+52 (81) 1636-1511 Monterrey, N.L. México
Back to Materials
CLASS 3 COPPER - BERYLLIUM FREE

Beryllium-Free Class 3 Copper – C18000 (CuCrNiSi)

Beryllium-free alternative with Class 3 properties per AWS J1.3. For applications where 0% beryllium is required by safety regulations.

Technical Specifications

Conductivity
≥45% IACS
Hardness (AWS J1.3)
≥90 HRB
Beryllium
0% Be
Advantage
Beryllium Free

Properties Table

Property Value Unit
UNS Code C18000 -
Composition Cu + Cr + Ni + Si (No Beryllium) % wt
Electrical Conductivity ≥45 % IACS (AWS J1.3 min)
Hardness ≥90 HRB (AWS J1.3 min)
Thermal Conductivity ~190 W/m·K
Softening Temperature ~480 °C
Density 8.75 g/cm³

When to Use C18000?

C18000 meets AWS J1.3 Class 3 specifications (≥45% IACS, ≥90 HRB) but without beryllium:

  • 100% beryllium free - No special machining protocols required
  • Meets Class 3 specification - ≥90 HRB minimum per AWS J1.3 Table 5
  • Cost-effective alternative - Without beryllium or cobalt costs
  • Simplified compliance - No beryllium MSDS required
  • Safe for all processing - No machining restrictions
  • Different composition - Uses Ni + Si + Cr instead of Be for hardening

Comparison: C18000 vs Beryllium Class 3

Characteristic C18000 (Be Free) C17510 (CuNiBe)
Beryllium Content 0% Be 0.2-0.6% Be
Conductivity (AWS J1.3) ≥45% IACS ≥45% IACS
Hardness (AWS J1.3 min) ≥90 HRB ≥90 HRB
Composition Cu + Ni + Si + Cr Cu + Ni + Be
Safety No restrictions Solid bars safe *
Cost More economical Higher investment (beryllium)
Availability Made to order Permanent stock

* Solid C17510 bars are safe to handle. Risk only during machining with dust generation. See OSHA Guide

Main Applications

Strict Regulatory Compliance

Companies with zero beryllium policies or strict regulatory requirements

Export to Europe

Markets with more restrictive regulations on beryllium materials

Shops Without Special Infrastructure

Operations without HEPA extraction systems for beryllium machining

Class 3 Alternative

When higher hardness than Class 2 is needed but without beryllium

C18000 Positioning: Meets AWS J1.3 Class 3 specification (≥45% IACS, ≥90 HRB minimum) but without beryllium. Ideal for companies with zero-beryllium policies or for applications requiring simplified regulatory compliance. All three Class 3 alloys (C17510, C17500, C18000) meet the same minimum specification.