Copper Alloy C82500
UNS C82500 · ASTM B824
C82500 (Alloy 20C, ASTM B824) is a high-strength age-hardenable cast beryllium copper used for tooling and mould components that need wear resistance with high thermal conductivity.
Reference datasheet — C82500 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 TF00 condition
C82500 tempers and conditions
C82500 is supplied in 5 conditions, soft to hard. TF00 is the default FabDigit quotes; the values on this page are for it.
Compare all 5 conditionsHide
| Condition · open for datasheet | Best for | Yield MPa | Tensile MPa | Elong. % | Hardness | Conductivity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Solution heat treated | Softest, toughest condition; used for rough machining, straightening or weld repair before ageing. | 205 | 480 | 25 | 115 HB | 17 % IACS |
As sand cast | C82500 (Alloy 20C) beryllium-copper castings in the as-cast condition: moderate strength with useful ductility, retaining full response to later solution + precipitation hardening. | 262 | 517 | 15 | 180 HB | 18 % IACS |
As Cast | Pick for non-critical castings or as the supply state before machining and later age hardening. | 275 | 517 | 20 | 160 HB | 18 % IACS |
As-cast + aged | Economical route for large or dimensionally sensitive castings: moderate hardness gain without quench distortion. | 690 | 860 | 2 | 32 HRC | 20 % IACS |
TF00Default Solution heat treated and precipitation hardened | Standard supply condition for mold inserts and wear parts: maximum strength and hardness with good thermal conductivity. | 1,000 | 1,105 | 1 | 40 HRC | 20 % IACS |
What is C82500?
C82500 (Alloy 20C, ASTM B824) is a high-strength age-hardenable cast beryllium copper used for tooling and mould components that need wear resistance with high thermal conductivity. Aged material reaches 1105 MPa tensile strength, 1000 MPa yield, 375 HB (40 HRC) and 105 W/m·K at 20 % IACS, with service to 250 °C. Elongation is only 1 % and formability is scored at 10, so it is used as cast and machined; beryllium-bearing dust and fume require wet machining and extraction. C82200 is the alternative when conductivity matters more than hardness. C82500 has a density of 8.26 g/cm³ (0.298 lb/in³), lighter than 83% of copper alloy grades. It melts at 857°C (1,575 °F). C82500 has a yield strength of 1,000 MPa (145 ksi) and a tensile strength of 1,105 MPa (160 ksi) — stronger than 99% of copper alloy grades. Elongation at break is 1% and the elastic modulus is 128 GPa (18.6 Msi).
What is C82500 used for?
- plastic injection mold cores
- die-casting dies
- bearing and bushing castings
Advantages
- High strength — 1,000 MPa (145 ksi), better than 99% of copper alloy grades
- Polishes to a fine finish — 85/100, better than 92% of copper alloy grades
Limitations
- Limited ductility — 1%, worse than 99% of copper alloy grades
- High embodied carbon — 8.5 kg CO₂/kg, worse than 98% of copper alloy grades
- Limited formability — 10/100, worse than 89% of copper alloy grades
C82500 properties
Typical room-temperature values for C82500-TF00; bars are the position among copper alloy grades.
Physical3
C82500 has a density of 8.26 g/cm³ (0.298 lb/in³), lighter than 83% of copper alloy grades. It melts at 857°C (1,575 °F).
Mechanical15
C82500 has a yield strength of 1,000 MPa (145 ksi) and a tensile strength of 1,105 MPa (160 ksi) — stronger than 99% of copper alloy grades. Elongation at break is 1% and the elastic modulus is 128 GPa (18.6 Msi).
Thermal6
C82500 is rated for continuous service to 250°C (482 °F). It conducts heat at 105 W/m·K (60.7 BTU/hr·ft·°F), better than 56% of copper alloy grades. Thermal expansion is 17 µm/m·K (9.44 µin/in·°F).
Electrical3
C82500 conducts electricity at 20 % IACS, better than 52% of copper alloy grades.
