UNS C96200 Copper-Nickel
C96200 copper-nickel is a copper-nickel alloy formulated for casting. Cited properties are appropriate for the as-fabricated (no temper or treatment) condition. C96200 is the UNS number for this material. Additionally, the common industry name is Cast 90-10 Copper-Nickel. Older literature may refer to this material as ASTM Copper-Nickel Type A, but this is now discouraged.
It has a fairly high electrical conductivity among cast copper-nickels. In addition, it has a fairly high ductility and a moderately high thermal conductivity.
The graph bars on the material properties cards below compare C96200 copper-nickel 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
120 GPa 18 x 106 psi
Elongation at Break
23 %
Poisson's Ratio
0.34
Shear Modulus
46 GPa 6.7 x 106 psi
Tensile Strength: Ultimate (UTS)
350 MPa 51 x 103 psi
Tensile Strength: Yield (Proof)
190 MPa 28 x 103 psi
Thermal Properties
Latent Heat of Fusion
220 J/g
Maximum Temperature: Mechanical
220 °C 430 °F
Melting Completion (Liquidus)
1150 °C 2100 °F
Melting Onset (Solidus)
1100 °C 2010 °F
Specific Heat Capacity
390 J/kg-K 0.094 BTU/lb-°F
Thermal Conductivity
45 W/m-K 26 BTU/h-ft-°F
Thermal Expansion
17 µm/m-K
Electrical Properties
Electrical Conductivity: Equal Volume
11 % IACS
Electrical Conductivity: Equal Weight (Specific)
11 % IACS
Otherwise Unclassified Properties
Base Metal Price
36 % relative
Density
8.9 g/cm3 550 lb/ft3
Embodied Carbon
3.8 kg CO2/kg material
Embodied Energy
58 MJ/kg 25 x 103 BTU/lb
Embodied Water
300 L/kg 35 gal/lb
Common Calculations
Resilience: Ultimate (Unit Rupture Work)
68 MJ/m3
Resilience: Unit (Modulus of Resilience)
150 kJ/m3
Stiffness to Weight: Axial
7.8 points
Stiffness to Weight: Bending
19 points
Strength to Weight: Axial
11 points
Strength to Weight: Bending
13 points
Thermal Diffusivity
13 mm2/s
Thermal Shock Resistance
12 points
Alloy Composition
Among cast copper alloys, the composition of C96200 copper-nickel is notable for containing comparatively high amounts of nickel (Ni) and iron (Fe). Nickel is used to improve strength (particularly at elevated temperatures) and corrosion resistance. It also creates the need for additional care during casting. Iron is used to increase strength inexpensively.
| Cu | 83.6 to 90 | |
| Ni | 9.0 to 11 | |
| Fe | 1.0 to 1.8 | |
| Mn | 0 to 1.5 | |
| Nb | 0 to 1.0 | |
| Si | 0 to 0.5 | |
| C | 0 to 0.1 | |
| P | 0 to 0.020 | |
| S | 0 to 0.020 | |
| 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
ASTM B369: Standard Specification for Copper-Nickel Alloy Castings
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