Copper rod and bar · Alloy (ETP C11000, oxygen-free C10100, tellurium C14500), conductivity, temper and strength, machinability, specifications
Copper rod is solid round copper bar supplied in standard alloys and tempers as stock for machining, forging, bus conductors and electrical parts. Ask three things first: the alloy (conductivity versus machinability), the temper and the strength it gives, and the diameter, length, tolerance and specification you need.
Wrought copper rod and bar in high-conductivity coppers (ETP, oxygen-free) and free-machining copper. Copper alloys such as brass and bronze, beryllium copper, copper wire and cable, earthing busbars and master alloys (see high-purity copper alloy master alloy) are outside this page.
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01
The Copper Development Association's alloy data list C11000 electrolytic tough pitch (ETP) copper at 99.90% minimum copper (silver counted as copper), with a minimum annealed conductivity of 100% IACS and a typical 101% IACS, specific gravity 8.91, thermal conductivity 226 Btu/ft·h·°F, melting range 1,949–1,981 °F and machinability rating 20; it rates soldering excellent, brazing good, butt welding good and oxyacetylene welding not recommended. [1]
C10100 oxygen-free electronic copper carries a minimum conductivity of 101% IACS, and C14500 tellurium-bearing copper (0.40–0.7% Te and 0.004–0.012% P) gives 93% IACS conductivity but a machinability rating of 85, for parts that are cold drawn and machined. [2] [3]
Editorial calculation: specific gravity 8.91 means about 8.91 g/cm³; thermal conductivity 226 Btu/ft·h·°F is about 391 W/(m·K); the 1,949–1,981 °F melting range is about 1,065–1,083 °C. [1]
Give the supplier the alloy (UNS number), temper, diameter and tolerance, length and straightness, quantity, conductivity requirement, specification (for example ASTM or EN), surface condition, certification (mill test report) and packaging.
02
For C11000 rod the CDA lists typical properties by temper: as hot rolled (M20), about 32 ksi tensile strength and 55% elongation; hard (H04) 1 in rod at 35% cold work, about 48 ksi tensile, 44 ksi yield and 16% elongation; other hard rod sizes and annealed grain-size tempers are also tabulated. Applicable specifications listed include ASTM B124/B124M for forging rod, bar and shapes and SAE J461/J463. [1]
For C14500 rod, the CDA lists the half-hard (H02) temper with 38 ksi minimum tensile strength for standard rod and typical values around 42 ksi tensile and 40 ksi yield at 1 in. [3]
Editorial calculation: 32 ksi ≈ 221 MPa, 48 ksi ≈ 331 MPa and 44 ksi ≈ 303 MPa, so cold-worked hard rod roughly halves elongation in exchange for about 50% more tensile strength than hot-rolled rod. [1]
03
KME's Bars and Profiles brochure (03.2025) for its KM Copper Bars mill in Hettstedt, Germany, cross-references the European grades it makes to EN 13601 with their ASTM equivalents: Cu-ETP (CW004A) to C11000, its main material and standard alloy for switchgear; Cu-OF (CW008A) to C10200 and Cu-PHC (CW020A) to C10300, both hydrogen-resistant and easy to weld; Cu-OFE (CW009A) to C10100, at 99.99% copper for vacuum switching, semiconductors and electronic valves; and silver-bearing CuAg0.1 (CW013A) to C11600, where silver raises the softening temperature with little effect on conductivity. It supplies round bars from 6 to 230 mm in diameter, drawn up to 152 mm, with straightness of 1 mm/m, eddy-current testing for blemish-free surfaces, and chamfered ends for automatic lathes on request; square bars drawn up to 110 mm across flats; flat bars from 10 × 3 mm up to 220 mm wide, cut to fixed lengths with 1 mm length tolerance; and drawing-based profiles up to 10,000 mm² in cross-section. [4]
Editorial calculation: at 8.91 g/cm³, a 20 mm round bar weighs about 2.8 kg per metre and a 152 mm drawn bar about 162 kg per metre, so state lengths and handling limits with the order; a straightness of 1 mm/m allows up to 3 mm bow over a 3 m bar. When a drawing calls for C11000, an EN 13601 supplier will quote Cu-ETP (CW004A); confirm the grade by both names on the mill certificate. [4] [1]
| EN 13601 grade | Number | ASTM / UNS | Use named by the mill |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cu-ETP | CW004A | C11000 [4] | Electrical components, switchgear |
| Cu-PHC | CW020A | C10300 [4] | Hydrogen-resistant; welding |
| Cu-OF | CW008A | C10200 [4] | Hydrogen-resistant; welding |
| Cu-OFE | CW009A | C10100 [4] | 99.99% Cu; vacuum, semiconductors |
| CuAg0.1 | CW013A | C11600 [4] | Electric motors; transport |
04
The suppliers linked to this page list copper bar and rod; their cards link to the pages reviewed.
