Copper Alloy ERCuAl-A3
UNS C61900
ERCuAl-A3 is a higher-alloy nickel-aluminum bronze filler (~13% Al with Ni and Fe), C61900, giving 690 MPa tensile, 345 MPa yield, 210 HB (20 HRC) and 8% elongation — stronger and harder than ERCuAl-A2 — for heavy-duty wear surfacing and thick aluminum-bronze weldments.
Reference datasheet — ERCuAl-A3 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 AW condition
ERCuAl-A3 tempers and conditions
ERCuAl-A3 is supplied in 2 conditions, soft to hard. AW is the default FabDigit quotes; the values on this page are for it.
Compare all 2 conditionsHide
| Condition · open for datasheet | Best for | Yield MPa | Tensile MPa | Elong. % | Hardness | Conductivity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
As-welded then stress relieved | Pick when residual stress and stress-corrosion/hydrogen cracking risk in thick multi-pass aluminium-bronze weldments must be reduced. | 325 | 660 | 10 | 17 HRC | 9.5 % IACS |
AWDefault As-welded deposit | Default reference condition: undiluted all-weld-metal properties used for joint and repair design. | 345 | 690 | 8 | 20 HRC | 9 % IACS |
Supply forms, finishes and certifications
Ways ERCuAl-A3 is supplied — form, process route, surface or paperwork — without a datasheet of their own. The property values above apply.
| Option | What it is | Type |
|---|---|---|
WIRE | Filler wire/rod as supplied | Supply form |
OVL | Multi-layer hardfacing overlay | Surface finish |
What is ERCuAl-A3?
ERCuAl-A3 is a higher-alloy nickel-aluminum bronze filler (~13% Al with Ni and Fe), C61900, giving 690 MPa tensile, 345 MPa yield, 210 HB (20 HRC) and 8% elongation — stronger and harder than ERCuAl-A2 — for heavy-duty wear surfacing and thick aluminum-bronze weldments. Thermal conductivity is 46 W/m·K at 9% IACS, with service to 300 °C, and it is stocked as wire, overlay wire and stress-relieved deposits. Low deposit ductility, beta-phase embrittlement at high heat input and 150–250 °C preheat on thick sections are the main constraints; use ERCuAl-A2 where joint ductility matters more than hardness. ERCuAl-A3 has a density of 7.5 g/cm³ (0.271 lb/in³), lighter than 98% of copper alloy grades. It melts at 1,030°C (1,886 °F). ERCuAl-A3 has a yield strength of 345 MPa (50 ksi) and a tensile strength of 690 MPa (100 ksi) — stronger than 73% of copper alloy grades. Elongation at break is 8% and the elastic modulus is 115 GPa (16.7 Msi).
What is ERCuAl-A3 used for?
- heavy wear surfacing
- propeller and pump shaft build-up
- aluminum bronze structural welding
- cavitation-resistant overlays
Advantages
- Lightweight — 7.5 g/cm³ (0.271 lb/in³), better than 98% of copper alloy grades
- Good corrosion resistance — 74/100, better than 88% of copper alloy grades
- High service temperature — 300°C (572 °F), better than 85% of copper alloy grades
- Readily welded — 60/100, better than 76% of copper alloy grades
Limitations
- Limited ductility — 8%, worse than 83% of copper alloy grades
- Low electrical conductivity — 9 % IACS, worse than 78% of copper alloy grades
ERCuAl-A3 properties
Typical room-temperature values for ERCuAl-A3-AW; bars are the position among copper alloy grades.
Physical3
ERCuAl-A3 has a density of 7.5 g/cm³ (0.271 lb/in³), lighter than 98% of copper alloy grades. It melts at 1,030°C (1,886 °F).
Mechanical14
ERCuAl-A3 has a yield strength of 345 MPa (50 ksi) and a tensile strength of 690 MPa (100 ksi) — stronger than 73% of copper alloy grades. Elongation at break is 8% and the elastic modulus is 115 GPa (16.7 Msi).
Thermal6
ERCuAl-A3 is rated for continuous service to 300°C (572 °F). It conducts heat at 46 W/m·K (26.6 BTU/hr·ft·°F), worse than 73% of copper alloy grades. Thermal expansion is 16.2 µm/m·K (9 µin/in·°F).
Electrical3
ERCuAl-A3 conducts electricity at 9 % IACS, worse than 78% of copper alloy grades.
Chemical & Environmental3
Corrosion resistance is very good (74/100), better than 88% of copper alloy grades.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of ERCuAl-A3 takes about 55 MJ of energy and emits 4 kg of CO₂ — less than 72% of copper alloy grades. Typical recycled content is 30%.
Manufacturability8
ERCuAl-A3's machinability is poor (28/100, worse than 78% of copper alloy grades); weldability good (60/100); formability poor (25/100).
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. ERCuAl-A3 is highlighted; hover a dot for its name, or open the interactive family chart.
Working with ERCuAl-A3
Is ERCuAl-A3 easy to machine?
