Copper Alloy 101 | Product Properties, Composition & Machinability

The C101 copper alloy, renowned for its oxygen-free and high conductivity properties, stands as the purest commercially available copper, with a minimum copper content of 99.99% and a maximum oxygen level of 5 parts per million (ppm). Thanks to its oxygen-free nature, this alloy remains resilient to hydrogen embrittlement when subjected to elevated temperatures under reducing conditions. Consequently, it guarantees a consistently high electrical conductivity. In addition, ASTM F68 compliant material options are readily available upon inquiry.

Characteristics

Hot Working

C101 Copper Alloy has excellent hot workability. It can be readily hot extruded using very high reductions. It can also be readily forged, and the amount of reduction per pass should be as large as possible, particularly in the initial passes. The time and temperature of heating prior to hot working should be minimized. A uniform temperature should be achieved throughout the work piece. Heating should be preferably done in a reducing or neutral atmosphere.

Cold Working

Copper Alloy C101 has excellent cold workability. It can be readily cold drawn with high reductions between annealing cycles. Annealing should be performed in a reducing or neutral atmosphere. High temperatures should also be avoided to minimize grain growth.

Joining and Fabrication

Joining by soldering and brazing is excellent. Due to their very low oxygen contents and overall low impurities, both coppers can be readily welded using the shielded arc processes.

Typical Uses

C101 is typically used in applications where the presence of oxygen is detrimental. C101, with its strictly held low levels of impurities, is used for more critical conditions such as high-vacuum conditions where low volatility of impurities is essential. It forms a tight, adherent, oxide scale, which is advantageous for glass-to-metal seals. It is particularly noted for their excellent dimensional stability when heated in hydrogen, having low coefficients of expansion over a broad temperature range.

Due to its high electrical conductivity, toughness and ductility, C101 is used in electronic applications such as coaxial cables, computer hook-up wire, heat sinks for diodes, rectifiers, and other components, lead wire for circuit breakers and modules, microwave equipment, radar components, solderless connectors and wave guides. Electrical applications include armature windings, bus bars, cold-headed parts such as connector pins, flexible shunts, motor and generator windings, collector rings, switches, contacts, and transformer coil windings.