C12200 Copper Busbar

Gnee Steel (Tianjin) Co., Ltd. is one of the most professional manufacturers and suppliers of c12200 copper busbar in China, specialized in providing high quality copper products with competitive price. Welcome to buy discount c12200 copper busbar for sale here from our factory. Customized orders are welcome.

 

C12200 (DHP – Deoxidized High Phosphorus) is a phosphorous-deoxidized copper grade with 0.015-0.040% phosphorus added during melting. This small amount of phosphorus fundamentally changes how the copper behaves during welding, brazing, and soldering.

 

What makes C12200 different：

Property	C12200	C11000 (ETP)
Phosphorus content	0.015-0.040%	0%
Oxygen content	≤0.01%	0.02-0.04%
Behavior when heated	Stable	Forms steam internally
Weldability	Excellent	Poor (may crack)
Brazing	Excellent	Fair
Resistance to hydrogen embrittlement	High	Low

C11000 contains oxygen. When heated above 400°C in a reducing atmosphere (like hydrogen or carbon monoxide), the oxygen reacts to form steam inside the copper – causing cracks. C12200 has no oxygen. It stays solid and crack-free.

  

 

 

The phosphorus in C12200 serves one main purpose：removing oxygen. During copper refining, phosphorus is added as a deoxidizing agent. It binds with oxygen to form phosphorus oxides that float out of the melt.

Function	Effect
Deoxidizes the melt	Removes oxygen from 0.04% down to 0.01% or less
Prevents hydrogen embrittlement	No oxygen = no steam formation when heated in hydrogen
Improves weldability	Clean grain boundaries allow proper filler metal flow
Slightly reduces conductivity	Each 0.01% phosphorus reduces conductivity by about 1-2%

 

Yes. This is the main reason to choose C12200. It can be welded, brazed, and soldered using standard methods – unlike C11000 which often cracks.

Method	Suitability	Notes
TIG welding (GTAW)	Excellent	Use ERCu or ERCu-A filler rod. Preheat not required for thickness under 10mm
MIG welding (GMAW)	Good	Use deoxidized copper wire. Higher heat input than TIG
Brazing (silver braze)	Excellent	BAg or BCuP filler metals work well. Clean joint surfaces before brazing
Soldering	Excellent	Tin-lead or lead-free solders flow easily
Resistance welding	Fair	Possible but requires high current and precise control

 

Why C11000 fails at welding：
When you weld C11000, heat causes oxygen impurities to react with hydrogen (from moisture or shielding gas). This creates steam pockets inside the copper near the weld zone. The steam expands, causing cracks and porosity. The weld joint may look good but will fail under vibration or thermal cycling.

 

Not sure which filler metal or preheat temperature to use for your C12200 busbar? Send your application and we will provide welding guidelines.

 

This is the most common question. Yes, for most applications. C12200 has 85-95% IACS conductivity depending on phosphorus content and temper.

Material	% IACS	Conductivity (MS/m)	Relative to C11000
C11000 (ETP)	100%	58	Baseline
C12200 (DHP)	85-95%	49-55	Slightly lower
C10100 (OFE)	100%	58	Same as C11000
Aluminum 6061	61%	35	Much lower

A C11000 busbar sized 50mm x 6mm carries 620 Amps

A C12200 busbar of the same size carries approximately 530-560 Amps (about 10-15% less)

To match C11000 ampacity, increase cross-section by 5-10% or go up one size

 

Applications where C12200 conductivity is sufficient：

Most industrial switchgear and panel boards

Welding machine internal connections

Transformer and reactor busbars

Grounding systems

Any application where the busbar is sized primarily for mechanical reasons

 

What happens to C11000 in hydrogen：

Step	Process
1	C11000 contains 0.02-0.04% oxygen as copper oxide (Cu₂O)
2	Heated to 400-900°C in hydrogen atmosphere
3	Hydrogen diffuses into copper and reacts with Cu₂O：Cu₂O + H₂ → 2Cu + H₂O (steam)
4	Steam pressure creates internal cracks and blisters
5	Copper becomes brittle and may fail under load

 

What happens to C12200 in hydrogen：

Step	Process
1	C12200 contains no oxygen (phosphorus removed it)
2	Heated to 400-900°C in hydrogen atmosphere
3	No Cu₂O = no reaction = no steam
4	Copper remains ductile and crack-free

 

Applications where this matters：

Hydrogen brazing furnaces (common for electrical contacts)

Copper busbars in hydrogen-cooled generators

Chemical plants with hydrogen atmosphere

Nuclear reactor components

Any process where copper is heated in reducing gas

 

Use C12200 when：

Scenario	Reason
You need to weld or braze the busbar	C11000 cracks at weld zone. C12200 welds cleanly
Your assembly uses brazed joints	C12200 wets better with silver braze filler
The busbar will be heated in hydrogen	C11000 suffers hydrogen embrittlement. C12200 does not
Multiple thermal cycles are expected	C12200 maintains grain structure better
Your customer specification calls for DHP copper	Many welding codes require deoxidized copper

 

Use C11000 when：

Scenario	Reason
The busbar is bolted only (no welding)	C11000 is cheaper and higher conductivity
Cost is the primary driver	C12200 is 5-10% more expensive
Maximum ampacity in minimal space is critical	C11000's 100% IACS gives highest current per size
You are buying standard stock sizes in volume	C11000 is more widely available

 

Width (mm)	Thickness (mm)	Standard Length (mm)
20	3, 5, 6	2000 / 4000
25	3, 5, 6	2000 / 4000
30	5, 6, 10	2000 / 4000
40	5, 6, 10	2000 / 4000
50	5, 6, 10	2000 / 4000
60	6, 10, 15	2000 / 4000
80	6, 10, 15	2000 / 4000
100	10, 15, 20	2000 / 4000

