These tubes are composed of 99.9% copper, offering high thermal conductivity and resistance to corrosion.
Phosphorus-deoxidized copper tubes (C12200) are made from 99.9% pure copper, deoxidized with phosphorus to enhance thermal conductivity and resistance to corrosion. This makes them ideal for heat exchanger applications, particularly where water or steam is involved.
Known for their durability and weldability, these tubes are a top choice in sugar refineries, where they are extensively utilized in condensers and evaporators, and the refrigeration industry, where they play a pivotal role in efficient heat transfer in cooling systems.
These tubes are essential for effectively transferring heat from steam to water or air, making them a preferred choice in industries requiring reliable and durable heat transfer solutions.
Discuss Your Project Requirements
Applications
C12200 copper tubes are commonly used in:
Industrial heat exchangers, condensers, and evaporators
HVAC systems and refrigeration units
Water heaters and solar thermal panels
Steam-to-water and steam-to-air heat transfer systems
General piping and fluid distribution in corrosion-sensitive installations
Key benefits
Excellent thermal conductivity: enables fast and efficient heat exchange with minimal energy loss.
High corrosion resistance: suitable for use in freshwater and mildly aggressive environments.
Ease of fabrication and joining: supports brazing, welding, and soldering for efficient assembly.
Proven reliability in industry settings: performs under high-pressure and high-temperature conditions.
Long service life: maintains structural and thermal performance over years of use.
Standards compliance: meets ASTM B75, B111, B395 and ASME SB111, SB395 specifications.
Technical specifications
| Property | Specification |
|---|---|
| UNS No. | C12200 – BSI No. C107 – ISO name Cu-DHP |
| Chemical comp. (%) | Cu 99.9 / P 0.015 ~ 0.040 |
| ASTM spec. | B 75, B 111, B 395 |
| ASME spec. | SB 111, SB 395 |
| Typical Applications | Industrial heat exchangers, condensers, and evaporators; HVAC systems, water heaters, and solar panels. |
| Temper | H55 light drawn / H80 hard drawn / O61 annealed |
Properties and metrics
| Property | Metric | English |
|---|---|---|
| Density | 8.94 g/cm³ | 0.323 lb/in³ |
| Tensile strength | 221 ~ 379 MPa | 32 ~ 55 ksi |
| Yield strength | 69 ~ 345 MPa | 10 ~ 50 ksi |
| CTE, linear | 17.7 × 10⁻⁶/°C (20 – 300°C) | 9.8 × 10⁻⁶/°F (70 – 570°F) |
| Specific heat capacity | 0.0920 cal/g-°C (20°C) | 0.0920 BTU/lb-°F (70°F) |
| Thermal conductivity | 339 W/m-K (20°C) | 196 BTU/ft²/ft/h/°F (70°F) |
| Melting point | 1083°C | 1981°F |
FAQ
Q1: What is the difference between C12200 and the common plumbing copper tube I can buy at a local hardware store?
A: Standard plumbing tubes are often C12200 as well, but they may be manufactured to a different ASTM standard (e.g., ASTM B88 for water service). For heat exchangers, condensers, or HVAC applications, you must purchase tubes made to ASTM B111, B359, or B395 standards, which have stricter dimensional tolerances and specific temper requirements for mechanical tube expansion.
Q2: I need to bend these tubes into a U-shape for a heat exchanger. Which temper should I order?
A: You must order the O61 (annealed) temper. Hard tempers like H55 or H80 will likely crack during U-bending. The O61 temper is fully soft and specifically intended for extensive bending, tube expanding, and flaring operations.
Q3: Can I weld C12200 tubes? What filler metal should I use?
A: Yes, C12200 is specifically deoxidized with phosphorus to be weldable. It is far more suitable for welding than C11000. For gas tungsten arc welding (GTAW/TIG), use a deoxidized copper filler such as ERCu (AWS A5.7). Brazing is also very common and highly recommended for tube-to-tubesheet joints.
Q4: How does the thermal conductivity of C12200 compare to other heat exchanger materials like stainless steel or Admiralty brass?
A: C12200 has excellent thermal conductivity (approx. 339 W/m-K). For comparison:
Admiralty brass (C44300): ~111 W/m-K
90/10 Copper-nickel (C70600): ~45 W/m-K
316 Stainless Steel: ~16 W/m-K
This makes C12200 a superior choice for applications where maximizing heat transfer is critical.
