Alloy Selection

The PIAD chill casting process originally focused on casting pure-copper and copper-based alloys but has since expanded to include aluminum bronze & brass alloys. This evolution reflects PIAD's commitment to advancing its casting capabilities across different materials.

Unique to PIAD's process is the development of alloys with significantly higher purity levels compared to standard commercial alloys. This precision is supported by PIAD's extensive metallurgical expertise, allowing them to tailor alloys to meet specific customer requirements. The mechanical and physical properties of PIAD’s alloys are detailed in our Alloy Selection Guide, showcasing the ability to deliver customized solutions.

Copper and copper-based alloys offer a range of valuable properties essential for industrial applications, including superior electrical and thermal conductivity, excellent corrosion resistance, good wear properties, non-magnetic and non-sparking attributes, and compatibility for welding with steel. These properties make them ideal for various demanding environments.

PIAD’s chill castings, distinguished by their excellent electrical conductivity and a smooth 125 RMS surface finish, find extensive use in electrical applications. Our castings can often be used directly without machining, particularly on contact surfaces, which enhances efficiency and reduces production costs.

This combination of specialized alloys and precise casting capabilities positions PIAD as a preferred partner for industries requiring high-performance components that meet technical specifications and operational demands.

Alloy Selection Guide

Alloy Selection Guide	Alloy No. PIAD Standard	CDA Comparison¹	Nominal Chemical Composition	Yield Strength ksi	Tensile Strength ksi	Elongation in 2" %	Brinell Hardness 10 mm /500 kg 3000 kg*	Modulus of Elasticity	Electrical Conductivity % IACS
Alloy Group C High Conductivity Copper	C 011	C801/811	Cu	3-5	27-30	35-30	35-44	17.7 x 10⁶	98 (minimum)
Alloy Group C High Conductivity Copper	C 030		Cu-Ni-Si	51-56	63-66	15-8	142-161*	17.5 x 10⁶	39-43
Alloy Groups M & S Brass and Special Brass	M 010	C855/836	Cu-Zn	19-24	56-64	58-41	70-95	13.6 x 10⁶	22-23
	S 010	C855/864	Cu-Zn-Al	24-30	62-72	50-30	100-125	13.6 x 10⁶	19-17
	S 012		Cu-Zn	12-13	67-70	34-32	90-95	11.5 x 10⁶	36-38
	S 0121		Cu-Zn	16-17	60-62	22-30	85-90	11.9 x 10⁶	31-30
	S 020		Cu-Zn-Pb-Mn	23-25	42-44	10-8	70-75	14.7 x 10⁶	8-9
	S 030	C867	Cu-Zn-Fe-Ni-Al	35-42	79-86	20-16	130-150*	15.8 x 10⁶	18-19
	S 031	C865	Cu-Zn-Fe-Al	22-31	65-75	37-28	100-125	13.5 x 10⁶	23-24
Alloy Group A Aluminum Bronze	A 010	C925	Cu-Al	19-22	62-72	65-53	75-95	15.0 x 10⁶	15-16
	A 011	C953	Cu-Al-Fe	27-30	75-85	35-30	95-110	16.0 x 10⁶	10-12
	A 012	C952	Cu-Al-Fe	34-44	85-95	35-25	135-155*	16.0 x 10⁶	10-12
	A 020	C954/955	Cu-Al-Fe-Ni	58-68	95-108	10-6	190-210*	17.5 x 10⁶	8.0 (maximum)
	A 021	C954/955	Cu-Al-Fe-Ni	45-51	88-95	20-14	150-170*	17.2 x 10⁶	8.0 (maximum)
	A 0201	C9552	Cu-Al-Fe-Ni	63-75	98-115	6-4	210-230*	18.0 x 10⁶	8.0 (maximum)

Alloy Selection Guide	Alloy No. PIAD Standard	Notes and Comments
Alloy Group C High Conductivity Copper	C 011	Pure electrolytic copper with traces of oxygen. Superior electrical and thermal conductivity. Especially suited for application in the electrical industry for parts such as contacts, contact carriers, arc shields. Material cannot be processed in hydrogen atmospheres; welding must be done under an inert gas shield.
Alloy Group C High Conductivity Copper	C 030	Age-hardened copper alloy with good thermal and electrical conductivity; especially suited for wire or cable clamps which are used in outside industrial atmospheres; resistant to stress corrosion.
Alloy Groups M & S Brass and Special Brass	M 010	High-quality brass of excellent castability; suitable for complicated thin-wall parts in the electrical, machinery, hardware, and equipment industries; resistant to stress corrosion and atmosphere corrosion, excellent plate ability. Examples: brush holders, arc horns, meter housings, lock hardware, instrument housings.
	S 010	High-quality special brass with good mechanical properties; for parts which require increased yield and tensile strength with applications for electrical switchgear components, high-pressure instrument housings, marine hardware; resistant to corrosion in industrial atmospheres.
	S 012	Special brass with high electrical and thermal conductivity; developed for use in electrical equipment: contact carriers, terminal connectors, contacts, etc.; cannot be tin plated; material is not resistant to stress corrosion.
	S 0121	Special brass with good electrical and thermal conductivity; for application in electrical equipment; can be tin plated and soldered.
	S 020	Special brass with particularly good bearing qualities, can be used as a substitute for lead tin bronzes. Application examples: bearings, bushings, clutch rings.
	S 030	High-strength yellow brass for components which are subjected to high static pressure and high stress. Application examples: bearings for motors, parts for high pressure valves, control panels.
	S 031	High-strength yellow brass for applications similar to S030 but better suited for applications where vibration is involved. Application examples: clamping pieces, levers, braces.
Alloy Group A Aluminum Bronze	A 010	Good corrosion resistance to many chemical agents; excellent for cryogenic applications; shows no embrittlement down to temperatures of -200°C; suitable for application in chemical industry; nonmagnetic.
	A 011	Good corrosion resistance to many chemical agents, especially H₂SO₄ and H₃PO₄; good corrosion resistance in cold salt water and in saltwater atmosphere; weldable; suitable for nonmagnetic applications.
	A 012	Good corrosion resistance in salt water and other water applications; weldable and heat treated; non-sparking. Used for components in the valve and pump industry.
	A 020	High-strength nickel-aluminum bronze with excellent corrosion resistance in atmosphere, water solution, hot and cold salt water, and many chemical agents. Performs well where cavitation and erosion are factors. Can be welded with common material and with carbon steel. Can be heat treated and is suitable for applications where non-sparking is required.
	A 021	Properties similar to A020 with reduced mechanical properties but increased ductility. Should be applied where strength and corrosion resistance are required. Weldable and can be heat treated.
	A 0201	High-strength nickel-aluminum bronze for high mechanical loads, similar to A020 but with increased mechanical properties.