UNS C97400 Leaded Nickel Silver
C97400 nickel silver is a copper-nickel alloy formulated for casting. Cited properties are appropriate for the as-fabricated (no temper or treatment) condition.
It has a fairly low tensile strength among cast copper-nickels. In addition, it has a moderately low heat capacity and a fairly low base cost.
The graph bars on the material properties cards below compare C97400 nickel silver 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
Brinell Hardness
70
Elastic (Young's, Tensile) Modulus
120 GPa 17 x 106 psi
Elongation at Break
20 %
Poisson's Ratio
0.33
Shear Modulus
44 GPa 6.3 x 106 psi
Tensile Strength: Ultimate (UTS)
260 MPa 38 x 103 psi
Tensile Strength: Yield (Proof)
120 MPa 17 x 103 psi
Thermal Properties
Latent Heat of Fusion
190 J/g
Maximum Temperature: Mechanical
180 °C 350 °F
Melting Completion (Liquidus)
1100 °C 2010 °F
Melting Onset (Solidus)
1070 °C 1960 °F
Specific Heat Capacity
380 J/kg-K 0.090 BTU/lb-°F
Thermal Conductivity
27 W/m-K 16 BTU/h-ft-°F
Thermal Expansion
18 µm/m-K
Electrical Properties
Electrical Conductivity: Equal Volume
6.0 % IACS
Electrical Conductivity: Equal Weight (Specific)
6.3 % IACS
Otherwise Unclassified Properties
Base Metal Price
33 % relative
Density
8.6 g/cm3 540 lb/ft3
Embodied Carbon
4.1 kg CO2/kg material
Embodied Energy
64 MJ/kg 28 x 103 BTU/lb
Embodied Water
320 L/kg 39 gal/lb
Common Calculations
Resilience: Ultimate (Unit Rupture Work)
43 MJ/m3
Resilience: Unit (Modulus of Resilience)
59 kJ/m3
Stiffness to Weight: Axial
7.5 points
Stiffness to Weight: Bending
19 points
Strength to Weight: Axial
8.5 points
Strength to Weight: Bending
11 points
Thermal Diffusivity
8.3 mm2/s
Thermal Shock Resistance
8.8 points
Alloy Composition
Among cast copper alloys, the composition of C97400 nickel silver is notable for containing comparatively high amounts of nickel (Ni) and lead (Pb). Nickel is used to improve strength (particularly at elevated temperatures) and corrosion resistance. It also creates the need for additional care during casting. Lead is used to improve machinability and bearing properties, at the cost of toxicity. It also adds pressure tightness to castings.
| Cu | 58 to 61 | |
| Ni | 15.5 to 17 | |
| Zn | 10 to 19.5 | |
| Pb | 4.5 to 5.5 | |
| Sn | 2.5 to 3.5 | |
| Fe | 0 to 1.5 | |
| Mn | 0 to 0.5 | |
| res. | 0 to 1.0 |
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
CRC Materials Science and Engineering Handbook, 4th ed., James F. Shackelford et al. (editors), 2015