C102 Copper (Oxygen-Free Copper) Material Guide

Overview

C102 Copper, also known as Oxygen-Free Copper (OF Copper), is a high-purity copper alloy containing a minimum of 99.95% copper with very low oxygen content. It offers exceptional electrical conductivity, thermal conductivity, ductility, weldability, corrosion resistance, and vacuum compatibility, making it one of the most widely used high-conductivity copper grades worldwide.

C102 is widely used in:

Electrical Busbars
Power Connectors
Semiconductor Equipment
Heat Exchangers
Vacuum Components
RF Components
Electrical Contacts
Thermal Management Systems

Compared with C110 copper, C102 provides lower oxygen content and improved resistance to hydrogen embrittlement. Compared with C101, C102 offers similar conductivity at a lower material cost.

Material Specification

Property	Value
Material Designation	C102 Copper
UNS Number	C10200
Common Name	Oxygen-Free Copper (OF Copper)
Standard	ASTM B152 / ASTM B170
Material Family	Pure Copper
Density	8.94 g/cm³
Magnetic Property	Non-Magnetic
Typical Supply Condition	Annealed, Half-Hard, Hard
Standard Forms	Sheet, Plate, Bar, Rod, Tube, Wire

Chemical Composition

Element	Content (%)
Copper (Cu)	≥99.95
Oxygen (O)	≤0.001
Silver (Ag)	Trace
Total Impurities	≤0.05

The low oxygen content improves conductivity, weldability, and vacuum performance.

Mechanical Properties

Annealed Condition

Property	Value
Tensile Strength	210–250 MPa
Yield Strength	60–90 MPa
Elongation	40–50%
Hardness	45–65 HB
Elastic Modulus	117 GPa

Cold Worked Condition

Property	Value
Tensile Strength	300–430 MPa
Yield Strength	250–380 MPa
Hardness	80–120 HB

Physical Properties

Property	Value
Density	8.94 g/cm³
Melting Point	1083°C
Thermal Conductivity	385–395 W/m·K
Electrical Conductivity	100% IACS
Electrical Resistivity	0.0172 μΩ·m
Thermal Expansion Coefficient	16.5 × 10⁻⁶/K
Specific Heat Capacity	385 J/kg·K

Electrical Conductivity

Material	Conductivity (% IACS)
C101 Copper	101
C102 Copper	100
C110 Copper	100
Aluminum 6061	40
Brass C360	28

C102 provides excellent conductivity for high-performance electrical systems.

Thermal Conductivity

Material	Thermal Conductivity (W/m·K)
C101 Copper	390–400
C102 Copper	385–395
C110 Copper	390
Aluminum 6061	167
Stainless Steel 304	16

The outstanding thermal conductivity makes C102 ideal for cooling and heat transfer applications.

Corrosion Resistance

Environment	Performance
Indoor Environment	Excellent
Dry Atmosphere	Excellent
Fresh Water	Excellent
Marine Atmosphere	Good
Salt Water	Moderate
Industrial Environment	Good

C102 forms a stable protective oxide layer that provides excellent long-term corrosion resistance.

Recommended surface treatments:

Silver Plating
Gold Plating
Nickel Plating
Tin Plating
Electropolishing
Passivation

Weldability

Welding Process	Rating
TIG Welding	Excellent
MIG Welding	Excellent
Resistance Welding	Excellent
Brazing	Outstanding
Soldering	Outstanding

C102 is particularly suitable for electrical and electronic joining applications.

Machinability

Process	Rating
CNC Turning	Good
CNC Milling	Fair
Drilling	Good
Grinding	Good
Stamping	Excellent
Forming	Excellent

Machinability Comparison

Material	Machinability
C360 Brass	Excellent
C102 Copper	Fair
C110 Copper	Fair
Aluminum 6061	Excellent
Stainless Steel 304	Moderate

Copper’s softness and high ductility require optimized cutting tools and machining parameters.

Heat Treatment

Stress Relief Annealing

Parameter	Value
Temperature	200–300°C
Cooling Method	Air Cool

Full Annealing

Parameter	Value
Temperature	400–650°C
Cooling Method	Air Cool

Heat Treatability

Property	Performance
Hardening by Heat Treatment	No
Cold Work Strengthening	Yes
Annealing Response	Excellent

Like other pure copper grades, C102 cannot be hardened through heat treatment.

