Industries · Automotive
Copper Alloys for Automotive: Terminals, Thrust Washers and Welding Electrodes
Cars use copper alloys in connectors and terminals, in gearbox thrust washers and in the electrodes that spot-weld the body. VAN INTERTRADE supplies beryllium copper, ToughMet, chrome copper and standard JIS copper alloys for these parts.
What automotive parts face
Automotive parts face heat, vibration and long service lives at high volume. Terminals must hold contact force under the hood, thrust washers wear under load, and body-shop welding electrodes soften and mushroom as heat builds up, so each part needs a different balance of strength, conductivity and cost.
Materials for automotive
- Beryllium Copper
Connector springs and terminals: Materion originally designed C17410 for automotive and telecom connectors, while C17510 suits high-reliability automotive terminals.
- ToughMet
Materion lists ToughMet for powertrain parts: valve guides and bearings in internal combustion engines, and plain bearings and thrust washers in electric and hybrid vehicle gear reducers and differentials.
- Chrome Copper
Spot-welding electrodes and caps: CrCuZr resists softening better at temperature, for high-rate welding or welding coated steel.
- Standard Copper Alloys
C5191 and C5210 phosphor bronze for terminals and connectors that don't need beryllium copper performance, and C1100 for busbars and conductors.
Sources: materion.com (high-conductivity-copper-beryllium-alloys) · materion.com (toughmet-alloys)
Frequently asked questions
- What are spot-welding electrodes made of?
- Usually CrCu or CrCuZr chrome copper, which is much harder than pure copper while still conducting well. CrCuZr resists softening at temperature better, so it is preferred for high-rate welding or welding coated steel.
- When is phosphor bronze enough for an automotive terminal?
- When the terminal needs no more spring force or strength than phosphor bronze can give, and doesn't need high strength and high conductivity at the same time. If it does, step up to beryllium copper.
Choosing a material for automotive?
Tell us the part, the grade or form you have in mind, the size and the quantity, and we will send a quotation.