range (score 62); cold-worked parts need stress relief against ammonia SCC. For screw-machine volumes, use leaded C79600 rod. C77600 has a density of 8.7 g/cm³ (0.314 lb/in³), lighter than 56% of copper alloy grades. It melts at 1,030°C (1,886 °F). C77600 has a yield strength of 470 MPa (68.2 ksi) and a tensile strength of 550 MPa (79.8 ksi) — stronger than 87% of copper alloy grades. Elongation at break is 10% and the elastic modulus is 125 GPa (18.1 Msi).
What is C77600 used for?
- musical instrument hardware
- decorative fittings
- electrical parts
Advantages
- Polishes to a fine finish — 88/100, better than 97% of copper alloy grades
- High strength — 470 MPa (68.2 ksi), better than 87% of copper alloy grades
- Forms and bends easily — 62/100, better than 77% of copper alloy grades
Limitations
- Low electrical conductivity — 5.5 % IACS, worse than 95% of copper alloy grades
- Poor heat conductor — 30 W/m·K (17.3 BTU/hr·ft·°F), worse than 91% of copper alloy grades
- High embodied carbon — 4.5 kg CO₂/kg, worse than 79% of copper alloy grades
- Limited ductility — 10%, worse than 76% of copper alloy grades
C77600 properties
Typical room-temperature values for C77600-H02; bars are the position among copper alloy grades.
Physical3
C77600 has a density of 8.7 g/cm³ (0.314 lb/in³), lighter than 56% of copper alloy grades. It melts at 1,030°C (1,886 °F).
Mechanical14
C77600 has a yield strength of 470 MPa (68.2 ksi) and a tensile strength of 550 MPa (79.8 ksi) — stronger than 87% of copper alloy grades. Elongation at break is 10% and the elastic modulus is 125 GPa (18.1 Msi).
Thermal6
C77600 is rated for continuous service to 190°C (374 °F). It conducts heat at 30 W/m·K (17.3 BTU/hr·ft·°F), worse than 91% of copper alloy grades. Thermal expansion is 16.2 µm/m·K (9 µin/in·°F).
Electrical3
C77600 conducts electricity at 5.5 % IACS, worse than 95% of copper alloy grades.
Chemical & Environmental3
Corrosion resistance is good (62/100), worse than 57% of copper alloy grades.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of C77600 takes about 62 MJ of energy and emits 4.5 kg of CO₂ — more than 76% of copper alloy grades. Typical recycled content is 40%.
Manufacturability7
C77600's machinability is poor (28/100, worse than 78% of copper alloy grades); weldability good (55/100); formability good (62/100).
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. C77600 is highlighted; hover a dot for its name, or open the interactive family chart.
Working with C77600
Is C77600 easy to machine?
Unleaded and gummy — use sharp positive-rake carbide, high speed, generous coolant and chip-breaking geometry; rating ≈20 % of free-cutting brass.
Can C77600 be welded?
Braze and soft-solder readily with silver filler; resistance welding is fair, fusion welding needs zinc-fume extraction and low heat input to avoid dezincification and porosity.
Can C77600 be formed, bent or molded?
Excellent deep-drawing and stamping in O60/H01; interstage anneal at 600–750 °C, and stress-relieve at 260–300 °C after heavy cold work to prevent SCC.
C77600 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Cuincludes Ag by convention | 55 – 58 | 56.5 |
| NiNi + Co | 12.5 – 15.5 | 14 |
| Mn | ≤ 0.5 | 0.15 |
| Fe | ≤ 0.25 | |
| Pbunleaded grade | ≤ 0.05 | |
| Zn | balance |
What surface finishes work on C77600?
Polishes to a bright silver-white finish; commonly buffed, lacquered, or nickel/chrome/silver plated — anodizing does not apply.
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 C77600 cost?
C77600 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.
C77600 — frequently asked
What is C77600 used for?
C77600 is typically used for musical instrument hardware, decorative fittings and electrical parts. In short: general-purpose nickel silver; bright silver-white surface; balanced strength and forming.
What is the yield strength of C77600?
C77600 has a typical yield strength of 470 MPa (68.2 ksi) and a tensile strength of 550 MPa (79.8 ksi) — stronger than 87% of copper alloy grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 8 listed tempers.
Is C77600 easy to machine?
Not especially — machinability is rated poor (28/100, worse than 78% of copper alloy grades). Unleaded and gummy — use sharp positive-rake carbide, high speed, generous coolant and chip-breaking geometry; rating ≈20 % of free-cutting brass.
Can C77600 be welded?
Yes — weldability is rated good (55/100). Braze and soft-solder readily with silver filler; resistance welding is fair, fusion welding needs zinc-fume extraction and low heat input to avoid dezincification and porosity.
What surface finishes work on C77600?
Polishes to a bright silver-white finish; commonly buffed, lacquered, or nickel/chrome/silver plated — anodizing does not apply.
Can C77600 be formed, bent or molded?
Excellent deep-drawing and stamping in O60/H01; interstage anneal at 600–750 °C, and stress-relieve at 260–300 °C after heavy cold work to prevent SCC.
What is the maximum service temperature of C77600?
C77600 is rated for continuous use to about 190°C (374 °F). Strength falls off well before that limit — check the elevated-temperature data for load-bearing parts.
What is the difference between C77600-H02 and C77600-O60?
H02 is the default condition — default stock condition — best balance of strength, bendability and surface finish for hardware and fittings. O60: pick for deep drawing, spinning and severe forming of hardware and instrument parts. Yield strength is 470 MPa in H02 versus 170 MPa in O60.
How much does C77600 cost?
C77600 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
- CDA UNS Standard Designations for Wrought Copper Alloys — C77600 nickel silver — Copper Development Association (2023)
- ASTM B122/B122M — Copper-Nickel-Tin, Copper-Nickel-Zinc Plate, Sheet, Strip and Rolled Bar — ASTM International (2022)
- ASTM B151/B151M — Copper-Nickel-Zinc (Nickel Silver) and Copper-Nickel Rod and Bar — ASTM International (2019)
- 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.