Tellurium Copper
Tellurium copper’s resistance to hydrogen embrittlement and high conductivity make it a good choice for electrical applications, especially those which require extensive machining. The addition of tellurium to copper results in short, clean chips and allows cutting speeds of five times those used with pure copper, with much less wear on tool life. Also, the electrical conductivity, thermal conductivity and ductility are only slightly altered from pure copper. Typical applications include welding tips, switch gears, bolts and studs, and relay parts.
Typical Analysis in Percent:
Copper (including tellurium) Min. 99.9
Phosphorus 0.004 - 0.012
Tellurium 0.4 - 0.7
Typical Physical Properties:
Electrical Conductivity: 90% IACS
Thermal Conductivity: 205 BTU/ft2/ft/hr/oF
Softening Temperature: Approximately 350 oC
Hot Formability: Good
Cold Formability: Good
Machinability (Free Cutting Brass = 100): 90
Soldering: Excellent
Brazing: Good
Welding:
Oxy-acetylene Welding: Not Recommended
Metal-arc Welding: Not Recommended
Gas-shielded-arc Welding: Fair
Resistance Welding: Not Recommended
Resistance Butt Welding: Fair
Typical Mechanical Properties:
Size Tensile Yield Elongation
Range Strength Strength
Temper (in.) (ksi) (ksi) (%)
Half Hard 1/16 to ¼ 38 30 8
over ¼ to 2⅝ 38 30 12
Hard 1/16 to ¼ 48 40 4
over ¼ to 1¼ 44 38 8
over 1¼ to 3 40 35 8
ALLOYS 
