Explore our custom-engineered non-ferrous alloys designed to meet stringent aerospace, automotive, telecom, and power transmission standards.
Why high-performance electronics and electrical hardware projects rely on the metallurgical properties of Tellurium Copper (UNS C14500 / CuTe).
Definition & Core Metallurgy: C14500 Tellurium Copper is an alloy consisting primarily of copper (around 99.5%) and tellurium (typically between 0.4% to 0.7%), with a minute addition of phosphorus to act as a deoxidizer. This chemistry provides a unique combination of high electrical and thermal conductivity combined with the excellent machinability typical of free-cutting brass.
Unlike other free-cutting alloys that sacrifice conductive qualities for processing ease, C14500 maintains an impressive 90% to 98% IACS (International Annealed Copper Standard) rating. This makes it the premier choice for high-amperage relays, connectors, and power distribution units.
Pure copper yields long, gummy chips that stick to cutting tools and accelerate wear. The microscopic addition of tellurium forms copper telluride (Cu2Te) compounds, acting as a natural chip-breaker. This raises the machinability index to 85% of free-cutting brass (C36000), drastically reducing CNC machining time.
For applications experiencing high thermal cycles (such as welding tips and plasma nozzles), UNS C14500 boasts exceptional resistance to thermal softening, minimizing tip degradation and maximizing the component service life under critical working temperatures.
| Property | Value (Metric) | Value (Imperial) | Significance for Buyers |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical Conductivity | 52.2 - 56.8 MS/m | 90% - 98% IACS | Ensures low resistance and minimal thermal load in high-current links. |
| Thermal Conductivity | 355 W/m·K | 205 Btu/ft²/ft/hr/°F | Facilitates rapid heat dissipation in plasma and welding nozzles. |
| Machinability Index | 85% | 85% (Compared to C36000 Brass) | Shortens cycle times on automatic screw machines and high-speed CNC systems. |
| Tensile Strength | 250 - 380 MPa | 36 - 55 ksi | Provides structural durability in thin-walled connectors and fasteners. |
| Yield Strength | 200 - 340 MPa | 29 - 49 ksi | Guarantees dimensional stability under torque load during assembly. |
| Elongation | 8% - 25% | 8% - 25% | Allows standard cold-forming without cracking. |
Upholding the standard of quality, engineering, and service to support tomorrow's strategic technologies.
Established in 2017, Sichuan Kepai New Materials Co., Ltd. is a modern high-tech enterprise integrating research and development, production, and sales. With a state-of-the-art facility covering approximately 9,000 square meters and a dedicated 1,000-square-meter administrative/R&D center, we focus on delivering next-generation metallurgical products.
Our operation is located in the western area of the Sichuan Guanghan Industrial Development Zone, adjacent to National Highway 108. This provides our logistics network with streamlined transportation nodes, helping us export our refined copper alloys efficiently to clients around the globe.
We are committed to providing premium materials to accelerate industrial efficiency worldwide.
Why international buyers trust Sichuan Kepai for high-volume, precision-dependent OEM requirements.
We manufacture copper alloys that meet global environmental and safety standards. All raw materials and finished lots are certified compliant with RoHS (Restriction of Hazardous Substances), REACH, and international specifications like ASTM B301, BS 2874, and DIN EN 12164. This ensures seamless integration into your localized supply chain without regulatory risks.
By housing oxygen-free smelting, drawing, straightening, and mechanical finishing under one roof in Guanghan, Sichuan, Kepai controls the entire production cost structure. Our advanced extrusion processes produce clean raw shapes (bars, rods, wires, plates) that cut out intermediary processing markups.
Modern procurement directors face risks like price volatility and long transit delays. Sichuan Kepai guarantees pricing structures linked directly to raw LME indices, flexible MOQ (Minimum Order Quantity) agreements, and protective export packing. Our team coordinates shipping lines to match your internal inventory frameworks.
Exploring the core technological backbones that empower our high-performance alloys.
Technological innovation drives our success. Our development team, composed of senior metallurgists and process engineers, monitors international materials trends. By matching independent research with academic partnerships, Kepai has optimized the production of high-conductivity oxygen-free tellurium copper, sulfur copper, and lead copper.
Our innovations support next-generation high-power systems. These developments reduce secondary tool wear for our customers, helping them minimize tool down-time and increase production speeds.
Our product portfolio ranges from standard copper stock to high-purity custom formulations. Our key offerings include:
Our strategic vision is "rooted in Sichuan, radiating nationwide, and moving towards the world." We build long-term relationships with international industrial partners. Grounded in our values of "integrity, innovation, collaboration, and win-win," we focus on creating measurable value for our industrial clients.
Our manufacturing processes are verified by international testing bodies to ensure consistency and reliability.
Quality Management Certificate
SGS Environmental Test
RoHS Product Certificate
REACH Safety Compliance
High-Tech Enterprise Award
Patent Certificate
Purity Testing Report
Laboratory Compliance
Our processing and testing equipment guarantees tight dimension tolerances and consistent metallurgy across all production batches.
Smelting
laying-off
extrusion
drawing
straightening
package
eddy current conductance instrument
Chemical composition test room
Metallographic sample polishing machine
Microcomputer controlled electro-hydraulic servo universal testing machine
Liquid crystal display electronic universal testing machine
Hardness tester
How C14500 Tellurium Copper helps drive development in next-generation high-growth industries.
Electric vehicle fast-charging stations operate under high currents, requiring components that can withstand heat without degrading. Tellurium copper is widely used for DC fast-charging gun contact pins. Its low resistance minimizes temperature rise during high-amperage cycles, ensuring safe charging operations.
5G base stations handle high frequency ranges and need clean signal transmission. CNC-machined C14500 RF connectors provide the dimensional precision and high signal conductivity required to reduce insertion loss in high-frequency applications.
Industrial metal cutting requires nozzles that can withstand extreme heat and prevent spatter buildup. C14500 is used for fiber laser cutting heads and gas distributor rings because it maintains its mechanical properties and shape under high operating temperatures.
Direct, technical answers to common questions about UNS C14500 Tellurium Copper.
C11000 is pure electrolytic tough pitch copper. It offers high conductivity (100% IACS) but is highly ductile, yielding long, continuous chips during machining that cause fast tool wear and burrs. C14500 contains 0.4%-0.7% tellurium, forming copper telluride particles. This changes the chip geometry into short, brittle fragments, increasing the machinability rating from 20% to 85% while keeping electrical conductivity above 93% IACS.
Every melt run is monitored using optical emission spectrometers in our chemical composition test room. We verify the precise tellurium range (0.4% - 0.7%) and control impurity limits. Following extrusion, eddy current non-destructive testing checks each rod for internal voids, cracks, or inclusions before packaging.
Yes. Although tellurium is a metalloid, it is not restricted under the current RoHS directive (which limits lead, mercury, cadmium, hexavalent chromium, PBBs, PBDEs, and specific phthalates). Unlike free-cutting leaded brasses, C14500 contains less than 0.1% lead, making it a reliable choice for eco-conscious designs.
We supply C14500 in various tempers, including H04 (Hard), H02 (Half Hard), and O60 (Soft Annealed). Most CNC operators prefer H02 or H04 because they balance high tensile strength with clean chip formation and dimensional control during turning.
Request a technical consultation or secure a quote for bulk materials, custom sizing, and structural OEM profiles.
Sichuan Kepai New Materials Co., Ltd. will continue to invest in materials research to support the growth of the copper alloy industry. We look forward to partnering with manufacturers and distributors worldwide to build a high-performance future.
Explore our selection of wear-resistant bronze, high-conductivity beryllium, and free-cutting copper alloys.