Copper Alloy ERCuSn-A
UNS C51800 · GB HSCuSn
ERCuSn-A is a tin bronze (phosphor bronze) filler with about 5% Sn, C51800 in the AWS A5.7 family, used to weld phosphor bronze and gunmetal castings and to surface bearing and wear components.
Reference datasheet — ERCuSn-A 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
ERCuSn-A tempers and conditions
ERCuSn-A is supplied in one standard condition, AW. AW is the default FabDigit quotes; the values on this page are for it.
Supply forms, finishes and certifications
Ways ERCuSn-A 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 | Bare wire/rod as supplied | Supply form |
SMAW | SMAW deposit | Surface finish |
OVERLAY | Weld Overlay / Surfacing deposit | Coating |
What is ERCuSn-A?
ERCuSn-A is a tin bronze (phosphor bronze) filler with about 5% Sn, C51800 in the AWS A5.7 family, used to weld phosphor bronze and gunmetal castings and to surface bearing and wear components. The deposit is soft and ductile — 330 MPa tensile, 165 MPa yield, 35% elongation, 80 HB (45 HRB) — with 69 W/m·K, 15% IACS and service to 200 °C, available as spool wire, cut rod, SMAW electrodes and overlay wire. Its wide freezing range makes the puddle sluggish and prone to tin segregation and hot cracking, so preheat 150–250 °C on heavy sections. ERCuAl-A2 gives higher strength. ERCuSn-A has a density of 8.8 g/cm³ (0.318 lb/in³), heavier than 58% of copper alloy grades. It melts at 950°C (1,742 °F). ERCuSn-A has a yield strength of 165 MPa (23.9 ksi) and a tensile strength of 330 MPa (47.9 ksi) — weaker than 64% of copper alloy grades. Elongation at break is 35% and the elastic modulus is 110 GPa (16 Msi).
What is ERCuSn-A used for?
- phosphor bronze bearing repair
- gunmetal valve body welding
- bronze fitting fabrication
- wear-surface build-up
Advantages
- Good corrosion resistance — 72/100, better than 84% of copper alloy grades
- Forms and bends easily — 80/100, better than 83% of copper alloy grades
- Ductile — tolerates forming and impact — 35%, better than 80% of copper alloy grades
- Readily welded — 60/100, better than 76% of copper alloy grades
ERCuSn-A properties
Typical room-temperature values for ERCuSn-A-AW; bars are the position among copper alloy grades.
Physical3
ERCuSn-A has a density of 8.8 g/cm³ (0.318 lb/in³), heavier than 58% of copper alloy grades. It melts at 950°C (1,742 °F).
Mechanical13
ERCuSn-A has a yield strength of 165 MPa (23.9 ksi) and a tensile strength of 330 MPa (47.9 ksi) — weaker than 64% of copper alloy grades. Elongation at break is 35% and the elastic modulus is 110 GPa (16 Msi).
Thermal6
ERCuSn-A is rated for continuous service to 200°C (392 °F). It conducts heat at 69 W/m·K (39.9 BTU/hr·ft·°F), worse than 56% of copper alloy grades. Thermal expansion is 17.8 µm/m·K (9.89 µin/in·°F).
Electrical3
ERCuSn-A conducts electricity at 15 % IACS, worse than 54% of copper alloy grades.
Chemical & Environmental3
Corrosion resistance is very good (72/100), better than 84% of copper alloy grades.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of ERCuSn-A takes about 62 MJ of energy and emits 4.2 kg of CO₂ — more than 76% of copper alloy grades. Typical recycled content is 35%.
Manufacturability8
ERCuSn-A's machinability is poor (30/100, worse than 67% of copper alloy grades); weldability good (60/100); formability very good (80/100).
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. ERCuSn-A is highlighted; hover a dot for its name, or open the interactive family chart.
Working with ERCuSn-A
Is ERCuSn-A easy to machine?
Deposit is soft and gummy — use sharp positive-rake carbide, high speed, low feed and generous coolant to avoid smearing.
Can ERCuSn-A be welded?
Preheat 150–250 °C for heavy bronze sections, keep interpass low with stringer beads and peen each pass to limit hot cracking and tin segregation; DCEP for GMAW, DCEN with argon for GTAW.
Can ERCuSn-A be formed, bent or molded?
Supplied as drawn wire; sluggish wide-freezing-range melt gives poor puddle fluidity, so build joints with slightly larger groove angles.
ERCuSn-A 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Sn | 4 – 6 | 5 |
| Pdeoxidizer | 0.1 – 0.35 | 0.2 |
| Zn | ≤ 0.2 | |
| Fe | ≤ 0.25 | |
| Pb | ≤ 0.02 | |
| Al | ≤ 0.01 | |
| Si | ≤ 0.5 | |
| Other, totalsum of impurities | ≤ 0.5 | |
| Curemainder, ≈93–95 % | balance |
What surface finishes work on ERCuSn-A?
Not anodizable; finish by machining, grinding, polishing or chemical patination, and lacquer if bright colour must be kept.
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 ERCuSn-A in FabDigit's catalog. Equivalence is nominal — check the exact specification when certification matters.
- UNS
- C51800
- GB (China)
- HSCuSn
How much does ERCuSn-A cost?
ERCuSn-A is a high-cost copper alloy ($$$$), pricier than about 78% of the materials FabDigit quotes. Part price depends far more on geometry, tolerance and quantity than on the raw stock — upload a CAD file for a live quote.
ERCuSn-A — frequently asked
What is ERCuSn-A used for?
ERCuSn-A is typically used for phosphor bronze bearing repair, gunmetal valve body welding, bronze fitting fabrication and wear-surface build-up. In short: standard tin bronze filler; bearing surface build-up; sluggish, wide-freezing puddle.
What is the yield strength of ERCuSn-A?
ERCuSn-A has a typical yield strength of 165 MPa (23.9 ksi) and a tensile strength of 330 MPa (47.9 ksi) — weaker than 64% of copper alloy grades.
Is ERCuSn-A easy to machine?
Not especially — machinability is rated poor (30/100, worse than 67% of copper alloy grades). Deposit is soft and gummy — use sharp positive-rake carbide, high speed, low feed and generous coolant to avoid smearing.
Can ERCuSn-A be welded?
Yes — weldability is rated good (60/100). Preheat 150–250 °C for heavy bronze sections, keep interpass low with stringer beads and peen each pass to limit hot cracking and tin segregation; DCEP for GMAW, DCEN with argon for GTAW.
What surface finishes work on ERCuSn-A?
Not anodizable; finish by machining, grinding, polishing or chemical patination, and lacquer if bright colour must be kept.
Can ERCuSn-A be formed, bent or molded?
Supplied as drawn wire; sluggish wide-freezing-range melt gives poor puddle fluidity, so build joints with slightly larger groove angles.
What is the maximum service temperature of ERCuSn-A?
ERCuSn-A is rated for continuous use to about 200°C (392 °F). Strength falls off well before that limit — check the elevated-temperature data for load-bearing parts.
How much does ERCuSn-A cost?
ERCuSn-A is a high-cost copper alloy ($$$$), 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 — AWS (2011)
- AWS A5.6/A5.6M — Copper and Copper-Alloy Electrodes for SMAW — AWS (2008)
- CDA Alloy Datasheet C51800 (phosphor bronze welding rod) — Copper Development Association (2023)
- ASM Handbook Vol.2 — Properties of Copper and Copper Alloys — ASM International (1990)
- ASM Handbook Vol.6 — Welding of Copper Alloys — ASM International (1993)
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.