What Is C10200 Copper?
C10200 is the UNS designation for oxygen-free copper, often abbreviated OFC or OF. Unlike electrolytic tough pitch copper (C11000), which contains dispersed cuprous oxide, C10200 is melted and cast without oxygen pickup, so the microstructure contains no copper oxide particles. The minimum copper content is 99.95 percent and the residual oxygen is typically below 0.001 percent.
Key Properties
| Property | Typical Value |
|---|---|
| Copper content | 99.95% min |
| Oxygen | 0.001% max (typically) |
| Electrical conductivity | 100 - 101% IACS |
| Thermal conductivity | About 391 W/(m.K) |
| Density | 8.94 g/cm3 |
| Melting point | About 1083 C |
| Tensile strength, annealed | 200 - 250 MPa |
| Elongation, annealed | 40 - 55% |
Fabrication Behavior
Welding: gas tungsten arc, gas metal arc, and resistance welding produce sound joints with no porosity from oxide inclusions.
Brazing and soldering: excellent, including furnace brazing in reducing atmospheres, because C10200 is immune to hydrogen embrittlement.
Cold working: excellent ductility permits deep drawing, spinning, swaging, and severe bending.
Machining: free-cutting performance is low, as with all pure coppers; use of lubricants and sharp tooling is recommended.
Because there is no cuprous oxide in the structure, C10200 is not susceptible to the hydrogen embrittlement that can crack oxygen-bearing copper when heated above about 400 C in hydrogen-containing atmospheres.
Applications
Electrical conductors: busbars, cables, connectors, and switchgear components.
Electronics: waveguides, coaxial components, and vacuum-device parts.
Heat transfer: heat exchanger and condenser tubing, cooling coils, and heat sinks.
Cryogenic equipment: piping and components for low-temperature service.
Decorative and architectural work: bright surface and stable color.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Is C10200 the same as OFHC copper?
A: OFHC is a commercial trade name for oxygen-free high-conductivity copper. C10200 is the UNS designation for the same family of material, and C10100 is the higher-purity OFE grade.
Q: What is the difference between C10200 and C11000?
A: C11000 is electrolytic tough pitch copper containing cuprous oxide; C10200 is oxygen-free. Both have similar conductivity, but C10200 welds and brazes more cleanly and is immune to hydrogen embrittlement.
Q: Can C10200 be welded?
A: Yes. TIG, MIG, and resistance welding all work well when the joint is clean and shielding gas is correct.
Q: What conductivity does C10200 offer?
A: Typically 100 to 101 percent IACS, essentially the same as C11000 and C10100.
Q: What forms are available?
A: Tube, pipe, rod, bar, wire, strip, sheet, plate, and busbar, in annealed and drawn tempers.
Q: Is C10200 suitable for seawater service?
A>For bare copper in seawater, corrosion rates are low in clean, slow-moving water, but for heat exchangers and high-velocity seawater, copper-nickel alloys such as C70600 or C71500 are the standard choice.
