KasperCalc: MIL-HDBK-5 7.3 Copper and Copper Alloys

Chapter 7.3 Contents

7.3Copper and Copper Alloys 7.3.0General 7.3.1Manganese Bronzes 7.3.1.0Comments and Properties 7.3.2Copper Beryllium 7.3.2.0Comments and Properties 7.3.2.1TF00 Temper 7.3.2.2TH04 Temper •References

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Chapter 1 — General Chapter 2 — Steel Chapter 3 — Aluminum Chapter 4 — Magnesium Chapter 5 — Titanium Chapter 6 — Heat-Resistant Alloys Chapter 7 — Miscellaneous Alloys 7.1 — General 7.2 — Beryllium 7.3 — Copper Alloys 7.4 — Multiphase Alloys 7.5 — Sheet Laminates

Disclaimer

For reference use only. The formulas, graphs, and values herein are provided in good faith for general engineering guidance. Please verify all data against MIL-HDBK-5J or the applicable superseding document (MMPDS).

Table of Tables

Table 7.3.1.0(a)Material Specifications for Manganese Bronzes Table 7.3.1.0(b)Cross Index Table 7.3.1.0(c)Design Mechanical and Physical Properties of C86500 Manganese Bronze Table 7.3.1.0(d)Design Mechanical and Physical Properties of C86300 Manganese Bronze Table 7.3.2.0(a)Cross-Index to Previous and Current Temper Designations for C17200 Copper Beryllium Table 7.3.2.0(b)Material Specifications for C17200 Copper Beryllium Table 7.3.2.0(c)Design Mechanical and Physical Properties of Copper Beryllium Strip Table 7.3.2.0(d)Design Mechanical and Physical Properties of C17200 Copper Beryllium Rod and Bar Table 7.3.2.0(e)Design Mechanical and Physical Properties of C17200 Copper Beryllium Rod and Bar Table 7.3.2.0(f)Design Mechanical and Physical Properties of C17200 Copper Beryllium Rod and Bar Table 7.3.2.0(g)Design Mechanical and Physical Properties of C17200 Copper Beryllium Mechanical Tubing

Table of Figures

Fig 7.3.2.0Effect of temperature on the physical properties of copper beryllium (TF00) Fig 7.3.2.1.6(a)Typical tensile and compressive stress-strain and compressive tangent-modulus curves for C17200 copper beryllium bar and rod in TF00 temper Thickness: 1.625–4.000 in. Ramberg-Osgood n (L tension) = 11, n (ST tension) = 9.6, n (L comp.) = 7.1, n (ST comp.) = 6.7. Typical. Fig 7.3.2.1.6(b)Typical tensile and compressive stress-strain and compressive tangent-modulus curves for C17200 copper beryllium mechanical tubing in TF00 temper Wall thickness: 0.750–1.625 in. Ramberg-Osgood n (L tension) = 8.2, n (LT tension) = 5.1, n (L comp.) = 8.6, n (LT comp.) = 8.5. Typical. Fig 7.3.2.2.6Typical tensile and compressive stress-strain and compressive tangent-modulus curves for C17200 copper beryllium bar and rod in TH04 temper Thickness: 0.500–3.000 in. Ramberg-Osgood n (L tension) = 8.0, n (ST tension) = 7.9, n (L comp.) = 6.8, n (ST comp.) = 7.5. Typical.

7.3Copper and Copper Alloys

7.3.0General

The properties of major significance in designing with copper and copper alloys are electrical and thermal conductivity, corrosion resistance, and good bearing qualities (antigalling). Copper and copper alloys are non-magnetic and can be readily joined by welding, brazing and soldering. The use of copper alloys is usually predicated upon two or more of the above properties plus the ease of casting and hot and cold working into desirable shapes.

The thermally unstable range for copper and copper alloys generally begins somewhat above room temperature (150°F). Creep, stress relaxation and diminishing stress rupture strength are factors of concern above 150°F. Copper alloys frequently are used at temperatures up to 480°F. The range between 480°F and 750°F is considered very high for copper alloys, since copper and many of its alloys begin to oxidize slightly above 350°F and protection may be required. Bronzes containing Al, Si, and Be oxidize to a lesser extent than the red copper alloys. Precipitation hardened alloys such as copper beryllium retain strength up to their aging temperatures of 500°F to 750°F.

Copper alloys used for bearing and wear resistance applications include, in the order of their increasing strength and load-carrying capacity, copper-tin-lead, copper-tin, silicon bronze, manganese bronze, aluminum bronze, and copper beryllium. Copper beryllium and manganese bronzes are included in MIL-HDBK-5.

