UNS C72150 (CuNi44) Copper-Nickel
C72150 copper-nickel is a copper-nickel alloy formulated for primary forming into wrought products. Cited properties are appropriate for the annealed condition. CuNi44 is the EN chemical designation for this material. C72150 is the UNS number.
It has the highest base cost among wrought copper-nickels. In addition, it has the lowest electrical conductivity and the highest melting temperature.
The graph bars on the material properties cards below compare C72150 copper-nickel to: wrought 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
99
Elastic (Young's, Tensile) Modulus
150 GPa 21 x 106 psi
Elongation at Break
29 %
Poisson's Ratio
0.33
Shear Modulus
55 GPa 8.0 x 106 psi
Shear Strength
320 MPa 46 x 103 psi
Tensile Strength: Ultimate (UTS)
490 MPa 70 x 103 psi
Tensile Strength: Yield (Proof)
210 MPa 30 x 103 psi
Thermal Properties
Latent Heat of Fusion
250 J/g
Maximum Temperature: Mechanical
600 °C 1110 °F
Melting Completion (Liquidus)
1210 °C 2210 °F
Melting Onset (Solidus)
1250 °C 2280 °F
Specific Heat Capacity
410 J/kg-K 0.1 BTU/lb-°F
Thermal Conductivity
22 W/m-K 13 BTU/h-ft-°F
Thermal Expansion
14 µm/m-K
Electrical Properties
Electrical Conductivity: Equal Volume
3.5 % IACS
Electrical Conductivity: Equal Weight (Specific)
3.6 % IACS
Otherwise Unclassified Properties
Base Metal Price
45 % relative
Density
8.9 g/cm3 550 lb/ft3
Embodied Carbon
6.1 kg CO2/kg material
Embodied Energy
88 MJ/kg 38 x 103 BTU/lb
Embodied Water
270 L/kg 33 gal/lb
Common Calculations
Resilience: Ultimate (Unit Rupture Work)
120 MJ/m3
Resilience: Unit (Modulus of Resilience)
150 kJ/m3
Stiffness to Weight: Axial
9.1 points
Stiffness to Weight: Bending
20 points
Strength to Weight: Axial
15 points
Strength to Weight: Bending
15 points
Thermal Diffusivity
6.0 mm2/s
Thermal Shock Resistance
18 points
Alloy Composition
Among wrought copper alloys, the composition of C72150 copper-nickel is notable for including silicon (Si) and manganese (Mn). Silicon is used to increase strength at the expense of ductility. It also lowers the melting temperature and raises the fluidity of the alloy. Manganese is used to improve strength without a proportional reduction in ductility.
| Cu | 52.5 to 57 | |
| Ni | 43 to 46 | |
| Si | 0 to 0.5 | |
| Zn | 0 to 0.2 | |
| C | 0 to 0.1 | |
| Fe | 0 to 0.1 | |
| Mn | 0 to 0.050 | |
| Pb | 0 to 0.050 | |
| res. | 0 to 0.5 |
All values are % weight. Ranges represent what is permitted under applicable standards.
Followup Questions
Similar Alloys
Further Reading
ASM Specialty Handbook: Copper and Copper Alloys, J. R. Davis (editor), 2001