Copper and its Alloys

Pure copper can have its yield strength increased considerably by

cold working. In fact the yield strength of copper and most of its
alloys can be increased up to 6 times by cold working.
Cold working also has a big effect on the tensile strength. It can
double by cold working. From 200 MPa it can be increased to
400MPa.
Therefore copper CAN be rather strong. There are even copper
alloys that can undergo strengthening by quench and tempering,
solution strengthening... etc. Some can be used as tool materials.
Especially tools in hazardous environments where we need tools
that do not start sparks. Example: copper beryllium alloys.
One of the biggest milestones in human history is the discovery of
Copper (Bronze Age). Copper is heavier than iron and has a larger
density than steel (most, some of them contain silicon have a
smaller density).
Has lowest electrical resistivity from commercial metals.
Most times the alloys have a negative effect on the electrical
conductivity. However, there are some alloys which can be
strengthened and the effect on conductivity its minimum <10-15%.
Hydrogen embrittlement is usually associated with copper which
contains a significant amount of impurity oxygen. Particles of copper
oxide forms. In certain environments where there will be atomic
hydrogen (welding procedure) or in a corrosive medium where there
is hydrogen reduction, this hydrogen can react with the copper
oxide inside the material to reduce that oxide. This creates copper
and water (gas) which exerts pressure inside the materials and
causes embrittlement inside the alloy.
High Copper Content Alloys: less than 4 wt% alloying elements,
sometimes even less than 2%. They are such that we add small
amounts of elements and have little effect on the electrical
conductivity (10-15%) reduction but they strengthen the alloy and
make the alloy stable to be used at high operating temperatures
without the material losing its properties.
o Silver Copper- Contain a fraction of a percent of silver. It has a
small negative effect o conductivity. It is used for electric
conductivity purpose. Silver is added because it raises the
annealing temperature by about 150 degrees. By doing so, it
helps the use of these materials at a high application
temperature without them losing the properties. They are
used in copper segments of electrical motors. They need good

conductivity and slide across the brushes, needing good wear

resistance.
o Cadmium Copper- This alloy is a high copper content alloy. It
contains 0.5-1% cadmium content. The higher the cadmium
the lower the conductivity but the higher the strength. Solid
solution strengthening of cadmium in copper. Resistant to
fatigue failure. Used a lot of aircraft wiring.
o Chromium copper- it can be precipitation strengthened. It is
heat treated at quite a high temp of 500 degrees. During this
hear treatment we get clustering of the chrome. It is quite
resistant to temp, attain relatively high strength. There is a
small sacrifice on electrical conductivity.
o Tellurium Copper- Makes it corrosion resistant. Used in
electrical contacts used in hostile environments and that need
machining. Sulfur can also be used but tellurium is preferred
because sulfur has a negative effect on the mechanical
properties.
o Beryllium Copper- Have about 2% beryllium. They are not
meant for conductivity purposes because the alloy becomes
non suitable for such purposes. These alloys are very
responsive to age hardening. Has the highest yield strength
from all other alloys seen so far. Used in springs and hand
tools.
Brass Alloys: The main element is copper and it is alloyed with Zinc.