 

Custom sizes available (MOQ 50 pieces)：

Width：10mm to 250mm

Thickness：3mm to 25mm

Length：Up to 6000mm

 

 

Finish	Thickness	Best For	Note for C12200
Bare (no plating)	N/A	Welding, brazing	Recommended – plating must be removed before welding
Tin plating	3-8 microns	Corrosion protection	Apply after welding, not before
Silver plating	5-15 microns	Low contact resistance	Apply after final fabrication
Heat shrink tubing	1.5-3x ratio	Insulation	Can be applied over bare or plated busbar

 

Factor	C12200 (DHP)	C11000 (ETP)
Conductivity (% IACS)	85-95%	100%
Weldability	Excellent – welds clean	Poor – cracks easily
Brazing / soldering	Excellent	Fair
Hydrogen embrittlement resistance	High (no oxygen)	Low (contains oxygen)
Price	+5-15% higher	Baseline
Stock availability	Limited stock	Widely available
Best for	Welded busbars, hydrogen atmosphere	Bolted connections, general electrical

C12200 vs C11000 – which one to order depends entirely on your connection method. If you are welding or brazing the busbar, choose C12200. If all connections are bolted, choose C11000 and save cost.

 

Question	Answer	Recommended Grade
Will the busbar be welded or brazed?	Yes	C12200
Will the busbar be heated in hydrogen atmosphere?	Yes	C12200
Does your customer spec require "deoxidized copper" or "DHP"?	Yes	C12200
Are all connections bolted (no welding)?	Yes	C11000
Do you need maximum ampacity in minimum space?	Yes	C11000
Is cost the primary factor?	Yes	C11000
You are not sure?	–	C11000 (95% of users)

 

Application	Grade to Use	Why
Busbar bolted to circuit breaker terminals	C11000	No welding involved
Busbar welded to copper studs for battery connection	C12200	Welding required
Ground busbar in standard panel board	C11000	Bolted only
Busbar brazed into a larger copper assembly	C12200	Brazing required
Busbar in hydrogen-cooled generator	C12200	Hydrogen atmosphere
Replacement busbar for existing welded design	C12200	Match existing material

 

Q1：Is C12200 copper busbar more expensive than C11000?

Yes, slightly. C12200 typically costs 5-15% more than C11000 depending on quantity and size. The premium comes from the additional phosphorus deoxidation step in refining. For most projects, this small premium is worth it if you need reliable welded connections.

 

Q2：Can I use C12200 for standard switchgear applications?

Yes. C12200 works perfectly in switchgear, panel boards, and grounding applications. The only downside is slightly lower conductivity (85-95% vs 100%) – you may need to go up one size to match C11000 ampacity. If your current load is well below the busbar rating, no change is needed.

 

Q3：What is the best way to weld C12200 busbar?

TIG welding (GTAW) with ERCu filler rod is the recommended method. Use DC straight polarity, 150-250 amps depending on thickness. No preheat needed for thickness under 10mm. Clean weld area with stainless steel brush before welding. For best results, we can provide welding procedure specifications (WPS) – ask us.

 

Q4：Does C12200 need special filler material for brazing?

Standard silver braze filler metals work well. Recommended：BAg-5 (45% silver) or BAg-7 (56% silver) for highest strength. BCuP-5 (15% silver) is acceptable for lower strength applications. Clean joint surfaces and use flux. No special preheat required.

 

Q5：Is C12200 available in the same sizes as C11000?

Yes. All standard C11000 sizes are also available in C12200 – 20mm to 120mm width, 3mm to 20mm thickness, 2000mm or 4000mm length. Custom sizes also available. However, C12200 is less widely stocked – lead times may be 5-10 days longer than C11000.

 

Q6：Can you supply C12200 with tin plating?

Yes. We can apply tin plating (3-8 microns) to C12200 busbars. However, if you plan to weld or braze the busbar, order bare – plating will contaminate the weld. We recommend：order bare, perform welding, then send back for plating. We can handle both steps.

 

Q7：What is the lead time for C12200 orders?

Stock sizes (bare)： 5-10 business days (samples), 10-15 days (production).

Stock sizes with plating： Add 3-5 days.

Custom sizes (non-standard width/thickness/length)： 15-20 business days with MOQ 50 pieces.

Welded assemblies (we weld per your drawing)： Quote required – lead time 15-25 days.

 

Q8：Do you have C12200 in stock or is it made to order?

We maintain stock of common C12200 sizes (20mm, 25mm, 30mm, 40mm, 50mm width with 5mm and 6mm thickness). Non-stock sizes and large quantities are made to order. Contact us to check current stock for your dimensions.

 

Q9：Can C12200 be used for grounding?

Yes. C12200 is suitable for grounding and bonding. Its corrosion resistance is similar to C11000. For outdoor or coastal grounding, we recommend tin plating for additional corrosion protection. The slightly lower conductivity (85-95% IACS) is not a concern for grounding applications.

 

Q10：Sea freight or air freight for C12200 busbar?

Shipping Method	Delivery Time	Cost	Best For
Sea freight (LCL)	30-40 days	Low	Orders > 500 kg
Sea freight (20FT FCL)	25-35 days	Lowest per kg	Orders > 18 tons
Air freight	5-7 days	3-5x sea freight	Urgent orders, 100-500 kg
Express courier	3-5 days	5-8x sea freight	Samples only, under 100 kg

Click here to get a shipping quote for your order

 

 

 

Hot Tags: c12200 copper busbar, China c12200 copper busbar manufacturers, suppliers, factory, copper