How do C17200 and C17510 differ?
They trade strength against conductivity. C17200 is the grade Materion calls the strongest CuBe alloy it makes, with conductivity well above other high-strength copper alloys. C17510 is a copper-nickel-beryllium alloy that gives up some strength for much higher electrical and thermal conductivity, plus good stress-relaxation resistance and good strength at elevated temperature.
How do Materion's published values compare?
Age-hardened values from Materion's web pages: C17200 figures are for rod and bar, C17510 figures for strip. The forms differ, so use this for direction, not design; confirm against the datasheet for the temper you will use. Materion's page gives no tensile figure for C17510, so none is shown.
| Grade | Property | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| C17200 | Ultimate tensile strength (can exceed) | 1380 MPa (200 ksi) | materion.com |
| Electrical conductivity | 25–30 % IACS | materion.com | |
| Thermal conductivity | 105 W/m·K | materion.com | |
| Elastic modulus | 131 GPa | materion.com | |
| Density | 8.36 g/cm³ | materion.com | |
| Thermal expansion coefficient | 17.5 ×10⁻⁶ /°C (20–200 °C) | materion.com | |
| C17510 | Electrical conductivity | 45–60 % IACS | materion.com |
| Thermal conductivity | 240 W/m·K | materion.com | |
| Elastic modulus | 138 GPa | materion.com | |
| Density | 8.83 g/cm³ | materion.com | |
| Thermal expansion coefficient | 17.6 ×10⁻⁶ /°C (20–200 °C) | materion.com |
The clearest gap is conductivity: 25–30% IACS for C17200 against 45–60% IACS for C17510, and 105 against 240 W/m·K for thermal conductivity. Elastic modulus, density and thermal expansion are close.
When should you use C17200?
Use C17200 when the part takes high or repeated loads, or has to work as a spring, for example:
- Springs and cyclically loaded parts
- Aerospace bushings and bearings, industrial wear plates
- Oil and gas drilling equipment, circular and coaxial connectors
C17200 comes in a wide range of forms: strip, rod, bar, plate, wire, tube, forgings and extrusions.
When should you use C17510?
Use C17510 when the part carries high current, has to move heat, or runs warm for long periods while holding contact force: electronic contacts and spring parts, high-reliability automotive terminals, and spring contacts in switches and relays. It is supplied mainly as strip and wire.
Is there an option between the two for strip parts?
Yes. Materion designed C17460 (Alloy 390) to give the conductivity of Alloy 3 with the strength of Alloy 25, supplied as mill-hardened strip for small contacts. All grades are on the beryllium copper page.
Frequently asked questions
- Which is stronger, C17200 or C17510?
- C17200 (Alloy 25). Materion calls it the strongest CuBe alloy it makes, with tensile strength in age-hardened rod that can exceed 1380 MPa.
- Which conducts better, C17200 or C17510?
- C17510 (Alloy 3). Materion lists it at 45–60% IACS against 25–30% IACS for C17200, both age-hardened.
- Can C17510 replace C17200?
- Only if the part does not need C17200-level strength. Check the strength of the intended temper against the datasheet before switching, and make sure the form you need exists in that grade.
- What are Alloy 25 and Alloy 3?
- They are Materion's names: Alloy 25 is UNS C17200 and Alloy 3 is UNS C17510.
References
- Materion — High-Strength Copper-Beryllium Alloys
- Materion — High-Conductivity Copper-Beryllium Alloys
- Materion — In Our Element: What Are the Magnetic Properties of Copper Beryllium?
Sources read on 5 October 2026. Producer data changes; confirm values against the current datasheet before design.