Q5: Is C12200 suitable for seawater use?
A: No, C12200 is generally not recommended for direct seawater service, especially at higher flow rates. Seawater can cause erosion-corrosion of pure copper and DHP copper. For seawater applications, you should select copper-nickel alloys like C70600 (90/10 Cu-Ni) or C71500 (70/30 Cu-Ni) , or aluminum brass (C68700) .
Q6: What does "DHP" stand for?
A: DHP stands for "Deoxidized High Phosphorus." It indicates that the copper has been deoxidized with a higher level of phosphorus residue, which improves weldability and corrosion resistance compared to non-deoxidized or low-phosphorus copper.
Q7: My purchase order calls for C12200 meeting ASTM B111. What are the required mechanical properties for the H80 temper?
A: For C12200 under ASTM B111, the H80 (hard drawn) temper typically requires:
Tensile strength: 48 ksi (330 MPa) minimum
Yield strength: 40 ksi (275 MPa) minimum
Elongation: 8% minimum (in 2 inches)
Always verify with the latest standard and your supplier's mill certificate.
How Do We Package Copper Heat Exchanger Tubes for Global Delivery?
Poor packaging destroys even the best copper heat exchanger tube. As a professional copper heat exchanger tube factory serving copper heat exchanger tube USA, Europe, UAE, Saudi Arabia, and India, we follow military-grade export packaging standards to ensure zero damage during sea or air freight.
Our Standard Packaging Process:
| Packaging Stage | Material / Method | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| Individual Tube Protection | Anti-rust VCI paper + plastic end caps | Prevents moisture, dust, and scratches on copper tube heat exchanger inner surfaces. |
| Bundling | Nylon straps + wooden spacers | Keeps copper heat exchanger tube OD 19mm, 1 inch, or 5/8 inch sizes organized and vibration-free. |
| Moisture Barrier | Thick PE film wrap (heat-shrunk) | Blocks humidity during long sea voyages to copper heat exchanger tube Germany or Saudi Arabia. |
| Outer Packing | Export-grade plywood cases or steel-banded wooden crates | Withstands stacking and rough handling. Each crate labeled with PO number, alloy (e.g., SB111 C70600), and quantity. |
| Documentation | Packing list + Mill Test Certificate (MTC) attached outside | Customs clearance support for copper heat exchanger tube stockist and distributor partners. |
For U-Bundle Orders: U tube heat exchanger and U tube bundle heat exchanger are placed in dedicated steel jigs inside the crate to prevent bending radius distortion.
Our Factory & Equipment
| Equipment Type | Specification / Capability | Quality Impact |
|---|---|---|
| Horizontal Continuous Casting Line | 10-ton capacity | Produces homogeneous copper alloy tube for heat exchanger billets with zero porosity. |
| Three-Roll Piercing Mill | Up to 60mm OD | Precision wall thickness control for heat exchanger tube wall thickness as low as 0.5mm. |
| Cold Drawing Bench | 5 draws in sequence | Achieves tight tolerances on copper heat exchanger tube length and heat exchanger pipe diameter. |
| Straightening & Cutting Line | CNC servo-controlled | Burr-free cutting for copper heat exchanger tube 3/4 inch and 1 inch to exact project lengths. |
| U-Bending Machine | CNC mandrel type | Produces u tube condenser and U tube bundle heat exchanger without kinking or ovality. |
| Eddy Current Tester | NDT (Non-Destructive Testing) | 100% inspection of C70600 tube and C71500 tube for pinholes or cracks per ASTM B111 pdf standards. |
| Hydrostatic Tester | Up to 200 bar | Validates heat exchanger tube expansion and tube rolling integrity. |
| Spectrometer | Optical emission (OES) | Confirms chemical composition of ASME SB111, EN 12451, and JIS H3300 grades on every batch. |
Our Certifications & Compliance:
ASTM B111 pdf and ASME SB111 pdf full traceability.
ISO 9001:2015 quality management system.
Third-party inspection accepted: SGS, BV, Lloyds, or TUV.
Copper heat exchanger tube life expectancy testing reports available upon request.
Get Fast Quote & Logistics Plan