Chemical & Environmental3
Corrosion resistance is good (62/100), worse than 57% of copper alloy grades.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of C82500 takes about 130 MJ of energy and emits 8.5 kg of CO₂ — more than 99% of copper alloy grades. Typical recycled content is 30%.
Manufacturability8
C82500's machinability is fair (35/100, better than 51% of copper alloy grades); weldability fair (40/100); 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. C82500 is highlighted; hover a dot for its name, or open the interactive family chart.
Working with C82500
Is C82500 easy to machine?
Machine with sharp carbide at moderate speed and generous flood coolant; aged material cuts like 40 HRC steel — use wet methods and local exhaust to control beryllium-bearing particulate.
Can C82500 be welded?
GTAW with matching BeCu filler and preheat works for repair, but the joint must be re-solution treated and re-aged to recover properties; fume extraction is mandatory.
Can C82500 be formed, bent or molded?
Supplied as sand/shell/investment castings with good fluidity; age hardening after rough machining minimizes distortion, and cold forming of the aged alloy is not practical.
C82500 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Be | 1.9 – 2.15 | 2 |
| CoCo (or Co+Ni) as grain refiner / hardener | 0.35 – 0.7 | 0.5 |
| Si | 0.2 – 0.35 | 0.28 |
| Fe | ≤ 0.25 | |
| Al | ≤ 0.15 | |
| Pb | ≤ 0.02 | |
| Curemainder, ~96.5 % | balance |
What surface finishes work on C82500?
Polishes to a high mold finish; commonly electroless nickel or hard chrome plated for release and corrosion protection — not anodizable.
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 C82500 in FabDigit's catalog. Equivalence is nominal — check the exact specification when certification matters.
- ASTM
- B824
- Trade names
- Alloy 20C
How much does C82500 cost?
C82500 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.
C82500 — frequently asked
What is C82500 used for?
C82500 is typically used for plastic injection mold cores, die-casting dies and bearing and bushing castings. In short: hardest cast beryllium copper; mould-grade heat removal; 40 HRC after ageing.
What is the yield strength of C82500?
C82500 has a typical yield strength of 1,000 MPa (145 ksi) and a tensile strength of 1,105 MPa (160 ksi) — stronger than 99% of copper alloy grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 5 listed tempers.
Is C82500 easy to machine?
Not especially — machinability is rated fair (35/100, better than 51% of copper alloy grades). Machine with sharp carbide at moderate speed and generous flood coolant; aged material cuts like 40 HRC steel — use wet methods and local exhaust to control beryllium-bearing particulate.
Can C82500 be welded?
With care — weldability is rated fair (40/100). GTAW with matching BeCu filler and preheat works for repair, but the joint must be re-solution treated and re-aged to recover properties; fume extraction is mandatory.
What surface finishes work on C82500?
Polishes to a high mold finish; commonly electroless nickel or hard chrome plated for release and corrosion protection — not anodizable.
Can C82500 be formed, bent or molded?
Supplied as sand/shell/investment castings with good fluidity; age hardening after rough machining minimizes distortion, and cold forming of the aged alloy is not practical.
What is the maximum service temperature of C82500?
C82500 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 C82500-TF00 and C82500-TB00?
TF00 is the default condition — standard supply condition for mold inserts and wear parts: maximum strength and hardness with good thermal conductivity. TB00: softest, toughest condition; used for rough machining, straightening or weld repair before ageing. Yield strength is 1,000 MPa in TF00 versus 205 MPa in TB00.
How much does C82500 cost?
C82500 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 B770 — Copper-Beryllium Alloy Sand Castings for General Applications — ASTM (2019)
- ASTM B824 — General Requirements for Copper Alloy Castings — ASTM (2021)
- C82500 alloy datasheet (CDA UNS listing) — Copper Development Association (copper.org) (2023)
- Alloy 20C cast beryllium copper — Materion Brush Performance Alloys (2022)
- ASM Handbook Vol. 2 — Properties and Selection: Nonferrous Alloys — ASM International (1990)
- ASM Handbook Vol. 15 — Casting — ASM International (2008)
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.