International Equivalent Grades

Standard	Equivalent Grade
UNS (USA)	C10200
ASTM	C102
EN (Europe)	Cu-OF
DIN (Germany)	CW008A
JIS (Japan)	C1020
ISO	Cu-OF
GB/T (China)	TU2

Available Forms

Product Type	Availability
Sheet	Yes
Plate	Yes
Round Bar	Yes
Flat Bar	Yes
Tube	Yes
Wire	Yes
Foil	Yes
Busbar	Yes

Typical Applications

Electrical Industry

Busbars
Power Connectors
Electrical Contacts
Grounding Components

Electronics Industry

Semiconductor Equipment
RF Components
Microwave Devices
Conductive Parts

Thermal Management

Heat Sinks
Heat Spreaders
Cooling Plates
Thermal Conductors

Vacuum Technology

Vacuum Chambers
Particle Accelerators
Scientific Instruments

Renewable Energy

Solar Power Systems
Energy Storage Equipment
Power Distribution Components

Medical Equipment

Imaging Systems
Precision Electronic Components
Conductive Assemblies

Manufacturing Characteristics

Manufacturing Process	Rating
CNC Machining	Good
Stamping	Outstanding
Deep Drawing	Outstanding
Welding	Excellent
Brazing	Outstanding
Soldering	Outstanding
Electroplating	Excellent

Advantages

Exceptional Electrical Conductivity

Suitable for demanding electrical applications.

Outstanding Thermal Conductivity

Excellent heat transfer capability.

Low Oxygen Content

Reduces hydrogen embrittlement risk.

Excellent Vacuum Performance

Ideal for vacuum and semiconductor systems.

Superior Formability

Excellent for deep drawing and forming operations.

Outstanding Corrosion Resistance

Provides long-term reliability in many environments.

Limitations

Lower Strength Than Copper Alloys

Pure copper prioritizes conductivity over strength.

Moderate Machinability

More difficult to machine than brass.

Higher Cost Than Standard Copper

More expensive than C110 in some markets.

Soft Material

May require design reinforcement in structural applications.

Comparison with Other Copper Grades

Property	C102	C101	C110	C360 Brass
Copper Purity	99.95%	99.99%	99.90%	61–63%
Conductivity	100% IACS	101% IACS	100% IACS	28% IACS
Oxygen Content	Very Low	Extremely Low	Higher	N/A
Vacuum Performance	Excellent	Outstanding	Good	Poor
Cost	Moderate	Higher	Lower	Moderate

Comparison with Conductive Materials

Material	Electrical Conductivity	Thermal Conductivity
C102 Copper	100% IACS	385–395 W/m·K
C101 Copper	101% IACS	390–400 W/m·K
C110 Copper	100% IACS	390 W/m·K
Aluminum 6061	40% IACS	167 W/m·K
Stainless Steel 304	2% IACS	16 W/m·K

Available Surface Finishes

Raw Finishes

Mill Finish
Annealed Finish
Bright Finish

Functional Finishes

Precision Machined Finish
Polished Finish
Electropolished Finish

Conductive Finishes

Silver Plating
Gold Plating
Tin Plating
Nickel Plating

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What is C102 copper?

C102 is an oxygen-free copper alloy with very low oxygen content and excellent electrical and thermal conductivity.

What is C102 copper used for?

Typical applications include:

Busbars
Electrical Connectors
Semiconductor Equipment
Heat Sinks
Vacuum Components

What is the equivalent material to C102?

Common equivalents include:

C10200
Cu-OF
CW008A
TU2

What is the difference between C102 and C101?

Property	C102	C101
Copper Purity	99.95%	99.99%
Conductivity	100% IACS	101% IACS
Cost	Lower	Higher
Vacuum Applications	Excellent	Outstanding

What is the difference between C102 and C110?

Property	C102	C110
Oxygen Content	Lower	Higher
Hydrogen Embrittlement Resistance	Better	Lower
Vacuum Performance	Better	Good

Is C102 suitable for vacuum systems?

Yes. C102 is commonly used in vacuum technology and semiconductor equipment.

Can C102 be welded?

Yes. C102 has excellent weldability, brazability, and solderability.

Why is C102 used in electronics?

Because it provides:

High Electrical Conductivity
Excellent Thermal Conductivity
Low Oxygen Content
High Reliability

Is C102 better than C110?

For vacuum, semiconductor, and high-reliability electrical applications, C102 is generally preferred.

Does GCNOV provide custom manufacturing services for C102 copper?

Yes. GCNOV provides:

CNC Machining
Busbar Fabrication
Precision Copper Components
Surface Plating
Electrical Component Manufacturing
Prototype Development
Low-Volume Production
Mass Production