Bend a piece of C11000 pure copper strip. It stays bent. It has zero "spring memory."
Now, bend a piece of C17200 (Beryllium Copper). It snaps right back.
In the world of electronic connectors, battery contacts, and relay springs, C11000 is useless because it relaxes over time. This is where C17200, the high-performance alloy, dominates.
The Superpower: Precipitation Hardening
C17200 contains about 1.8% - 2.0% Beryllium. When heat-treated (aged), it achieves tensile strengths up to 1400 MPa-stronger than many alloy steels-while retaining about 22% IACS conductivity.
The "Relaxation" Fear
If a connector loses its grip after 1,000 cycles, the device fails. Pure copper relaxes easily under stress or heat. C17200 maintains contact force for millions of cycles, even at elevated temperatures.
Data Comparison
Mechanical Comparison
| Property | C11000 (Copper) | C17200 (BeCu) - Aged |
| Tensile Strength | 220 - 300 MPa | 1100 - 1400 MPa |
| Hardness | 50 - 100 HV | 350 - 400 HV |
| Conductivity | 101% IACS | 20% - 25% IACS |
| Fatigue Strength | Low | Excellent |
Safety Warning: The Beryllium Hazard
Machining Warning: Beryllium dust is toxic if inhaled (causing Berylliosis).
GNEE's Solution: We supply C17200 mainly in finished strip or rod form. If you need to grind or weld it, you must use strict exhaust ventilation systems. The solid metal poses no risk to the end-user.
Cost Reality Check
C17200 is expensive-often 5x to 8x the price of C11000.
Is it worth it? If a $0.05 spring fails and ruins a $1000 smartphone, yes. Do not cut corners on spring contacts.
International Standards
| Region | Standard | Grade Designation |
| USA | ASTM B194 | C17200 |
| Europe | EN | CW101C / CuBe2 |
| Japan | JIS | C1720 |
Product Forms We Can Provide
| Product Category | Material Standards | Common Alloys | Key Specifications (Can be Customized) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Copper Tubes | ASTM B75, B88, B280,B111; EN 12449, 12451; DIN EN 12735; JIS H3300 | C10100 (OFE), C11000 (ETP), C12200 (DHP), C23000, C70600,C71500 | OD: 3mm - 300mm Wall Thickness: 0.5mm - 20mm Temper: Soft (O), Half-Hard (H50), Hard (H80) Form: Straight Lengths, Coils, U-Bends |
| Copper Sheets / Plates | ASTM B152, B248, B248M; EN 1652; DIN 1787; JIS H3100, H3250 | C10100 (OFE), C11000, C10200 (OF), C26000, C86200 | Thickness: 0.3mm - 100mm Width: Up to 1200mm Length: Up to 3000mm (or coils) Surface: Mill, Polished, Brushed |
| Copper Rods / Bars | ASTM B187, B301, B411; EN 12163, 12164; DIN 17672; JIS H3250 | C10100 (OFE), C11000, C14500, C36000, C63000 | Diameter/Rect. Size: 3mm - 300mm Shape: Round, Square, Hexagonal, Rectangular Condition: Drawn, Extruded, Hot Rolled |
| Copper Wires | ASTM B1, B2, B3, B258; EN 13601; IEC 60228; JIS H3100 | C10100 (OFE), C11000, C14420, C14500 | Diameter: 0.1mm - 20mm Temper: Soft, Annealed, Hard-Drawn Form: Bare, Tinned, Stranded, on Spools |
| Copper Foils / Strips | ASTM B103, B370; EN 1652; DIN 1787; JIS H3100 | C10100 (OFE), C10200, C11000, C19400, C26800 | Thickness: 0.02mm - 2.0mm Width: Up to 600mm Temper: Rolled, Annealed |
| CNC Machining Parts | As per Customer Drawing/Req. | All Common Copper Alloys (including C10100, C11000, C86200, etc.) | Process: Turning, Milling, Drilling, Tapping Tolerance: ±0.005mm - ±0.1mm Post-Processing: Deburring, Polishing, Plating |
Our factory
Our manufacturing facility operates a comprehensive and modern production line, equipped with advanced continuous casting, precision rolling, high-speed drawing, and multi-axis CNC machining centers, enabling us to process copper and copper alloys (such as C10100, C11000, C12200, C71500,C70600 etc.) into a full range of products including tubes, sheets, rods, wires, and foils. To ensure top-tier quality, we have implemented a rigorous in-process and final inspection system, utilizing state-of-the-art equipment such as spectrometers for material verification, digital tensile testers for mechanical property checks, precision dimensional gauges, and eddy current or ultrasonic testers for defect detection, guaranteeing that every product meets or exceeds international standards such as ASTM, EN, and JIS, as well as specific customer requirements.
