Copper Sheet & Plate Buying Guide: C11000, C10200 & C10100 — How to Specify Pure Copper for Busbars, Transformers, and Fabrication
Copper sheet and plate in grades C11000 (ETP), C10200 (OF), and C10100 (OFHC) feed busbar shops, transformer plants, and precision fabricators. The grade decides conductivity; the temper decides whether the sheet bends cleanly or springs back; the surface decides whether it solders on first touch. Specify the wrong combination and the busbar runs hot, the deep-drawn cup tears, or you pay oxygen-free money for commodity electrical duty.
This guide compares the three grades, tempers, thicknesses, standards, and a complete RFQ checklist.
Grades Compared
| Grade | Name | Cu % | Conductivity | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| C11000 | ETP electrolytic tough pitch | 99.90 | 100–101% IACS | Busbars, general electrical |
| C10200 | OF oxygen-free | 99.95 | 100–101% IACS | Brazing, vacuum, hydrogen atmospheres |
| C10100 | OFHC high conductivity | 99.99 | 101% IACS | Semiconductor, research, cryogenics |
| C12000 | DLP phosphorus-deoxidized | 99.90 | ~90% IACS | Welding, plumbing where weldability matters |
Default to C11000 for busbars and general electrical work; step up to C10200/C10100 only where brazing in hydrogen, vacuum sealing, or ultra-high purity is specified.
Temper: Soft, Half-Hard, Hard
- O (annealed/soft): deepest draws, tightest bends, lowest springback.
- 1/2 hard (H02): the busbar standard — holds shape under its own weight.
- Hard (H04): flatness and stiffness for machined parts.
Match temper to the operation: soft for forming, half-hard for busbars, hard for flat machined plates.
Thickness, Width, and Length
- Foil: 0.05–0.2 mm (shielding, crafts).
- Sheet: 0.2–3 mm; busbar strip commonly 2–10 mm thick.
- Plate: 3–100 mm; transformer and mold plates.
- Widths: 600 / 1000 / 1220 mm; slit coil or cut sheet.
Standards Buyers Quote
- ASTM B152 / B187: copper sheet, plate, and bar.
- ASTM B248: general plate/sheet/strip tolerances.
- EN 1652: European copper plate/sheet/strip.
- GB/T 2040: Chinese copper plate grades (T1/T2/TU1/TU2).
T2 ≈ C11000, TU1 ≈ C10200, TU2 ≈ C10100 — state both designations to avoid mill confusion.
Common Applications
- Busbars and switchgear (C11000 half-hard).
- Transformer windings and earthing.
- Heat spreaders and cryogenic parts (OFHC).
- Roofing, cladding, crafts (soft sheet).
RFQ Checklist
- Grade: C11000 / C10200 / C10100 (+ GB T-grade if needed)
- Temper: O / 1/2 hard / hard
- Thickness × width × length
- Surface: mill / paper-interleaved / filmed
- Quantity (sheets, kg, or tonnes) + packing
- Standard, MTC, destination / Incoterm
FAQ
C11000 or C10200 for busbars? C11000 half-hard — same conductivity at lower cost; C10200 only if brazed in reducing atmospheres.
Why did my bend crack? Usually hard temper bent across a tight radius — switch to O temper or a larger radius.
T2 the same as C11000? Effectively yes for commercial purposes; confirm conductivity (≥100% IACS) on the MTC.
Why Source Copper Sheet from Yihang Metal
Yihang Metal supplies C11000, C10200, and C10100 sheet and plate to ASTM B152 / EN 1652 in soft, half-hard, and hard tempers, paper-interleaved and seaworthy packed, with mill test certificates showing chemistry and conductivity. Standard sizes typically ship in 20–30 days.
Ready to specify your copper sheet? Send us the grade, temper, dimensions, and quantity, and we will confirm mill availability and lead time with a fixed-price quote and MTC. Email [email protected] or use the quote form on this page — our team replies within one business day.