Engineered for extreme electrical conductivity, dimensional stability, and industrial longevity.
How Oxygen-Free Tellurium (OFT) Metallurgy Bridges the Gap Between Conductivity and Machine Processing
In high-demand industrial engineering, selecting materials requires navigating technical tradeoffs. Standard pure copper offers exceptional electrical conductivity (~100% IACS) but is difficult to machine, causing rapid tool wear and slow production. Leaded brasses solve the machining issue but compromise conductivity and present environmental hazards under global standards like RoHS. Oxygen-Free Tellurium (OFT) copper alloys solve this by providing the ideal balance of properties.
By introducing controlled fractions of Tellurium (typically 0.4% to 0.7%) into a highly deoxidized, oxygen-free copper matrix (< 5ppm oxygen), materials scientists produce an alloy with a free-machining rating of 85% (relative to free-cutting brass at 100%) while preserving over 90% to 98% IACS electrical conductivity. This micro-alloying process generates fine, uniformly dispersed telluride precipitates within the copper grain boundaries. These act as natural chip breakers during precision CNC operations, lowering cutting temperatures, extending cutting tool lifespans, and ensuring clean finished surfaces.
Traditional tough-pitch coppers contain trace cuprous oxides. When exposed to hot reducing gases during brazing or welding, hydrogen penetrates the copper, forming high-pressure water vapor that creates microscopic fissures. The OFT series maintains oxygen limits under 5 ppm, preventing this risk and ensuring reliable weld joints in structural assemblies.
With thermal conductivity reaching 355 W/(m·K), OFT series copper alloys rapidly dissipate localized heat. This thermal performance, combined with telluride dispersion, minimizes arc erosion in high-amperage switchgear and EV relays, preventing contact fusion and structural wear.
As international RoHS and REACH regulations tighten constraints on lead (Pb) content in engineering alloys, manufacturers require clean materials. OFT series alloys offer a high-performance, lead-free alternative that delivers free-machining performance without environmental compliance risks.
Established in 2017, Sichuan Kepai New Materials Co., Ltd. is a high-tech enterprise integrating advanced metallurgical research, precision manufacturing, and international distribution. Our facility occupies a 9,000-square-meter footprint with a 1,000-square-meter corporate and technology headquarters, optimized for high-capacity production and rigorous quality assurance.
Located in the western area of the Sichuan Guanghan Industrial Development Zone, adjacent to National Highway 108, our facility benefits from reliable logistics networks that support rapid domestic and international shipping. Kepai focuses on developing strategic new materials, including special copper alloys such as tellurium copper, high-conductivity oxygen-free copper, silver copper, and dispersion-strengthened copper.
Through continuous R&D, we engineer alloys with high conductivity, free-machining characteristics, and mechanical strength. Our materials serve demanding sectors including new energy vehicles (EVs), 5G/6G communication infrastructure, high-power fiber laser cutting systems, and renewable energy storage relays.
Analyzing regional demand, compliance requirements, and application growth for high-performance copper alloys.
Automotive manufacturers in the US, Germany, and Northern Europe are shifting to 800V and 1000V electric vehicle architectures. This transition demands high-purity copper contacts, charging terminals, and busbars that manage high electrical currents without overheating. Our C14500 and oxygen-free copper series meet these thermal dissipation requirements.
As the hub for electronics manufacturing, APAC shows strong demand for free-machining, high-conductivity alloys. In high-frequency 5G/6G RF connectors and micro-switch components, alloys like C14700 Sulfur Copper and C17300 Beryllium Copper allow companies to maintain high production speeds on automated screw machines while meeting tight dimensional tolerances.
Tightening environmental regulations are reshaping material selection. Traditional leaded alloys are being replaced by safer alternatives. Tellurium-copper (C14500) and sulfur-copper (C14700) provide comparable free-machining performance, helping global electronics and industrial equipment brands comply with environmental laws without sacrificing efficiency.
Combining specialized metallurgy with quality control to support global industrial supply chains.
