MPS  /  MATERIALS  /  BASE-METAL MILL PRODUCTS  /  COPPER & COPPER ALLOYS
Cu
Z 29 · ATOMIC MASS 63.546

Copper & Copper Alloys

Electrical conductor and thermal manager.   Copper cathode (LME Grade A / COMEX Grade 1), bus bar, and gas-atomized AM powder (pure Cu, CuCrZr, CuNi30, CuSn6). Electrical, thermal-management, and RF-shielding applications.

Program Intake Program Tiers
Cathode
LME Grade A · COMEX Grade 1
AM alloys
Cu · CuCrZr · CuNi30 · CuSn6
Standards
ASTM B115 · B187 · B152
Sizes
Cathode · bus bar · powder
Lead time
4 weeks standard
Sourcing
U.S. · Chile · Canada
01METALLURGY

Copper is the highest-conductivity commercial metal (silver being uneconomical for structural quantities) and the second-highest thermal conductor. It is the working metal of electrical distribution (bus bar), thermal management (heat sinks), and now — via AM — of rocket-engine combustion chambers (RS-25, F-1B, Raptor throat).

The copper supply chain is dominated by Chile (~25% of mined output), Peru, DRC, and China. LME-Grade-A cathode is fungible; we source from U.S. (Freeport-McMoRan), Chilean (Codelco), and Canadian smelters. AM-grade CuCrZr is the workhorse for regeneratively-cooled thrust chambers; pure Cu LPBF is emerging with high-power lasers.

02SPECIFICATION
Chemistry — LME Grade A cathode
Cu 99.99% min, Cu-CATH-1 spec (BS EN 1978)
Chemistry — CuCrZr (C18150)
Cu-Cr 0.5-1.5-Zr 0.05-0.15 · AMS 4592
Chemistry — Pure Cu (AM)
ETP or OFHC (C11000 / C10100)
Chemistry — CuNi30
Cu-30Ni · ASTM B466
Chemistry — CuSn6
Cu-6Sn phosphor bronze
Oxygen (AM)
≤ 300 ppm (OFHC pure Cu)
Morphology (AM)
Spherical (GA)
Apparent density (AM)
Reported per lot COA under program qualification
Hall flow (AM)
Reported per lot COA under program qualification
PSD (LPBF)
Reported per lot COA under program qualification
IACS conductivity
100% (pure Cu) · 85% (CuCrZr T3)
Traceability
Smelter → cast lot → atomization lot
03GRADES & ALLOYS
Cu-CATH-1 (Grade A)
LME-deliverable copper cathode. General remelt.
OFHC Cu (C10100)
Oxygen-free, high-conductivity. Vacuum applications.
ETP Cu (C11000)
Electrolytic tough pitch. Bus bar, wire.
CuCrZr (C18150)
AMS 4592. Rocket-engine combustion chambers.
CuNi30 (C71500)
Marine seawater service. Naval condenser tubes.
CuSn6 phosphor bronze
Spring contacts and bearings.
CuNi2SiCr (C18000)
Beryllium-free high-strength Cu.
GRCop-42 / GRCop-84
NASA Cu-Cr-Nb alloy for rocket-engine combustion chambers.
04PROCESSING ROUTES
Remelt / mill
Cathode to cast-billet to bus-bar or wire.
LPBF (CuCrZr)
Green (515 nm) laser preferred. AMS 4592 T3 heat treat.
LPBF (pure Cu)
Green laser required for high absorption. Emerging.
EBM (Cu)
Vacuum atmosphere; excellent for pure Cu.
Cold spray
Cu and CuCrZr for repair and additive on Cu substrates.
Cladding
Cu on steel for electrical distribution and heat transfer.
05APPLICATIONS
Aerospace
Rocket Combustion Chambers
CuCrZr regeneratively-cooled thrust chambers. RS-25, F-1B, Raptor heritage.
Electrical
Bus Bar
ETP and OFHC bus bar for switchgear and distribution.
Thermal
Heat Exchangers
Pure Cu and Cu-Ni for high-performance heat exchangers.
Naval
Seawater Service
CuNi30 tubes and manifolds for saltwater loops.
Electronics
RF & Microwave
OFHC Cu for RF cavities and waveguides.
Automotive
EV Motor Windings
CuCrZr and hairpin windings for high-power-density motors.
06QUALITY CONTROL
Chemistry
ICP-OES per lot · trace metals GDMS on request
Oxygen
LECO per lot for OFHC grades
PSD (AM)
Laser diffraction per ASTM B822
Morphology (AM)
SEM per lot
IACS conductivity
Eddy-current conductivity meter on sintered pucks
Traceability
Smelter CofC per lot
Every lot ships with a mill-certified Certificate of Conformance (CofC) documenting chemistry, PSD, morphology, flow, and traceability from mill heat through atomization to PO. Retained samples are held per lot for program-life duration.

Move it to a
program.

MPS-1 qualification, MPS-2 production, or MPS-3 strategic supply. 4-week standard lead time on qualified stock.

Program Intake Compare Program Tiers