Copper Alloy Cu-FRTP
EN CR006A
Cu-FRTP (CR006A) is a fire-refined tough-pitch copper, a general-purpose commercial copper for rod, wire, tube and sheet where extreme purity is not required.
Reference datasheet — Cu-FRTP 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 H04 condition
Cu-FRTP tempers and conditions
Cu-FRTP is supplied in 6 conditions, soft to hard. H04 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 | Pick for maximum ductility and conductivity: flexible wire, gaskets, formed/bent parts and rivets. | 70 | 225 | 45 | 45 HB | 98 % IACS |
As hot rolled | Hot-rolled redraw rod and wire bar as it leaves the rolling mill; the feedstock for drawing. | 75 | 220 | 42 | 48 HB | 97 % IACS |
Quarter hard | Light draw/roll for parts that still need bending but a bit more stiffness than soft copper. | 200 | 265 | 25 | 70 HB | 97 % IACS |
Half hard | The usual compromise temper for bus bars, terminals and machined fittings needing moderate strength. | 250 | 300 | 14 | 85 HB | 96.5 % IACS |
H04Default Full hard | Standard stock condition for drawn rod, bar and overhead/hard-drawn wire — best strength-to-conductivity balance. | 305 | 345 | 8 | 100 HB | 96 % IACS |
Spring hard | Maximum cold-work strength for fine wire, springs and brush wire where ductility is not needed. | 360 | 400 | 3 | 112 HB | 95.5 % IACS |
What is Cu-FRTP?
Cu-FRTP (CR006A) is a fire-refined tough-pitch copper, a general-purpose commercial copper for rod, wire, tube and sheet where extreme purity is not required. It carries 96 % IACS electrical and 380 W/m·K thermal conductivity, with hard-temper values of 345 MPa tensile, 305 MPa yield, 8 % elongation, 100 HB (55 HRB) and 122 GPa modulus; tempers run M20 and O60 through H08. Maximum service temperature is about 150 °C, and the scores for machinability (28), weldability (35) and formability (35) reflect the hard condition. Oxygen content limits welding, so Cu-DHP or Cu-OF suits welded assemblies. Cu-FRTP has a density of 8.94 g/cm³ (0.323 lb/in³), heavier than 90% of copper alloy grades. It melts at 1,065°C (1,949 °F). Cu-FRTP has a yield strength of 305 MPa (44.2 ksi) and a tensile strength of 345 MPa (50 ksi) — stronger than 62% of copper alloy grades. Elongation at break is 8% and the elastic modulus is 122 GPa (17.7 Msi).
What is Cu-FRTP used for?
- general electrical conductors
- plumbing tube stock
- roofing sheet
Advantages
- Conducts heat well — 380 W/m·K (219.6 BTU/hr·ft·°F), better than 91% of copper alloy grades
- High electrical conductivity — 96 % IACS, better than 91% of copper alloy grades
Limitations
- Limited service temperature — 150°C (302 °F), worse than 96% of copper alloy grades
- Limited ductility — 8%, worse than 83% of copper alloy grades
Cu-FRTP properties
Typical room-temperature values for Cu-FRTP-H04; bars are the position among copper alloy grades.
Physical3
Cu-FRTP has a density of 8.94 g/cm³ (0.323 lb/in³), heavier than 90% of copper alloy grades. It melts at 1,065°C (1,949 °F).
Mechanical13
Cu-FRTP has a yield strength of 305 MPa (44.2 ksi) and a tensile strength of 345 MPa (50 ksi) — stronger than 62% of copper alloy grades. Elongation at break is 8% and the elastic modulus is 122 GPa (17.7 Msi).
Thermal6
Cu-FRTP is rated for continuous service to 150°C (302 °F). It conducts heat at 380 W/m·K (219.6 BTU/hr·ft·°F), better than 91% of copper alloy grades. Thermal expansion is 17 µm/m·K (9.44 µin/in·°F).
Electrical3
Cu-FRTP conducts electricity at 96 % IACS, better than 91% of copper alloy grades.
Chemical & Environmental3
Corrosion resistance is good (65/100), better than 58% of copper alloy grades.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of Cu-FRTP takes about 57 MJ of energy and emits 3.8 kg of CO₂ — less than 52% of copper alloy grades. Typical recycled content is 70%.
Manufacturability8
Cu-FRTP's machinability is poor (28/100, worse than 78% of copper alloy grades); weldability fair (35/100); formability fair (35/100).