Copper-base bearing alloys are readily cast by a number of techniques: statically sand cast, centrifugally cast into tubular shapes, and continuously cast into various shapes. Tin bronze, sometimes called phosphor bronze because phosphorous is used to deoxidize the melt and improve castability, is a low-strength alloy. It is generally supplied as a static (sand) casting or centrifugal casting (tubular shapes from rotating graphite molds). Manganese bronze is considerably stronger than tin bronze, is easily cast in the foundry, has good toughness and is not heat treated. Aluminum bronze alloys, especially those with nickel, silicon, and manganese over 2 percent, respond to heat treatment, resulting in greater strength, and higher galling and fatigue limits than manganese bronze. Aluminum bronze is used in the static and centrifugal cast form or parts may be machined from wrought rod and bar stock. Copper beryllium is the highest strength copper-base bearing material, due to its response to precipitation hardening. Copper beryllium is also available in static and centrifugal cast form but is generally used as wrought shapes, such as extrusions, forgings, and mill shapes.

Copper beryllium, because of its high strength, is also useful as a spring material. In this application its high elastic limit, high fatigue strength as well as good electrical conductivity are significant. Copper beryllium resists softening up to 500°F, which is higher than other common copper alloys. Copper beryllium springs are usually fabricated from strip or wire. Consult References 7.3.0(a) through (c) for more information.

7.3.1Manganese Bronzes

7.3.1.0Comments and Properties

The manganese bronzes are also known as the high-strength yellow brasses and leaded high-strength yellow brasses. These alloys contain zinc as the principal alloying element with smaller amounts of iron, aluminum, manganese, nickel, and lead present. These bronzes are easily cast.

Some material specifications for manganese bronzes are presented in Table 7.3.1.0(a). A cross index to CDA and former QQ-C-390 designations is presented in Table 7.3.1.0(b). Room-temperature mechanical properties are shown in Tables 7.3.1.0(c) and (d).

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Table 7.3.1.0(a). Material Specifications for Manganese Bronzes
Specification	Form
AMS 4860	Casting
AMS 4862	Casting

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Table 7.3.1.0(b). Cross Index
Copper Alloy UNS No.	CDA Alloy No.	Former QQ-C-390 Alloy No.
C86300	863	C7
C86500	865	C3

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Table 7.3.1.0(c). Design Mechanical and Physical Properties of C86500 Manganese Bronze
Specification	AMS 4860
Form	Sand and centrifugal casting
Condition	As cast
Location within casting	Any area
Basis	S
Mechanical Properties:
F_tu, ksi	65^a
F_ty, ksi	25^a
F_cy, ksi	···
F_su, ksi	···
F_bru, ksi:
(e/D = 1.5)	···
(e/D = 2.0)	···
F_bry, ksi:
(e/D = 1.5)	···
(e/D = 2.0)	···
e, percent	20^a
E, 10³ ksi	15.0
E_c, 10³ ksi	···
G, 10³ ksi	···
μ	···
Physical Properties:
ω, lb/in.³	0.301
C, Btu/(lb)(°F)	0.09 (at 68&°;F)
K, Btu/[(hr)(ft²)(°F)/ft]	50 (at 68&°;F)
α, 10⁻⁶ in./in./°F	11.3 (68 to 212&°;F)
Electrical conductivity, % IACS	22.0
^a When specified, conformance to tensile property requirements is determined by testing specimens cut from casting.

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Table 7.3.1.0(d). Design Mechanical and Physical Properties of C86300 Manganese Bronze
Specification	AMS 4862
Form	Sand and centrifugal casting
Condition	As cast
Location within casting	Any area
Basis	S
Mechanical Properties:
F_tu, ksi	110^a
F_ty, ksi	60^a
F_cy, ksi	···
F_su, ksi	···
F_bru, ksi:
(e/D = 1.5)	···
(e/D = 2.0)	···
F_bry, ksi:
(e/D = 1.5)	···
(e/D = 2.0)	···
e, percent	12^a
E, 10³ ksi	14.2
E_c, 10³ ksi	···
G, 10³ ksi	···
μ	···
Physical Properties:
ω, lb/in.³	0.283
C, Btu/(lb)(°F)	0.09 (at 68&°;F)
K, Btu/[(hr)(ft²)(°F)/ft]	20.5 (at 68&°;F)
α, 10⁻⁶ in./in./°F	12.0 (68 to 500&°;F)
Electrical conductivity, % IACS	8.0
^a When specified, conformance to tensile property requirements is determined by testing specimens cut from casting.

