1. Material standard and grade analysis
C1020: Usually refers to the oxygen-free copper grade (C10200) in ASTM B152, with copper content ≥99.95% and oxygen content ≤0.001%, which is high-purity copper.
TUI: may be a manufacturer-specific code or treatment identification (e.g. heat treatment status), need to be confirmed with the supplier's instructions.
100IACS: Indicates that the electrical conductivity reaches 100% of the International Annealed Copper Standard (IACS), i.e., the electrical conductivity is comparable to that of pure copper (about 58 MS/m).
UNS No.: Corresponds to UNS C10200, which specifies the range of chemical composition of the material.
2. Chemical composition (typical values, UNS C10200)
Element
Content range (%)
Cu ≥99.95
O (oxygen) ≤0.001
Impurities ≤0.05 (such as Ag, Fe, Pb, etc.)
3. Physical and mechanical properties
Conductivity: 100% IACS (58 MS/m), very high conductivity, better than most copper alloys.
Thermal conductivity: about 385 W/(m-K), comparable to pure copper.
Tensile Strength:
Annealed state (O60): about 200-240 MPa
Hard state (H04): about 350-400 MPa
Elongation: annealed state ≥40%, hard state about 5-10%.
Hardness: annealed state (HB 40-50), hard state (HB 80-100).
Softening temperature: about 200-250℃, higher than phosphor bronze, suitable for medium temperature environment.
4. Processing and surface treatment
Formability: excellent, suitable for deep drawing, bending, precision stamping.
Weldability: excellent, brazing, resistance welding, laser welding.
Surface treatment:
Tin plating: Enhance corrosion resistance (e.g. C1020-Sn).
Silver plating: Enhance conductivity and anti-sulfuration properties.
Passivation: Improve oxidation resistance and extend storage period.
5. Application Areas
Electrical and electronics:
High-frequency transmission lines, integrated circuit lead frames.
Vacuum electronic devices (such as magnetron, traveling wave tube).
Flexible Printed Circuit Board (FPC) substrate.
Energy field:
Solar collector panels, lithium battery lugs.
High-voltage switch contacts, busbar rows.
Precision instruments:
Clock and watch springs, optical instruments, elastic components.
Acoustic equipment diaphragm (such as speaker diaphragm).
6. Comparison with phosphor bronze belt
Characteristics
C1020 oxygen-free copper
CuSn4 Phosphor Bronze
Conductivity 100% IACS (very high) 15-25% IACS (low)
Strength Lower (annealed condition) Higher (semi-hard/hard condition)
Elasticity Poor Excellent (for spring loaded parts)
Corrosion resistance fair (needs plating) good (phosphorus improves corrosion resistance)
Cost Lower Higher
Typical Applications Electrical/thermal conductivity scenarios Elasticity/wear/corrosion resistance scenarios
7. Material Selection Recommendations
Prefer C1020: Very high electrical conductivity, good moldability, or medium temperature resistance to softening (e.g., electronic conductors, heat exchangers).
Preferred scenarios: high wear environments (phosphor bronze required) or long term exposure to corrosive media (tin/nickel plating recommended).
Customized options: specific hardness (H02/H04), plating thickness or surface roughness (e.g. mirror polish) can be requested.
To summarize: C1020 TUI 100IACS UNS oxygen-free copper strips have excellent electrical conductivity and processability as their core strengths, making them suitable for use in areas where the efficiency of electrical energy transmission is of paramount importance. Selection should be based on strength, corrosion resistance and cost estimates, and if necessary, surface treatment or alloying (e.g., trace additions of Ag, Zr) should be used to enhance the overall performance.
