What is the melting temperature of copper? I’ll tell you directly that its melting point is 1,085°C (1,984°F). However, melting point is one of the important properties of metals. A better grasp of it will help you better select materials and optimize subsequent machining processes. Moreover, through the study of this copper melting point article, you can also better understand why copper can be widely used in casting, welding and machining.
What is the Melting Point of Copper?
You already know what the melting point of copper is. Now I’ll introduce to you to the specific melting point of copper. The melting point is the critical value at which the metal transitions from a solid state to a liquid state.
It means that when the temperature of the copper melting furnace reaches 1084.62°C, the copper will change phase. The melting point of pure copper in Celsius is 1084.62°C, the degree of Fahrenheit is 1984°F. The copper atoms start to move violently until the energy can overcome the constraints of the copper bonds, and the lattice begins to break up. And then the copper changes from a solid state to a liquid state.
In addition, I will tell you about a common color judgment method used by workers. It is about 700°C when the copper is heated to cherry red, and when the copper material turns into a dazzling orange or even begins to turn white, it is only close to the melting point
Melting Points Of Common Copper Alloys
In the industrial field, copper materials are mainly divided into two categories: pure copper and copper alloys. However, because of their different compositions, these copper alloys have different melting points. For this reason, these copper alloy materials are widely used in many industries. For example, the melting point of copper alloys (such as brass) containing zinc is 150°C lower than that of pure copper, so its liquid fluidity is higher. Therefore, it is also widely used in faucets and valves of cast structures to reduce defects that may occur during the casting process.
DSR Copper Alloy Melting Point Table
| Material | Typical Composition | Solidus °C (°F) | Liquidus °C (°F) |
| Pure Copper | Cu ≈ 100% | 1084.62°C (1984.32°F) | 1084.62°C (1984.32°F) |
| Oxygen-Free Copper (C10200) | Cu ≥ 99.95% | ≈1083°C (1981°F) | ≈1083°C (1981°F) |
| ETP Copper (C11000) | Cu ≥ 99.90% | ≈1065°C (1949°F) | ≈1083°C (1981°F) |
| Tellurium Copper (C14500) | Cu balance, Te 0.40–0.70% | ≈1051°C (1924°F) | ≈1080°C (1976°F) |
| Chromium Copper (C18200) | Cu balance, Cr 0.6–1.2% | ≈1070°C (1958°F) | ≈1075°C (1967°F) |
| Beryllium Copper (C17200) | Cu balance, Be 1.80–2.00% | ≈866°C (1590°F) | ≈982°C (1800°F) |
| Cartridge Brass (C26000) | ≈70% Cu, 30% Zn | ≈916°C (1680°F) | ≈954°C (1750°F) |
| Muntz Metal (C28000) | ≈60% Cu, 40% Zn | ≈899°C (1650°F) | ≈904°C (1660°F) |
| Free-Cutting Brass (C36000) | Cu 60–63%, Pb 2.5–3.0%, Zn balance | ≈888°C (1630°F) | ≈899°C (1650°F) |
| Naval Brass (C46400) | Cu 59–62%, Sn 0.5–1.0%, Zn balance | ≈888°C (1630°F) | ≈899°C (1650°F) |
| Tin Bronze (C90700) | Cu 88–90%, Sn 10–12% | ≈831°C (1528°F) | ≈999°C (1830°F) |
| Phosphor Bronze (C51000) | Cu balance, Sn 4.2–5.8%, P 0.03–0.35% | ≈954°C (1750°F) | ≈1049°C (1920°F) |
| Phosphor Bronze (C52100) | Cu balance, Sn 7–9%, P 0.03–0.35% | ≈882°C (1620°F) | ≈1027°C (1880°F) |
| Aluminum Bronze (C95400) | Cu ≥83%, Al 10–11.5%, Fe 3–5% | ≈1027°C (1880°F) | ≈1038°C (1900°F) |
| Silicon Bronze (C65500) | Cu balance, Si 2.8–3.8%, Mn 0.5–1.3% | ≈971°C (1780°F) | ≈1027°C (1880°F) |
| Cupronickel 90/10 (C70600) | Cu balance, Ni 9–11%, Fe 1.0–1.8% | ≈1099°C (2010°F) | ≈1149°C (2100°F) |
| Cupronickel 70/30 (C71500) | Cu balance, Ni 29–33%, Fe 0.4–1.0% | ≈1171°C (2140°F) | ≈1238°C (2260°F) |
| Nickel Silver 65-18 (C75200) | Cu 63–66.5%, Ni 16.5–19.5%, Zn balance | ≈1071°C (1960°F) | ≈1110°C (2030°F) |
Data Sources & Notes: The melting point of pure copper is based on data from the Royal Society of Chemistry. Solidus and liquidus temperatures, alloy designations, and typical chemical compositions for UNS copper alloys are primarily based on the Copper Development Association alloy database.