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. Cu-FRTP is highlighted; hover a dot for its name, or open the interactive family chart.
Working with Cu-FRTP
Is Cu-FRTP easy to machine?
Gummy and stringy — use sharp, high-rake, polished tools, high speed with generous coolant; hard-drawn temper machines better than annealed, but choose C14500/C14700 or leaded brass for screw-machine work.
Can Cu-FRTP be welded?
Weldable by TIG/MIG with high heat input and preheat, but the oxygen content causes hydrogen embrittlement and porosity — prefer brazing/soldering or use Cu-DHP/OF grades for welded assemblies.
Can Cu-FRTP be formed, bent or molded?
Excellent cold formability in the O60 temper (deep drawing, bending, riveting); anneal at 400–600 °C between heavy draws and avoid reducing-atmosphere furnaces.
Cu-FRTP 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Opresent as Cu2O; not a specified maximum but typical of tough-pitch copper | 0.02 – 0.06 | 0.04 |
| Agcounted with Cu | ≤ 0.05 | 0.02 |
| Bi | ≤ 0 | |
| Pb | ≤ 0.01 | |
| other impurities (total)As, Sb, Sn, Ni, Fe, S etc.; higher tolerance than Cu-ETP/Cu-FRHC | ≤ 0.15 | |
| CuCu + Ag, oxygen-bearing (tough pitch); EN 1976 Cu-FRTP | ≥ 99.85 (balance) |
What surface finishes work on Cu-FRTP?
Solders and brazes readily; tin, nickel or silver plating and clear lacquer are used to prevent tarnish — anodising 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).
Equivalent designations
Standards and trade names that resolve to Copper Alloy Cu-FRTP in FabDigit's catalog. Equivalence is nominal — check the exact specification when certification matters.
- EN / DIN / Werkstoff-Nr.
- CR006A
How much does Cu-FRTP cost?
Cu-FRTP 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.
Cu-FRTP — frequently asked
What is Cu-FRTP used for?
Cu-FRTP is typically used for general electrical conductors, plumbing tube stock and roofing sheet. In short: commercial tough-pitch copper; 96 % IACS conductor stock; hard temper, low ductility.
What is the yield strength of Cu-FRTP?
Cu-FRTP has a typical yield strength of 305 MPa (44.2 ksi) and a tensile strength of 345 MPa (50 ksi) — stronger than 62% of copper alloy grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 6 listed tempers.
Is Cu-FRTP easy to machine?
Not especially — machinability is rated poor (28/100, worse than 78% of copper alloy grades). Gummy and stringy — use sharp, high-rake, polished tools, high speed with generous coolant; hard-drawn temper machines better than annealed, but choose C14500/C14700 or leaded brass for screw-machine work.
Can Cu-FRTP be welded?
With care — weldability is rated fair (35/100). Weldable by TIG/MIG with high heat input and preheat, but the oxygen content causes hydrogen embrittlement and porosity — prefer brazing/soldering or use Cu-DHP/OF grades for welded assemblies.
What surface finishes work on Cu-FRTP?
Solders and brazes readily; tin, nickel or silver plating and clear lacquer are used to prevent tarnish — anodising does not apply.
Can Cu-FRTP be formed, bent or molded?
Excellent cold formability in the O60 temper (deep drawing, bending, riveting); anneal at 400–600 °C between heavy draws and avoid reducing-atmosphere furnaces.
What is the maximum service temperature of Cu-FRTP?
Cu-FRTP is rated for continuous use to about 150°C (302 °F). Strength falls off well before that limit — check the elevated-temperature data for load-bearing parts.
What is the difference between Cu-FRTP-H04 and Cu-FRTP-O60?
H04 is the default condition — standard stock condition for drawn rod, bar and overhead/hard-drawn wire — best strength-to-conductivity balance. O60: pick for maximum ductility and conductivity: flexible wire, gaskets, formed/bent parts and rivets. Yield strength is 305 MPa in H04 versus 70 MPa in O60.
How much does Cu-FRTP cost?
Cu-FRTP 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
- EN 1976 — Cast unwrought copper products (Cu-FRTP) — CEN (2012)
- EN 13601 — Copper rod, bar and wire for general electrical purposes — CEN (2021)
- ASM Handbook Vol.2 — Properties and Selection: Nonferrous Alloys — ASM International (1990)
- Copper alloy datasheets (tough-pitch copper) — Copper Development Association (2023)
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.