Hard duplex deposit: use sharp positive-rake carbide, rigid setup, moderate speed with heavy feed and flood coolant; expect ~20% of AISI 1212 machinability and abrasive tool wear from kappa phase.
Can ERCuAl-A3 be welded?
GTAW/GMAW with DCEP (MIG) or AC/DCEN (TIG), argon shielding, 150–250 °C preheat and interpass below ~250 °C on thick sections; keep stringer beads, clean alumina film between passes, avoid excessive heat input to limit beta-phase embrittlement and cracking.
Can ERCuAl-A3 be formed, bent or molded?
Deposit is not intended for cold forming; the wire itself feeds well but the weld metal has only 5–12% elongation, so plan machining-to-size rather than bending or peening-heavy work.
ERCuAl-A3 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Alhighest-Al class of the ERCuAl series; duplex alpha+beta deposit | 10 – 11.5 | 10.7 |
| Fegrain refiner / kappa-phase former | 2 – 4.5 | 3.2 |
| Si | ≤ 0.1 | 0.05 |
| Mnproducer-controlled; not limited in all editions | ≤ 0.5 | 0.2 |
| Niincidental/residual in most heats | ≤ 0.5 | 0.2 |
| Zn | ≤ 0.1 | 0.02 |
| Pb | ≤ 0.02 | 0.01 |
| Other, total | ≤ 0.5 | |
| Cubalance; wrought counterparts quoted as C62400 / C61900 depending on Al-Fe level | balance |
What surface finishes work on ERCuAl-A3?
Grind or machine overlays to size, then polish; the alloy takes a bronze luster but the tenacious alumina film requires pickling or abrasive prep before plating, painting or brazing — anodizing is not applicable.
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 ERCuAl-A3 in FabDigit's catalog. Equivalence is nominal — check the exact specification when certification matters.
- UNS
- C61900
How much does ERCuAl-A3 cost?
ERCuAl-A3 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.
ERCuAl-A3 — frequently asked
What is ERCuAl-A3 used for?
ERCuAl-A3 is typically used for heavy wear surfacing, propeller and pump shaft build-up, aluminum bronze structural welding and cavitation-resistant overlays. In short: hardest aluminum bronze filler; cavitation and wear overlays; low deposit ductility.
What is the yield strength of ERCuAl-A3?
ERCuAl-A3 has a typical yield strength of 345 MPa (50 ksi) and a tensile strength of 690 MPa (100 ksi) — stronger than 73% of copper alloy grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 2 listed tempers.
Is ERCuAl-A3 easy to machine?
Not especially — machinability is rated poor (28/100, worse than 78% of copper alloy grades). Hard duplex deposit: use sharp positive-rake carbide, rigid setup, moderate speed with heavy feed and flood coolant; expect ~20% of AISI 1212 machinability and abrasive tool wear from kappa phase.
Can ERCuAl-A3 be welded?
Yes — weldability is rated good (60/100). GTAW/GMAW with DCEP (MIG) or AC/DCEN (TIG), argon shielding, 150–250 °C preheat and interpass below ~250 °C on thick sections; keep stringer beads, clean alumina film between passes, avoid excessive heat input to limit beta-phase embrittlement and cracking.
What surface finishes work on ERCuAl-A3?
Grind or machine overlays to size, then polish; the alloy takes a bronze luster but the tenacious alumina film requires pickling or abrasive prep before plating, painting or brazing — anodizing is not applicable.
Can ERCuAl-A3 be formed, bent or molded?
Deposit is not intended for cold forming; the wire itself feeds well but the weld metal has only 5–12% elongation, so plan machining-to-size rather than bending or peening-heavy work.
What is the maximum service temperature of ERCuAl-A3?
ERCuAl-A3 is rated for continuous use to about 300°C (572 °F). Strength falls off well before that limit — check the elevated-temperature data for load-bearing parts.
What is the difference between ERCuAl-A3-AW and ERCuAl-A3 AW-SR?
AW is the default condition — default reference condition: undiluted all-weld-metal properties used for joint and repair design. AW-SR: pick when residual stress and stress-corrosion/hydrogen cracking risk in thick multi-pass aluminium-bronze weldments must be reduced. Yield strength is 345 MPa in AW versus 325 MPa in AW-SR.
How much does ERCuAl-A3 cost?
ERCuAl-A3 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
- AWS A5.7/A5.7M — Specification for Copper and Copper-Alloy Bare Welding Rods and Electrodes — American Welding Society (2021)
- AWS A5.13/A5.13M — Specification for Surfacing Electrodes for Shielded Metal Arc Welding (aluminium-bronze surfacing data) — American Welding Society (2010)
- ASM Handbook Vol. 2 — Properties and Selection: Nonferrous Alloys (aluminium bronzes) — ASM International (1990)
- CDA / copper.org alloy data for high-aluminium aluminium bronzes (C62400 class) — Copper Development Association (2023)
- Aluminium-bronze filler metal datasheets (ERCuAl-A2/A3 all-weld-metal properties) — Various consumable producers (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.