Copper Metal Glossary

Half Hard

Material in the Half Hard Condition, sometimes refetrred to as H02 is at an intermediate strength and hardness netween Soft and Full Hard

HDHC

Hard-Drawn High-Conductivity Copper CW004A/C101

Heat Treatable Alloy

The description applied specifically to a Copper Alloy whose mechanical properties can be increased by heat treatment, typically solution treatment and age hardening e.g. for Beryllium Copper.

Related terms: Beryllium Copper, Heat Treatment of Copper and its Alloys

Heat Treatment of Copper and its Alloys

A range of heat treatment processes are applied to copper and it alloys including • Homogenising • Annealing • Stress Relieving • Solution Treatment and Ageing • Quench and Temper Hardening It is important to recognise that not all processes are appropriate for all alloys. Homogenising in which prolonged soaking at elevated temperature is used to reduce solidification chemical segregation in castings particularly in Phosphor Bronzes, Copper Nickels and Silicon Bronzes that have long freezing ranges. Annealing is used to soften and increase ductility and toughness in wrought alloys. Stress relieving is used to relieve internal stresses without significantly affecting mechanical properties. Solution Treatment and Ageing is used on Beryllium Copper, Copper/ Chromium, Copper /Zirconium and Copper/Nickel/Silicon/Chromium alloys to increase mechanical properties. Quench and Temper Hardening is applied to certain Aluminium Bronzes, Nickel Aluminium Bronzes and some cast Manganese Bronzes to increase their mechanical properties.

High Speed Machining, Free Cutting, Free Machining

Terms that are used interchangeably to describe materials that can be turned, drilled or otherwise machined using high cutting speeds and feeds to leave a good surface finish with low tool wear and no appreciable build-up of swarf around the cutting tool. The addition of Lead to Copper alloys usually improves machinability. The brass CW614N (CZ121 Pb3) has one of the fastest rates of metal removal, but ductility is compromised. This brass sets the machinability standard against which the machinability of all other alloys are measured.

High Tensile Brasses

An important group of brasses whose strength has been increased by modifications to their chemical composition by additions of Iron, Nickel, Manganese and/or Aluminium. Aluminium or Tin additions also improve corrosion resistance, Silicon additions are beneficial to wear properties.

Hot Stamping Brass, Stamping Brass

CW617N / CZ122 Brass formulated to be most suitable for hot stamping.