7.3.2Copper Beryllium

7.3.2.0Comments and Properties

Copper beryllium refers to a family of copper-base alloys containing beryllium and cobalt or nickel which cause the alloys to be precipitation hardenable. Data for only one high-strength alloy, designated C17200, which contains 1.90 percent (nominal) beryllium, are presented in this section. This alloy is suitable for parts requiring high strength, good wear, and corrosion resistance. Alloy C17200 is available in the form of rod, bar, shapes, mechanical tubing, strip, and casting.

Manufacturing Considerations — The heat treatable tempers of rod and bar are designated TB00 (AMS 4650) for solution-treated or TD04 (AMS 4651) for solution-treated plus cold worked conditions. After fabrication operations, the material may be strengthened by precipitation heat treatment (aging). Rod and bar are also available from the mill in the TF00 (AMS 4533) and TH04 (AMS 4534) conditions. Mechanical tubing is available from the mill in TF00 (AMS 4535) condition. Machining operations on rod, bar, and tubing are usually performed on material in the TF00 or (TH04) conditions. This eliminates the volumetric shrinkage of 0.02 percent, which occurs during precipitation hardening, as a factor in maintaining final dimensional tolerances. This material has good machinability in all conditions.

Strip is also available in the heat treatable condition. Parts are stamped or formed in a heat treatable temper and subsequently precipitation heat treated. For strip, the heat treatable tempers are designated TB00 (AMS 4530, ASTM B194), TD01 (ASTM B194), TD02 (AMS 4532, ASTM B194), and TD04 (ASTM B194), indicating a progressively greater amount of cold work by the mill. When parts produced from these tempers are precipitation heat treated by the user, the designations become TF00, TH01, TH02, and TH04, respectively. Strip is also available from the mill for the hardened conditions. Design values for these conditions are not included.

Environmental Considerations — The copper beryllium alloys have good corrosion resistance and are not susceptible to hydrogen embrittlement. The maximum service temperature for C17200 copper beryllium products is 500°F for up to 100 hours.

Specifications and Properties — A cross-index to previous and current temper designations for C17200 alloy is presented in Table 7.3.2.0(a).

Material specifications for alloy C17200 are presented in Table 7.3.2.0(b). Room-temperature mechanical properties are shown in Tables 7.3.2.0(c) through (g). The effect of temperature on physical properties is depicted in Figure 7.3.2.0.

The temper index for C17200 alloy is as follows:

C17200 Temper Index
Section	Temper
7.3.2.1	TF00
7.3.2.2	TH04

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Table 7.3.2.0(a). Cross-Index to Previous and Current Temper Designations for C17200 Copper Beryllium
Previous Temper	Current ASTM Temper
A	TB00
AT	TF00
¼H	TD01
¼HT	TH01
½H	TD02
½HT	TH02
H	TD04
HT	TH04

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Table 7.3.2.0(b). Material Specifications for C17200 Copper Beryllium Alloy
Specification	Form
ASTM B194	Strip (TB00, TD01, TD02, TD04)
AMS 4530^a	Strip (TB00)
AMS 4532^a	Strip (TD02)
AMS 4650	Bar, rod, shapes, and forgings (TB00)
AMS 4533	Bar and rod (TF00)
AMS 4535	Mechanical tubing (TF00)
AMS 4651	Bar and rod (TD04)
AMS 4534	Bar and rod (TH04)
^a Noncurrent specification.

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Table 7.3.2.0(c). Design Mechanical and Physical Properties of Copper Beryllium Strip
Specification	ASTM B194 AMS 4530^a	ASTM B194	ASTM B194 AMS 4532^a	ASTM B194
Form	Strip
Condition	TF00	TH01	TH02	TH04
Thickness, in.	≤0.188	≤0.188	≤0.188	≤0.188
Basis	S	S	S	S
Mechanical Properties:
F_tu, ksi:
L	165	175	185	190
LT	···	···	···	···
F_ty, ksi:
L	140	150	160	165
LT	···	···	···	···
F_cy^b, ksi: (Estimate)
L	140	150	160	165
LT	140	150	160	165
F_su^b, ksi (Estimate)	90	90	92	95
F_bru^b, ksi: (Estimate)
(e/D = 1.5)	214	227	240	247
(e/D = 2.0)	280	297	314	323
F_bry^b, ksi: (Estimate)
(e/D = 1.5)	196	210	224	231
(e/D = 2.0)	210	225	240	247
e, percent:
L	3	2.5	1	1
E, 10³ ksi	18.5
E_c, 10³ ksi	···
G, 10³ ksi	7.3
μ	0.27
Physical Properties:
ω, lb/in.³	0.298
C, K, and α	See Figure 7.3.2.0 for TF00 temper
^a Noncurrent specification.
^b These properties do not represent values derived from tests, but are estimates.

