Oxygen-free copper (ASTM B111 OFC10200) is an oxygen-free copper (OFC) material that meets the C10200 designation requirements of the US ASTM B170 standard. As a core member of the OFC family, it is renowned for its extremely low oxygen content (≤ 0.0005%), high purity (≥ 99.95% Cu), excellent electrical and thermal conductivity, and high reliability in reducing atmospheres. "OFC" stands for "Oxygen-Free Copper," and "10200" is its ASTM standard designation. OFC10200's performance lies between that of common oxygen-free copper (such as TU2) and premium high-purity oxygen-free copper (such as OFT1 / C10100). It is a high-quality copper material widely used in electronic vacuum applications, high-end conductors, and heat dissipation.
ASTM B111 OFC10200 is refined through a special melting process (vacuum or protective atmosphere) designed to minimize dissolved oxygen in copper. Its core characteristic is the strict control of oxygen content to extremely low levels (≤ 0.0005%), significantly higher than top-tier oxygen-free copper OFT1 (≤ 0.0003%), but far lower than ordinary pure copper (such as T2) or tough pitch copper (TP). This ensures:
The presence of cuprous oxide (Cu2O) particles is eliminated.
The electrical and thermal conductivity are close to theoretical values.
The ductility and deep drawing properties are excellent (especially in the soft state).
The resistance to "hydrogen disease" is significantly improved in high temperatures, high vacuum, or strongly reducing atmospheres (such as hydrogen), effectively preventing embrittlement and cracking caused by the reaction of hydrogen and oxygen to form water vapor. This ensures the material's high purity and structural homogeneity.
ASTM B111 C10200 Seamless Copper Tube Production Process
The core of OFC10200 production lies in airtightness and deoxidation and purification:
1. High-purity Raw Materials: Select high-quality cathode copper (such as Cu-CATH-1).
2. Melting:
Protective Atmosphere Melting: Melting is performed in an induction furnace under the protection of a high-purity inert gas (such as argon, with an extremely low dew point). Graphite crucibles/covering agents are often used.
Vacuum Melting (Optional): Vacuum melting may be used for some high-demand products.
Deoxidation and Purification: Deep deoxidation is performed under a protective atmosphere using carbon (graphite) or a very small amount of a strong deoxidizer (such as phosphorus copper, with strictly controlled residual content) to remove dissolved gases (such as oxygen and hydrogen).
Protective Atmosphere Casting:
Upcasting: The melt is pulled upward through a mold under a continuous high-purity inert atmosphere to solidify, forming a bright, dense copper rod (wire rod). This is the mainstream, high-efficiency process. Horizontal Continuous Casting/Protective Atmosphere Casting: The melt is continuously cast under an inert atmosphere to form billets (rods, slabs) or ingots.
Protective Atmosphere Processing:
Hot working (extrusion, rolling) is typically performed in an inert atmosphere or with protective measures.
After cold working (drawing, rolling), annealing must be performed in a high-purity inert atmosphere (such as dry hydrogen, decomposed ammonia, high-purity nitrogen) or in a vacuum to prevent oxidation and hydrogen absorption.
Strict Testing: Oxygen content, conductivity, and mechanical properties are strictly monitored.
ASTM B111 C10200 Material Characteristics of Air Conditioning Copper Tubing
High Electrical and Thermal Conductivity: Soft state electrical conductivity ≥100% IACS, excellent thermal conductivity, making it an excellent conductor and heat sink.
Good Ductility and Deep Drawability (Soft State): Good plasticity (A ≥45%) in the annealed soft state, making it suitable for complex cold forming (deep drawing, spinning). Low Gas Content: Oxygen content ≤ 0.0005%, and low hydrogen content effectively reduces the risk of hydrogen embrittlement.
Reliability in High-Temperature Vacuum/Reducing Atmospheres: Excellent stability in high temperatures (>400°C), high vacuum, hydrogen, or reducing atmospheres, preventing embrittlement.
High Purity and Microstructure Homogeneity: Total impurities ≤ 0.05%, with no cuprous oxide inclusions, ensuring a pure microstructure.
Excellent Corrosion Resistance: Excellent corrosion resistance in air, fresh water, and non-oxidizing environments.
Non-Magnetic: Pure copper is inherently non-magnetic.
Excellent Welding and Brazing: Particularly suitable for high-quality welding (electron beam welding, laser welding, and brazing) in protective atmospheres or vacuum.
ASTM B111 C10200 Heat Exchanger Copper Tubing Material Applications
Due to its high purity, oxygen-free, and high thermal conductivity, OFC10200 is widely used in applications requiring electrical conductivity, thermal conductivity, vacuum tightness, or hydrogen embrittlement resistance:
1. Vacuum Devices:
Waveguides, resonators, collectors, and output window flanges for microwave tubes (traveling wave tubes, magnetrons, and klystrons).
Electrodes, shielding, and internal conductive components in vacuum switching tubes, X-ray tubes, and particle accelerator cavities.
Liners, electrodes, and crucibles for vacuum coating equipment.
2. High-End Conductors and Wires:
Inner and outer conductors (low loss) for high-frequency coaxial cables.
Conductors for high-quality audio cables.
Current leads and stabilized substrates for cryogenic vessels in superconducting magnets.
High-Fidelity winding wire (special applications).
3. Heat Dissipation Components:
High-performance heat pipe and vapor chamber housings, capillary wick substrates (leveraging high thermal conductivity, purity, and weldability).
Baseplates and heat sinks for heat sinks in high-power electronic devices (such as IGBT modules and lasers).
4. Semiconductor Manufacturing Equipment:
Conductive components, carriers, and gas pipelines within the equipment (requires cleanliness and corrosion resistance).
5. Architecture and Decoration:
Busbars and grounding materials for high-end buildings.
Decorative or functional copper materials requiring high purity and high conductivity.
In short, OFC10200 oxygen-free copper represents the standard for high-quality industrial oxygen-free copper. It achieves low oxygen content (≤0.0005%) and high purity (≥99.95% Cu) through vacuum or protective atmosphere melting and casting processes. This results in excellent electrical and thermal conductivity, superior processing ductility, and reliable resistance to hydrogen embrittlement in high-temperature vacuum/reducing atmospheres. It is the preferred material for manufacturing high-performance vacuum devices, high-end conductors, high-efficiency heat dissipation components and internal components of semiconductor equipment, achieving a good balance between performance and cost.
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As a professional enterprise dedicated to global copper product trade since 2008, GNEE Metal Group deeply recognizes the quality and responsibility embodied in the ASTM B111 standard. This standard not only specifies chemical composition and mechanical properties but also represents a comprehensive quality commitment spanning manufacturing processes to testing and verification. GNEE solemnly assures global customers that every ASTM B111-standard condenser tube and copper alloy tubing we supply will strictly adhere to its requirements for seamless manufacturing, annealing treatment, eddy current testing, and various mechanical performance tests.
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