Factors Influencing the Melting Point of Copper
From the table above, you can also see that the melting points of various copper materials are different. So what is the reason for this phenomenon? Next, I will answer it for you.
1. Chemical Composition
This is the main factor that influences the melting point of copper materials. When you add other metal elements to pure copper material, the crystal structure of copper atoms is modified, which in turn modifies the temperature at which the chemical bonds can be broken.
Zinc (Zn): In fact, the melting point of Zn is very low, only 419°C. The result is that the melting point of the brass material formed by adding zinc is much lower, usually between 900°C and 940°C. The higher the zinc content in the alloy, the lower the melting point is generally. For example, red brass with high copper content (85% copper) has a melting point of approximately 1027°C.
Tin (Sn) & Lead (Pb): The melting points of the two metals are also relatively low.
- Tin is the principal alloying element in tin bronzes. Adding tin to copper generally produces a copper–tin alloy with higher strength, wear resistance, and a melting range lower than that of pure copper.
- Lead may be added to certain copper alloys, including leaded brasses and bronzes, primarily to improve machinability and bearing performance.
Beryllium (Be): Beryllium-copper alloy has a low melting point as low as 865°C, forming a so-called “eutectic reaction”.
Nickel (Ni): The melting point of Ni element is very high, about 1455°C. Thus, the melting point of copper alloys containing nickel will increase. For example, the melting point of cupronickel is usually around 1100°C – 1200°C.
2. Impurities
Impurities are also an important factor. They interfere with the crystal lattice structure of copper, lowering its melting temperature, and can also lead to inconsistencies in the molten metal. Even trace amounts of impurities in copper materials can have a subtle but fatal effect on their melting point.
This is because certain impurities (such as sulfur, bismuth and oxygen) do not drastically change the overall melting point, but they can aggregate at the grain boundaries of copper, forming a thin film with a very low melting point. As for the consequences, such materials can easily crack at high temperatures, which we call “thermal brittleness” in industry. Therefore, we often test the purity of raw materials before CNC machining production to ensure that the purity of copper meets the required standards.
3. Pressure
The air pressure factor must have been mentioned by the teacher in physics class. Air pressure does affect the melting point of copper, but it is almost negligible in our regular castings. The principle is that the volume of copper expands when it melts, and if the external environment exerts extremely high pressure on it, this expansion will be inhibited, resulting in a very small increase in the melting point.
If your copper material will be used in high-pressure environments, such as space or deep-sea environments. Then you should be aware that the melting point of these copper materials may be slightly elevated.
4. Microstructure and Grain Size
(1) Microstructure
Metal is not a uniform whole, in fact, at the microscopic level, it is made up of countless microscopic organizations. For copper alloys, there are two main organizational structures.
- α Phase (Alpha Phase): When the zinc content in the copper alloy is below 35%, copper presents a single α phase.It is very soft and has excellent ductility, making it very suitable for cold working.
- β Phase (Beta Phase): When the zinc content of the copper alloy is more than 35%, the β phase appears. It is harder and stronger, but brittle at room temperature. So it is more suitable for hot working or casting.
(2) Grain Size
Metals are actually composed of countless small crystals. The size of these grains directly determines the physical properties of the material.
- Fine grains: The finer the grain, the more grain boundaries there are, and the higher the strength of the metal.
- Coarse grain: This type of metal material is softer and more prone to deformation.
Copper Softening Temperature vs. Melting Point
Those of you who are familiar with copper materials surely know that copper may begin to lose some of its hardness and strength at temperatures far below its melting point.
However, the softening temperature of copper should not be confused with its melting point. When softening occurs, copper still remains in solid state. This phenomenon is typically related to the recovery, recrystallization, and annealing of its cold-worked microstructure.
And unlike the melting point, copper does not have a fixed and unchanging softening temperature. For example, for electrolytic copper and fire-refined copper, the typical stress relief temperature is approximately 150–225°C (300–440°F), while the full annealing temperature can typically range from about 200–650°C (390–1200°F).
| Thermal Condition | Typical Temperature | What Happens to the Copper |
| Stress relief | ~150–225°C | Residual stresses can be reduced while much of the existing strength is retained |
| Annealing / softening | ~200–650°C* | Cold-worked copper can recrystallize, reducing hardness and strength while increasing ductility |
| C11000 annealing range | ~371–649°C | Typical annealing range specified for C11000 ETP copper |
| C11000 melting range | ~1065–1083°C | Copper changes progressively from solid to liquid |
| Pure copper melting point | 1084.62°C | Pure copper changes from solid to liquid |
* The actual annealing and softening range varies substantially with copper grade, temper, cold work, section thickness, and heating time.
