What is C12000 Material?

Low Phosphorus Deoxidized Copper DLPC12000 (ASTM B124/B124M: C12000) is a high-performance copper alloy deoxidized through precise control of phosphorus content. Its core lies in the "Low Phosphorus" concept: the phosphorus (P) content is strictly controlled within a relatively narrow window of 0.015% - 0.040%.

Effective Deoxidation: Phosphorus reacts with oxygen in the molten copper to form P₂O₅ gas, which escapes, reducing the oxygen content to a very low level (typically ≤ 0.005%). This completely eliminates the risk of "hydrogen embrittlement."

Optimized Performance: Compared to higher-phosphorus deoxidized coppers (e.g., Cu-DHP/C12200), the lower residual phosphorus content significantly enhances the material's electrical conductivity (≥ 98.0% IACS in soft temper) and thermal conductivity, while retaining the excellent hot workability, weldability, and a certain level of corrosion resistance imparted by phosphorus. DLPC12000 is the ideal choice for engineering applications requiring good overall performance, particularly hot workability, weldability, conductivity, and freedom from hydrogen embrittlement, such as heat exchangers, water piping systems, and building materials.

Get C12000 Copper Spec Sheet

Copper + Silver Content ≥ 99.90%: Ensures base purity.

Phosphorus (P) 0.015% - 0.040%: Core characteristic! This range ensures:

Effective deoxidation (O ≤ 0.005%), eliminating hydrogen embrittlement.

A relatively smaller negative impact on electrical conductivity (significantly better than DHP copper with P ≥ 0.04%).

Provides good hot workability, brazability, and weldability.

Lead (Pb) ≤ 0.005%: Strictly controlled to avoid hot shortness and ensure hot workability.

Other Impurity Limits (Typical): Bi ≤ 0.001%, Fe ≤ 0.05%, Zn ≤ 0.03%, S ≤ 0.005%, other trace elements limited.

Total Impurities ≤ 0.10%.

Completely Free from Hydrogen Embrittlement Risk: Low oxygen content ensures safety.

Soft Temper (O): Excellent plasticity (elongation ≥ 45%), lower strength, electrical conductivity ≥ 98.0% IACS. Easy for deep drawing, bulging, bending, and other complex cold forming operations.

Hard Temper (H): Strength and hardness significantly increased after cold working, plasticity decreases, electrical conductivity reduces (but still at a good level). Suitable for structural parts requiring strength and some plasticity.

Hot Worked Temper (e.g., hot extruded tube/rod): Excellent hot workability (benefiting from the presence of phosphorus). A common state for manufacturing tubes and rods.

The production of C12000 hinges on precise control of phosphorus content and achieving uniform deoxidation.

Raw Material: High-quality cathode copper is selected.

Melting: Conducted in a reverberatory furnace, induction furnace, or shaft furnace. The furnace atmosphere is controlled to minimize oxidation.

Phosphorus Deoxidation: Core step! A precisely calculated amount of high-purity phosphorus-copper master alloy (e.g., Cu-15%P) is added to the molten copper. The final P content is strictly controlled to fall within the target window of 0.015% - 0.040%.

Casting:

Semi-Continuous Casting (DC Casting): Produces large ingots for subsequent rolling or extrusion (plate, rod).

Horizontal Continuous Casting: Produces tube blanks, rod blanks, strip blanks.

Upward Continuous Casting (optional protective atmosphere): Produces wire rod, bar stock.

Hot Working:

Hot Extrusion: The primary method for producing DLPC12000 copper tubes. Heated ingots are extruded into tubes, rods, and profiles of various specifications, leveraging the advantage of phosphorus-improved hot workability. High efficiency and dense structure.

Hot Rolling: Produces plate, sheet, strip, and rod.

Cold Working:

Hot extruded/hot rolled blanks undergo cold drawing (tubes, rods, wires) or cold rolling (plate, strip) to achieve final dimensions, shape, precision, and temper (soft/hard). Tube drawing often uses floating plugs.

Annealing:

For soft temper (O) products or intermediate annealing, performed in a protective atmosphere (e.g., nitrogen) or controlled atmosphere (to prevent oxidation/discoloration). Annealing removes cold work hardening and restores plasticity.

Finishing and Inspection:

Straightening, cutting, cleaning (pickling, passivation), inner wall cleaning (for tubes), non-destructive testing (eddy current, ultrasonic - for tubes).

Free from Hydrogen Embrittlement (O ≤ 0.005%): Core advantage! Ensures no embrittlement during welding, high-temperature service, or in reducing atmospheres, guaranteeing safety and reliability.

Good Electrical and Thermal Conductivity (Soft temper ≥ 98.0% IACS): Significantly better than high-phosphorus deoxidized copper (DHP/C12200), meeting the conductivity and thermal conductivity requirements for most engineering applications.

Excellent Hot Workability: The presence of phosphorus significantly improves hot plasticity, making it particularly suitable for hot extrusion forming (especially for tubes) with high yield rates.

Good Cold Workability (Soft temper): Excellent plasticity in annealed soft temper (A ≥ 45%), allowing for bending, flaring, flanging, etc.

Excellent Brazability and Weldability:

Brazing: Good wettability with various hard solders (silver-based, copper-phosphorus-based) and soft solders (tin-lead, lead-free tin-based). A common base material for brazing applications.

Welding: Suitable for oxyacetylene welding, TIG (GTAW), MIG (GMAW), plasma welding, and resistance welding (spot, seam) with good weldability.

Good Corrosion Resistance:

Resistant to atmospheric, fresh water, non-oxidizing acid (e.g., phosphoric, acetic acid), and salt spray corrosion.

Erosion-corrosion resistance is better than pure copper.

Stable performance in hot water environments (water quality needs consideration).

DLPC12000, with its excellent overall performance (freedom from hydrogen embrittlement, good electrical/thermal conductivity, excellent hot workability/weldability, corrosion resistance), is widely used in:

Heat Exchangers & Refrigeration/Air Conditioning:

Condenser tubes for thermal power plants (a core application).

Heat exchanger tubes, condenser tubes for ships, chemical, and petroleum industries.

Evaporator and condenser tubes for central air conditioning and chillers.

Heat collector tubes and heat transfer tubes for solar water heaters.

Water & Gas Systems:

Supply pipes, fittings, valve bodies for building cold/hot water and potable water systems (meets sanitary standards).

Supply pipes for domestic gas and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) (must comply with regulations).

Architecture & Decoration:

Gutters and downpipe systems for roofs and curtain walls.

Decorative components and hardware for building structures.

Faucet bodies and shower pipes for high-end bathrooms (often plated).

Industrial Piping & Vessels:

Process piping, tank linings, distillation equipment for food, beverage, brewing, and pharmaceutical industries (requiring cleanliness and corrosion resistance).

Corrosion-resistant piping and fittings for chemical and marine engineering (for specific media).

Electrical & Electronics:

Electrical connectors, terminals, busbars requiring certain conductivity and good solderability/weldability (for non-ultra-high conductivity scenarios).

Heat sink bases, heat pipes for electronic equipment (utilizing thermal conductivity).

Grounding devices.

Others:

Water chambers, tube strips for automotive and locomotive radiators (some applications).

Non-implantable components and gas lines for medical devices.

Inquire about C12000  Pricing & Samples

Get Fast Quote & Logistics Plan