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Table 7.3.2.0(d). Design Mechanical and Physical Properties of C17200 Copper Beryllium Rod and Bar
Specification	AMS 4650 and AMS 4533
Form	Rod and bar
Condition	TF00
Thickness, in.	≤1.500	1.501-2.000	2.001-3.000	3.001-3.500	3.501-4.000
Basis	S	S	S	S	S
Mechanical Properties:
F_tu, ksi:
L	165	165	165	165	165
ST	···	158	158	158	158
F_ty, ksi:
L	140	140	140	140	140
ST	···	137	137	137	137
F_cy, ksi:
L	150	149	145	143	139
ST	···	142	142	142	142
F_su, ksi	···	94	94	94	94
F_bru^a, ksi:
(e/D = 1.5)	226	226	226	226	226
(e/D = 2.0)	290	290	290	290	290
F_bry^a, ksi:
(e/D = 1.5)	200	200	200	200	200
(e/D = 2.0)	225	225	225	225	225
e, percent:
L	4^b	4^b	4^b	3	3
E, 10³ ksi	18.5
E_c, 10³ ksi	18.7
G, 10³ ksi	7.3
μ	0.27
Physical Properties:
ω, lb/in.³	0.298
C, K, and α	See Figure 7.3.2.0
^a Bearing values are “dry pin” values per Section 1.4.7.1.
^b AMS 4650 specifies e = 3 percent.

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Table 7.3.2.0(e). Design Mechanical and Physical Properties of C17200 Copper Beryllium Rod and Bar
Specification	AMS 4651
Form	Rod and bar
Condition	TH04
Thickness, in.	≤0.375	0.376-1.000	1.001-1.500	1.501-2.000
Basis	S	S	S	S
Mechanical Properties:
F_tu, ksi:
L	185	180	175	175
ST	···	···	···	169
F_ty, ksi:
L	145	145	145	145
ST	···	···	···	140
F_cy, ksi:
L	···	148	148	148
ST	···	···	···	154
F_su, ksi	···	89	90	93
F_bru^a, ksi:
(e/D = 1.5)	···	242	235	235
(e/D = 2.0)	···	306	298	298
F_bry^a, ksi:
(e/D = 1.5)	···	207	207	207
(e/D = 2.0)	···	225	225	225
e, percent:
L	1	1	2	2
E, 10³ ksi	18.5
E_c, 10³ ksi	18.7
G, 10³ ksi	7.3
μ	0.27
Physical Properties:
ω, lb/in.³	0.298
C, K, and α	···
^a Bearing values are “dry pin” values per Section 1.4.7.1.

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Table 7.3.2.0(f). Design Mechanical and Physical Properties of C17200 Copper Beryllium Rod and Bar
Specification	AMS 4534
Form	Rod and bar
Condition	TH04
Thickness, in.	≤0.375		0.376-0.999		1.000-1.499		1.500-1.999		2.000-2.499		2.500-3.000
Basis	A	B	A	B	A	B	A	B	A	B	A	B
Mechanical Properties:
F_tu, ksi:
L	182	188	180	186	177^a	184	177	183	175	181	172	178
ST	···	···	···	···	···	···	167	173	168	174	167	173
F_ty, ksi:
L	157	165	154	162	150^a	162	150	158	147	155	145	152
ST	···	···	···	···	···	···	145	153	142	150	140	147
F_cy, ksi:
L	···	···	157	166	153	164	153	162	150	158	148	155
ST	···	···	···	···	···	···	160	168	156	165	154	162
F_su, ksi	···	···	89	92	91	95	94	97	95	98	94	96
F_bru^b, ksi:
(e/D = 1.5)	···	···	242	250	238	247	238	246	235	243	231	239
(e/D = 2.0)	···	···	306	317	302	313	302	312	298	308	293	303
F_bry^b, ksi:
(e/D = 1.5)	···	···	220	231	214	228	214	226	210	221	207	217
(e/D = 2.0)	···	···	239	251	233	248	233	245	228	240	225	236
e, percent (S-basis):
L	3	···	3	···	3	···	3	···	3	···	3	···
E, 10³ ksi	18.5
E_c, 10³ ksi	18.7
G, 10³ ksi	7.3
μ	0.27
Physical Properties:
ω, lb/in.³	0.298
C, K, and α	···
^a S-basis. A values are F_tu(L) = 178 ksi and F_ty = 152 ksi.
^b Bearing values are “dry pin” values per Section 1.4.7.1.