Technological innovation is the core competitiveness of Sichuan Kepai New Materials Co., Ltd. The company has a research and development and production team composed of senior industry experts who keep pace with international cutting-edge technology trends and continuously explore the unknown boundaries in the field of new copper alloy materials. Through a combination of independent research and development and industry-university-research collaboration, Kepai has made breakthrough progress in several areas, including high-performance tellurium copper, lead copper, and sulfur copper. Many of its technological achievements have reached international advanced levels and have been successfully applied in various industries such as new energy vehicles, precision machining parts, plasma cutting, relays, and energy storage, earning widespread recognition and praise in the market.
Kepai's product line is rich and diverse, covering a comprehensive range of solutions from basic materials to high-end customization. We focus on providing customers with high-performance, high-quality high-end copper alloy products, including but not limited to pure copper, oxygen-free copper, oxygen-free high-conductivity tellurium copper, nickel tellurium copper, tin bronze, beryllium copper, lead bronze, sulfur copper, and chromium zirconium copper. These products play an important role in reducing production costs and enhancing product performance due to their excellent physical and chemical properties and environmental friendliness, creating significant economic and social benefits for customers.
In the face of global market competition, Sichuan Kepai New Materials adheres to the development strategy of "rooted in Sichuan, radiating nationwide, and moving towards the world." By continuously optimizing market layout and improving the sales network, we have established a stable customer base in multiple provinces and cities across the country and have formed long-term cooperative relationships with several internationally renowned enterprises. At the same time, the company actively expands into overseas markets, participates in international competition and cooperation, and strives to promote Kepai's brand influence on the global stage.
We understand that the long-term development of an enterprise is inseparable from an excellent corporate culture. We advocate the corporate spirit of "integrity, innovation, collaboration, and win-win," encouraging employees to explore boldly and innovate courageously, while also emphasizing teamwork and talent cultivation, striving to create a harmonious, open, and inclusive work atmosphere. We believe that only by continuously pursuing excellence and creating value can we win the trust of customers and the respect of society.
Adapting our materials for future challenges in power transmission and high-speed processing.
We continue to study how micro-alloying elements like Tellurium, Boron, and Zirconium behave in solid solutions. Our goal is to develop alloys that improve tensile strength and hardness under thermal stress while maintaining high electrical conductivity.
3D printing pure copper parts typically requires high-power green or blue lasers. We are engineering copper powders with improved surface absorption characteristics, helping manufacturers produce complex components with minimal defects.
Modern industrial applications subject contact components to higher temperatures. We are developing grain-boundary-stabilized alloys that resist recrystallization and softening, helping components perform reliably under thermal load.
Maintaining tight quality control from raw materials to final inspection.
Matching specific copper alloy formulations to key technical challenges in demanding operating environments.
High-voltage charging connections require high electrical conductivity and resistance to deformation under load. Tellurium-copper (C14500) provides the necessary conductivity (>93% IACS) and is easily machined into contacts that resist electrical arcing and mechanical wear.
High-frequency RF coaxial connectors require tight dimensional tolerances and clean, burr-free surfaces to prevent signal loss. Free-machining copper alloys allow for consistent production of tiny contact pins on automated lathes, keeping electrical attenuation to a minimum.
Plasma torch nozzles operate under extreme thermal conditions and require materials with high heat dissipation. Tellurium-copper (C14500) and Chromium-Zirconium-copper (C18150) help transfer heat away from the tip, which reduces wear and maintains cutting precision over longer runs.
Answers to common engineering questions regarding the processing, performance, and application of OFT alloys.
Our manufacturing practices and products meet international quality and environmental management standards.
Customized dimensions and compositions tailored for global engineering demands.
Looking ahead, Sichuan Kepai New Materials Co., Ltd. will continue to focus on the research and application of new materials, contributing to the development of the copper alloy industry in China and globally. We look forward to working with partners from all walks of life to create a shared future!
Kepai
