UNS C96600 Nickel-Beryllium Copper
C96600 copper is a copper-nickel alloy formulated for casting. Cited properties are appropriate for the heat treated (HT) condition. It has a fairly low electrical conductivity among cast copper-nickels. In addition, it has a fairly high base cost and a fairly high embodied energy.
The graph bars on the material properties cards below compare C96600 copper to: cast copper-nickels (top), all copper alloys (middle), and the entire database (bottom). A full bar means this is the highest value in the relevant set. A half-full bar means it's 50% of the highest, and so on.
Mechanical Properties
Elastic (Young's, Tensile) Modulus
140 GPa 20 x 106 psi
Elongation at Break
7.0 %
Poisson's Ratio
0.33
Shear Modulus
52 GPa 7.6 x 106 psi
Tensile Strength: Ultimate (UTS)
760 MPa 110 x 103 psi
Tensile Strength: Yield (Proof)
480 MPa 70 x 103 psi
Thermal Properties
Latent Heat of Fusion
240 J/g
Maximum Temperature: Mechanical
280 °C 540 °F
Melting Completion (Liquidus)
1180 °C 2160 °F
Melting Onset (Solidus)
1100 °C 2010 °F
Specific Heat Capacity
400 J/kg-K 0.1 BTU/lb-°F
Thermal Conductivity
30 W/m-K 17 BTU/h-ft-°F
Thermal Expansion
15 µm/m-K
Electrical Properties
Electrical Conductivity: Equal Volume
4.0 % IACS
Electrical Conductivity: Equal Weight (Specific)
4.1 % IACS
Otherwise Unclassified Properties
Base Metal Price
65 % relative
Density
8.9 g/cm3 550 lb/ft3
Embodied Carbon
7.0 kg CO2/kg material
Embodied Energy
100 MJ/kg 45 x 103 BTU/lb
Embodied Water
280 L/kg 34 gal/lb
Common Calculations
Resilience: Ultimate (Unit Rupture Work)
47 MJ/m3
Resilience: Unit (Modulus of Resilience)
830 kJ/m3
Stiffness to Weight: Axial
8.7 points
Stiffness to Weight: Bending
20 points
Strength to Weight: Axial
24 points
Strength to Weight: Bending
21 points
Thermal Diffusivity
8.4 mm2/s
Thermal Shock Resistance
25 points
Alloy Composition
Among cast copper alloys, the composition of C96600 copper is notable for including beryllium (Be) and containing a comparatively high amount of nickel (Ni). Beryllium is used to permit precipitation hardening (which increases strength) without much effect on electrical conductivity, but at the cost of substantial toxicity. Nickel is used to improve strength (particularly at elevated temperatures) and corrosion resistance. It also creates the need for additional care during casting.
| Cu | 63.5 to 69.8 | |
| Ni | 29 to 33 | |
| Fe | 0.8 to 1.1 | |
| Be | 0.4 to 0.7 | |
| Mn | 0 to 1.0 | |
| Si | 0 to 0.15 | |
| Pb | 0 to 0.010 | |
| res. | 0 to 0.5 |
All values are % weight. Ranges represent what is permitted under applicable standards.
Followup Questions
Similar Alloys
Further Reading
Properties and Selection: Nonferrous Alloys and Special-Purpose Materials, ASM Handbook vol. 2, ASM International, 1993