CDA 101 Copper Alloy: Copper C101 Properties, Composition and Machining

Cu-OFE or C10100 grade copper is an oxygen-free copper with outstanding conductivity. What makes it highly conductive? What are the properties of copper C101? In this article, we’ll discuss the basics of copper alloy 101, covering the chemical composition, mechanical & physical properties, applications, machining, and fabrication properties of CDA 101.

What is Copper Alloy 101?

Copper C101 (C10100 or CDA 101), also known as Oxygen-Free Electronic (OFE), is a type of oxygen-free copper that contains 99.99% pure copper with 0.0005% oxygen content, giving it excellent electrical and thermal conductivity. C10100 is purer than Cu-OF (C10200). 101 copper is finished to a final form in a carefully regulated, oxygen-free environment, it achieves a minimum 101% IACS conductivity rating, so it’s a popular choice for materials of conductors and electrical components. Typical uses of CDA 101 copper in electronic fields including bus conductors, wave guides, hollow conductors, anodes for vacuum tubes, coaxial cable, coaxial tube, microwave tubes, bus bars, vacuum seals, glass-to-metal seals, etc. But it’s not suitable when the service environment is a reducing atmosphere. C101 copper is also the base material to produce common brass and bronze. Junying is specialized in brass CNC machining with milling, turning, drilling, and more technologies.

Oxygen-free copper is a group of wrought high conductivity copper alloys that have been electrolytically refined to reduce the level of oxygen to .001% or below. Based on the ASTM/UNS system, two widely used oxygen-free copper alloys are C10100 and C10200.

Common trade names of 101 copper alloy: UNS C10100, CDA 101, C101, ISO Cu-FRTP, ISO Cu-OFE, Certified OFHC, Oxygen-Free-Electronic Copper

Available forms of C101: flat bar, round bar, square bar, sheet, tube, wire, rod, strips

Copper C101 Chemical Composition

There are possibly other types of additional impurity with little content. Cu is determined by the difference between the impurity total and 100 %.

Cu: Min 99.99%

Pb: Max 0.0005%

Zn: Max 0.0001%

Fe: Max 0.0010%

P: Max 0.0003%

Ag: Max 0.0025%

As: Max 0.0005%

O: Max 0.0005%

Sb: Max 0.0004%

Te: Max 0.0002%

Copper C101 Properties

C10100 copper has high ductility, high electrical and thermal conductivity, high impact strength and low volatility under high vacuum. The lack of oxygen gives 101 immunity to hydrogen embrittlement at elevated temperatures.

Physical Properties of Copper C101

Density of Copper 101: 8.92 g/cm3

Melting Point: 1083 °C

Modulus of Elasticity: 117 GPa

Electrical Resistivity: 0.171×10-6 Ω.m

Thermal Conductivity: 391.1 W/m.K

Thermal Expansion: 16.9 x10-6/K

Mechanical Properties of Copper C101

The mechanical properties of metal will be vary based on the temper, temperature, produce form, and more factors. So there is not a certain value for 101 copper properties in all conditions. The rough range is as below.

Tensile Strength: 200-400 MPa

Proof Stress 0.2%: 50-340 MPa

Elongation A5: 5-50%

Hardness VPN: 40-120

Take the 101 copper alloy of 1.00 OD x .065 tubing as an example, here are the mechanical properties for reference.

Copper C101 Machining and Fabrication

C101 copper is suitable for hot working, cold working and forging. It also can be soldered, brazed, and welded easily. Solution treatment or annealing can be done by rapid cooling after heating to 370-650°C. In the annealed condition, it can be readily bent to shape and has excellent ductility. What techniques can be used to process or fabricate C101 and what’s the machinability of 101 copper? Check out the fabrication properties of copper C101.

CDA 101 Copper Alloy: Copper C101 Properties, Composition and Machining | CNCLATHING

What is Copper Alloy 101?

Copper C101 Chemical Composition

Copper C101 Properties

Copper C101 Machining and Fabrication

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