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Table 7.3.2.0(g). Design Mechanical and Physical Properties of C17200 Copper Beryllium Mechanical Tubing
Specification	AMS 4535
Form	Mechanical tubing
Condition	TF00
Outside Diameter, in.	≤2.499		2.500-12.000
Wall Thickness, in.	≤0.749		0.750-2.000
Basis	A	B	A	B
Mechanical Properties:
F_tu, ksi:
L	161	167	161	167
LT	···	···	157	163
F_ty, ksi:
L	126	136	126	136
LT	···	···	124	134
F_cy, ksi:
L	134	145	134	145
LT	···	···	135	146
F_su, ksi	92	95	92	95
F_bru^a, ksi:
(e/D = 1.5)	228	237	228	237
(e/D = 2.0)	287	298	287	298
F_bry^a, ksi:
(e/D = 1.5)	183	197	183	197
(e/D = 2.0)	206	222	206	222
e, percent (S-basis):
L	3	···	3	···
E, 10³ ksi	18.5
E_c, 10³ ksi	18.7
G, 10³ ksi	7.3
μ	0.27
Physical Properties:
ω, lb/in.³	0.298
C, Btu/(lb)(°F)	See Figure 7.3.2.0
^a Bearing values are “dry pin” values per Section 1.4.7.1.

The handbook plots these properties on one graph with a separate y-axis for each. Here each one has its own chart, over the same temperature range.

Thermal expansion coefficient (α)

How much the metal grows, per inch, for each °F. Mean value from 70 °F to the temperature shown. Units: 10⁻⁶ in/in/°F. Metric: × 1.8 = 10⁻⁶/K

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Thermal conductivity (K)

How fast heat flows through the metal, at the temperature shown. Units: Btu/(hr·ft·°F). Metric: × 1.731 = W/(m·K)

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Specific heat (C)

Heat needed to warm 1 lb of the metal by 1 °F, at the temperature shown. Units: Btu/(lb·°F). Metric: × 4.187 = kJ/(kg·K)

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Figure 7.3.2.0. Effect of temperature on the physical properties of copper beryllium (TF00).

7.3.2.1TF00 Temper

Typical tensile and compressive stress-strain and tangent-modulus curves are presented in Figures 7.3.2.1.6(a) and (b).

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Figure 7.3.2.1.6(a). Typical tensile and compressive stress-strain and compressive tangent-modulus curves for C17200 copper beryllium bar and rod in TF00 temper. Thickness: 1.625–4.000 in. Ramberg-Osgood n (L tension) = 11, n (ST tension) = 9.6, n (L comp.) = 7.1, n (ST comp.) = 6.7. Typical.

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Figure 7.3.2.1.6(b). Typical tensile and compressive stress-strain and compressive tangent-modulus curves for C17200 copper beryllium mechanical tubing in TF00 temper. Wall thickness: 0.750–1.625 in. Ramberg-Osgood n (L tension) = 8.2, n (LT tension) = 5.1, n (L comp.) = 8.6, n (LT comp.) = 8.5. Typical.

7.3.2.2TH04 Temper

Typical tensile and compressive stress-strain and tangent-modulus curves are presented in Figure 7.3.2.2.6.

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Figure 7.3.2.2.6. Typical tensile and compressive stress-strain and compressive tangent-modulus curves for C17200 copper beryllium bar and rod in TH04 temper. Thickness: 0.500–3.000 in. Ramberg-Osgood n (L tension) = 8.0, n (ST tension) = 7.9, n (L comp.) = 6.8, n (ST comp.) = 7.5. Typical.

References

7.3.0(a)“The Selection and Application of Wrought Copper and Copper Alloy,” by the ASM Committee on Applications of Copper, ASM Metals Handbook, Vol. 1, 8th Edition, pp. 960-972 (1961).
7.3.0(b)“The Selection and Application of Copper Alloy Castings,” by the ASM Committee on Copper Alloy Castings, ASM Metals Handbook, Vol. 1, 8th Edition, pp. 972-983 (1961).
7.3.0(c)CDA Standard Handbook, “Part 2—Wrought Mill Producers Alloy Data,” and “Part 7—Cast Products Data,” Copper Development Association, New York.

Chapter 1 (General) Chapter 2 (Steel) Chapter 3 (Aluminum) Chapter 4 (Magnesium) Chapter 5 (Titanium) Chapter 6 (Heat-Resistant Alloys)

MIL-HDBK-5: Chapter 7.3
Copper and Copper Alloys

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MIL-HDBK-5: Chapter 7.3Copper and Copper Alloys

Cite This Work

MIL-HDBK-5: Chapter 7.3
Copper and Copper Alloys