UNS C97300 Leaded Nickel Silver
C97300 nickel silver is a copper-nickel alloy formulated for casting. Cited properties are appropriate for the as-fabricated (no temper or treatment) condition. C97300 is the UNS number for this material. Additionally, the common industry name is 12% Leaded Nickel Silver. Older literature may refer to this material as ASTM Alloy 10A, but this is now discouraged.
It has a fairly low base cost among cast copper-nickels. In addition, it has the lowest tensile strength and a fairly low melting temperature.
The graph bars on the material properties cards below compare C97300 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
Elastic (Young's, Tensile) Modulus
110 GPa 16 x 106 psi
Elongation at Break
9.0 %
Poisson's Ratio
0.33
Shear Modulus
40 GPa 5.9 x 106 psi
Tensile Strength: Ultimate (UTS)
230 MPa 34 x 103 psi
Tensile Strength: Yield (Proof)
110 MPa 16 x 103 psi
Thermal Properties
Latent Heat of Fusion
180 J/g
Maximum Temperature: Mechanical
150 °C 300 °F
Melting Completion (Liquidus)
1040 °C 1900 °F
Melting Onset (Solidus)
1010 °C 1850 °F
Specific Heat Capacity
370 J/kg-K 0.087 BTU/lb-°F
Thermal Conductivity
29 W/m-K 17 BTU/h-ft-°F
Thermal Expansion
19 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
30 % relative
Density
8.6 g/cm3 540 lb/ft3
Embodied Carbon
3.7 kg CO2/kg material
Embodied Energy
59 MJ/kg 25 x 103 BTU/lb
Embodied Water
330 L/kg 39 gal/lb
Common Calculations
Resilience: Ultimate (Unit Rupture Work)
18 MJ/m3
Resilience: Unit (Modulus of Resilience)
59 kJ/m3
Stiffness to Weight: Axial
7.0 points
Stiffness to Weight: Bending
18 points
Strength to Weight: Axial
7.6 points
Strength to Weight: Bending
9.8 points
Thermal Diffusivity
9.3 mm2/s
Thermal Shock Resistance
8.0 points
Alloy Composition
Among cast copper alloys, the composition of C97300 nickel silver is notable for containing comparatively high amounts of lead (Pb) and nickel (Ni). Lead is used to improve machinability and bearing properties, at the cost of toxicity. It also adds pressure tightness to castings. Nickel is used to improve strength (particularly at elevated temperatures) and corrosion resistance. It also creates the need for additional care during casting.
| Cu | 53 to 58 | |
| Zn | 17 to 25 | |
| Ni | 11 to 14 | |
| Pb | 8.0 to 11 | |
| Sn | 1.5 to 3.0 | |
| Fe | 0 to 1.5 | |
| Sb | 0 to 0.35 | |
| Si | 0 to 0.15 | |
| S | 0 to 0.080 | |
| P | 0 to 0.050 | |
| Al | 0 to 0.0050 | |
| res. | 0 to 1.0 |
All values are % weight. Ranges represent what is permitted under applicable standards.
Followup Questions
Similar Alloys
Further Reading
ASTM B271: Standard Specification for Copper-Base Alloy Centrifugal Castings
ASTM B505: Standard Specification for Copper Alloy Continuous Castings
Properties and Selection: Nonferrous Alloys and Special-Purpose Materials, ASM Handbook vol. 2, ASM International, 1993