It can be said that distinguishing between softening temperature and melting point is very important for welding, brazing, heat treatment, hot forming, and other high-temperature manufacturing processes.
Copper Melting Point Comparison with Other Metals
Since we have talked about the melting point of copper, I believe you are also interested in comparing its melting point with other metals. This table must also be helpful to you in choosing materials.
| Metal | Melting Point (°C) | Melting Point (°F) | Difficulty to Melt |
| Tin (Sn) | 232°C | 450°F | Very Low |
| Lead (Pb) | 327°C | 621°F | Low |
| Zinc (Zn) | 419°C | 787°F | Low |
| Aluminum (Al) | 660°C | 1,221°F | Medium |
| Brass (Alloy) | ~900–940°C | ~1,650–1,725°F | Medium-High |
| Silver (Ag) | 961°C | 1,763°F | Medium-High |
| Gold (Au) | 1,064°C | 1,948°F | Medium-High |
| Cast Iron | ~1,150–1,200°C | ~2,100–2,200°F | High |
| Stainless Steel | ~1,400–1,530°C | ~2,550–2,800°F | Very High |
| Titanium (Ti) | 1,668°C | 3,034°F | Extreme |
| Tungsten (W) | 3,422°C | 6,192°F | Ultimate |
This table also reflects that the melting temperature of copper ranks in the middle among many metals, which also determines that copper materials can achieve a good balance between processability and performance. It is also because of its high melting point that many components used in high-temperature applications are made of copper materials, such as electrical wiring, piping systems, fluid control valves, etc. Of course, copper materials are popular also because they possess excellent electrical and thermal conductivity, corrosion resistance, ductility, and processing properties.
Summary
Well, that concludes all the knowledge content on copper melting points. I believe you have gained a lot at this time. At the same time, in addition to providing your professional CNC machining services, DSR also provides excellent casting services, including a variety of excellent manufacturing solutions. So, if you have any manufacturing needs, you can contact us for consultation. We look forward to hearing from you.
FAQ
Q1: What is the melting point of copper in kelvin?
A: The melting point of copper in Kelvin is approximately 1357 K.
Q2: What is the melting point of copper wire?
A: The melting point of copper wire is actually similar to that of pure copper, which is about 1084 °C.
Q3: What is the melting point of copper sulfate?
A: The common copper sulfate pentahydrate (CuSO₄·5H₂O) begins to lose crystalline water at about 110 °C when heated, and gradually becomes anhydrous CuSO₄ when heated with continued heating.
Q4: How to melt copper into bars?
A: Requirements: A smelting furnace capable of 1100-1200°C, a silicon carbide crucible, and a preheated and dried ingot mold.
Note: It is recommended to wear a face mask, heat-resistant gloves, and other non-slip protective gear.
Practical operation: Place the clean copper ingot into the crucible and heat it until it melts completely. Keep the temperature until the dross floats up and skim the surface slag, and then slowly pour the molten copper into a preheated ingot mold. After it solidifies and cools down, it can be demolded to form a copper bar.
Q5: What chemical melts copper?
A: The most typical one is nitric acid (HNO₃), others include ferric chloride solution (FeCl₃), copper chloride (CuCl₂), etc.
Q6: What is no 1 copper scrap?
A: This refers to high-purity, uncoated, unalloyed copper scrap, usually from clean copper tubes, copper bars, copper wires, etc.
Q7:What does borax do when melting copper?
A: Borax acts primarily as a flux when melting copper. It helps dissolve surface oxides and forms a protective molten layer that can reduce further oxidation of the metal.
Q8: What is the burning temperature of copper?
A: Copper does not have combustion properties, but will gradually oxidize and turn black when heated.
Q9: Is copper easier to melt than steel?
A: Yes, copper generally melts more easily than steel, and its melting point is lower, around 1084°C. The melting point of steel is approximately 1370–1540°C.
Q10: How do you address material adhesion in copper CNC machining?
A:In order to solve this problem, we will also adjust the cutting parameters to avoid local overheating. The strategy is to move the milling cutter in and out quickly, maintain sufficient feed, and ensure that each revolution of the blade cuts copper chips of sufficient thickness to take away the heat. In addition, we will use tools with a large positive rake angle and use high-pressure coolant to be sprayed directly into the cutting point. With the support of these measures, we ensure that the entire processing of copper parts proceeds perfectly.
Q11: What is the melting point of copper pipe?
A: The melting point of copper pipes is about 1083–1084 °C (about 1981 °F).
Q12: What are the melting and boiling point of copper?
A: The melting point of copper under normal pressure is approximately 1084°C, and the boiling point is approximately 2562°C.
Q13: What is the melting point of copper tubing?
A: The melting point of copper pipe is about 1083–1084°C, and Fahrenheit is about 1981 °F.
