Copper Alloy C99500
UNS C99500
C99500 is a specialty cast copper-nickel-iron alloy developed for higher strength with corrosion and wear resistance in marine and industrial castings.
Reference datasheet — C99500 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 M01 condition
C99500 tempers and conditions
C99500 is supplied in 5 conditions, soft to hard. M01 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
M01Default As sand cast | Standard stocked condition for pump and valve castings; best balance of strength and ductility without heat treatment. | 235 | 450 | 12 | 135 HB | 6 % IACS |
As investment cast | Continuous-cast bar/tube stock for machined bearings and wear parts; fine, uniform structure with good machining response. | 250 | 470 | 12 | 140 HB | 6 % IACS |
As centrifugally cast | Choose for bushings, sleeves and rings needing dense, porosity-free walls and slightly higher strength than sand cast. | 255 | 480 | 12 | 145 HB | 6 % IACS |
As continuous cast | Permanent-mold production of medium-volume parts; faster solidification raises strength and hardness modestly. | 255 | 480 | 11 | 145 HB | 6 % IACS |
Solution heat treated and precipitation hardened | Pick when maximum strength, hardness and wear resistance are needed and lower ductility is acceptable. | 310 | 520 | 8 | 170 HB | 7 % IACS |
What is C99500?
C99500 is a specialty cast copper-nickel-iron alloy developed for higher strength with corrosion and wear resistance in marine and industrial castings. Typical properties are 235 MPa yield, 450 MPa tensile, 12 % elongation and 135 HB, with service to 260 °C, and it is produced by sand, permanent-mould, investment and continuous casting plus a TF00 heat-treated condition. Machinability is poor at roughly 30 % of free-cutting brass, and oxide films and hot-short zones make welding a repair operation rather than a production process. C99300 is the harder, higher-strength option where wear dominates over ductility. C99500 has a density of 8.2 g/cm³ (0.296 lb/in³), lighter than 85% of copper alloy grades. It melts at 998°C (1,828 °F). C99500 has a yield strength of 235 MPa (34.1 ksi) and a tensile strength of 450 MPa (65.3 ksi) — stronger than 52% of copper alloy grades. Elongation at break is 12% and the elastic modulus is 115 GPa (16.7 Msi).
What is C99500 used for?
- marine valve trim
- pump and propeller components
- industrial wear parts
Advantages
- High service temperature — 260°C (500 °F), better than 75% of copper alloy grades
Limitations
- Low electrical conductivity — 6 % IACS, worse than 93% of copper alloy grades
- Limited formability — 10/100, worse than 89% of copper alloy grades
- Hard to polish — 65/100, worse than 87% of copper alloy grades
- Poor heat conductor — 36 W/m·K (20.8 BTU/hr·ft·°F), worse than 86% of copper alloy grades
C99500 properties
Typical room-temperature values for C99500-M01; bars are the position among copper alloy grades.
Physical3
C99500 has a density of 8.2 g/cm³ (0.296 lb/in³), lighter than 85% of copper alloy grades. It melts at 998°C (1,828 °F).
Mechanical15
C99500 has a yield strength of 235 MPa (34.1 ksi) and a tensile strength of 450 MPa (65.3 ksi) — stronger than 52% of copper alloy grades. Elongation at break is 12% and the elastic modulus is 115 GPa (16.7 Msi).
Thermal6
C99500 is rated for continuous service to 260°C (500 °F). It conducts heat at 36 W/m·K (20.8 BTU/hr·ft·°F), worse than 86% of copper alloy grades. Thermal expansion is 17 µm/m·K (9.44 µin/in·°F).
Electrical3
C99500 conducts electricity at 6 % IACS, worse than 93% of copper alloy grades.
Chemical & Environmental3
Corrosion resistance is very good (70/100), better than 76% of copper alloy grades.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of C99500 takes about 55 MJ of energy and emits 4 kg of CO₂ — less than 72% of copper alloy grades. Typical recycled content is 65%.