Ask any supplier for the alloy and its chemical analysis, temper and mechanical test results, conductivity, dimensions and tolerances, the specification it is made to, origin of the cathode or feedstock, and mill test certificates.
05
This is a functional reference built from the sources cited; it is not one maker's specification.
| Attribute | Role | Fix in the order |
|---|---|---|
| Alloy (UNS) | Sets purity, conductivity, machinability. [1] [3] | C11000, C10100, C14500… |
| Temper | Sets strength and ductility. [1] | M20, H02, H04, annealed. |
| Dimensions and tolerance | Fit the process. | Diameter; length; tolerance. |
| Specification | Defines requirements. [1] | e.g. ASTM B124. |
| Surface and packaging | Protect the rod. | Finish; wrapping. |
06
A copper rod quotation needs values for your parts. The table explains each field, gives published values where a reviewed source states them, and says what to obtain from the supplier.
| Field | What it means and published values | Ask the supplier for |
|---|---|---|
| Diameter (mm) | E.g. 6–230 mm round; drawn up to 152 mm. [4] | Size and tolerance. |
| Length (m) | Cut or mill length. | Length. |
| Copper Purity (%) | e.g. ≥99.90% Cu (C11000). [1] | Analysis. |
| Tensile Strength (MPa) | e.g. ≈32–48 ksi by temper. [1] | Test result. |
| Electrical Conductivity (% IACS) | e.g. 101 (C11000); ≥101 (C10100); 93 (C14500). [1] [2] [3] | Measured value. |
| Surface Finish (text) | Drawn, rolled or extruded. | Finish. |
| Tolerance (mm) | Per specification; e.g. straightness 1 mm/m, length ±1 mm on fixed lengths. [4] | Tolerance class. |
| Hardness (HB) | Temper dependent; CDA lists Rockwell. [1] | Hardness. |
| Elongation (%) | e.g. 55% hot rolled; 16% hard. [1] | Test result. |
| Density (g/cm³) | Specific gravity 8.91. [1] | Value. |
| Thermal Conductivity (W/(m·K)) | 226 Btu/ft·h·°F ≈ 391 W/(m·K). [1] | Value. |
| Melting Point (°C) | 1,949–1,981 °F ≈ 1,065–1,083 °C. [1] | Range. |
07
Paste it into your enquiry below or into an email to a maker, then replace every bracket.
Alloy: [UNS number] Temper: [M20; H02; H04; annealed] Size: [diameter; length; tolerance] Properties: [conductivity; strength] Specification: [ASTM; EN] Documents: [mill test certificate]
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The CDA lists C11000 at a minimum 100% IACS annealed and a typical 101% IACS. [1]
Tellurium-bearing C14500 has a machinability rating of 85 against 20 for C11000, at 93% IACS conductivity. [3] [1]
The CDA lists hard (H04) C11000 rod of 1 in at about 48 ksi tensile and 44 ksi yield with 16% elongation. [1]
A European mill's brochure lists Cu-ETP (CW004A) under EN 13601 as the equivalent of C11000, and Cu-OFE (CW009A) as the equivalent of C10100. [4]
Sources checked 2026-10-12. The Copper Development Association is the copper industry's technical body and publishes standard alloy data.
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