Manufacturability8
C99500's machinability is fair (35/100, better than 51% of copper alloy grades); weldability fair (35/100); 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. C99500 is highlighted; hover a dot for its name, or open the interactive family chart.
Working with C99500
Is C99500 easy to machine?
Machines like a hard silicon/aluminum bronze — use sharp carbide, positive rake, moderate speeds and rigid setups; chips are tough and stringy, rating ~30 % of free-cutting brass.
Can C99500 be welded?
GTAW/GMAW with aluminum-bronze or Cu-Ni filler is possible for repair, but oxide films and hot-short zones demand preheat 150–200 °C, thorough cleaning and low heat input.
Can C99500 be formed, bent or molded?
Cast-only alloy: sand, centrifugal, continuous and permanent-mold routes; needs good gating/feeding because of the pasty freezing range and Al/Si dross tendency.
C99500 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 |
|---|---|---|
| NiNi + Co | 3.5 – 5.5 | 4.5 |
| Fe | 3 – 5 | 4 |
| Alprecipitation strengthening with Ni/Fe | 0.5 – 2 | 1.2 |
| Si | 0.5 – 2 | 1 |
| Mn | ≤ 0.5 | 0.3 |
| Zn | 12 – 20 | 16 |
| Pbimpurity max; low-lead alloy suitable for potable-water valve bodies | ≤ 0.25 | |
| CuCDA specifies Cu 39.0 % min plus balance; typical heats run ~70–76 % Cu | ≥ 39 (balance) |
What surface finishes work on C99500?
Not anodizable; finish by shot blasting, machining and polishing, or apply nickel/tin plating or clear lacquer for appearance and added seawater protection.
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 C99500 cost?
C99500 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.
C99500 — frequently asked
What is C99500 used for?
C99500 is typically used for marine valve trim, pump and propeller components and industrial wear parts. In short: marine wear-resistant Cu-Ni-Fe casting; repair-weldable specialty grade; tough, stringy chips.
What is the yield strength of C99500?
C99500 has a typical yield strength of 235 MPa (34.1 ksi) and a tensile strength of 450 MPa (65.3 ksi) — stronger than 52% of copper alloy grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 5 listed tempers.
Is C99500 easy to machine?
Not especially — machinability is rated fair (35/100, better than 51% of copper alloy grades). Machines like a hard silicon/aluminum bronze — use sharp carbide, positive rake, moderate speeds and rigid setups; chips are tough and stringy, rating ~30 % of free-cutting brass.
Can C99500 be welded?
With care — weldability is rated fair (35/100). GTAW/GMAW with aluminum-bronze or Cu-Ni filler is possible for repair, but oxide films and hot-short zones demand preheat 150–200 °C, thorough cleaning and low heat input.
What surface finishes work on C99500?
Not anodizable; finish by shot blasting, machining and polishing, or apply nickel/tin plating or clear lacquer for appearance and added seawater protection.
Can C99500 be formed, bent or molded?
Cast-only alloy: sand, centrifugal, continuous and permanent-mold routes; needs good gating/feeding because of the pasty freezing range and Al/Si dross tendency.
What is the maximum service temperature of C99500?
C99500 is rated for continuous use to about 260°C (500 °F). Strength falls off well before that limit — check the elevated-temperature data for load-bearing parts.
What is the difference between C99500-M01 and C99500-TF00?
M01 is the default condition — standard stocked condition for pump and valve castings; best balance of strength and ductility without heat treatment. TF00: pick when maximum strength, hardness and wear resistance are needed and lower ductility is acceptable. Yield strength is 235 MPa in M01 versus 310 MPa in TF00.
How much does C99500 cost?
C99500 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 B505/B505M — Copper Alloy Continuous Castings — ASTM International (2018)
- ASTM B763 — Copper Alloy Sand Castings for Valve Applications — ASTM International (2020)
- ASTM B601 — Temper Designations for Copper and Copper Alloys — ASTM International (2019)
- CDA Copper Alloy Database, UNS C99500 — Copper Development Association (copper.org) (2023)
- 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.