C75200
A silvery copper-nickel-zinc alloy
Typical values for the temper in the title
Nickel silver (German silver) is an alloy of copper, nickel and zinc. It contains no silver: the name comes from the silvery look that the nickel gives. C75200 contains about 65% copper and about 18% nickel.
It resists corrosion and tarnish, is springy and easy to form, so it is used for electrical springs and contacts, musical instruments, keys, coins and jewelry, optical components and precision instrument parts.
Mechanical and physical properties
| Property | Value | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Density ρ | 8.73 g/cm³ | |
| Machinability | 20% | relative rating in the site database |
Chemical composition (wt %)
| Element | Range | Role |
|---|---|---|
| Cu copper | 63.5–66.5 | |
| Ni nickel | 16.5–19.5 | silvery color, resistance |
| Mn manganese | max 0.5 | |
| Zn zinc | balance |
Ranges per MakeItFrom (C75200 / CW409J).
Tempers and heat treatment
In copper and its alloys strength is set mainly by the temper: soft annealed, or cold worked to various degrees.
| Condition | Properties | When to choose it |
|---|---|---|
| Annealed | soft, for deep forming | drawing and forming |
| Cold worked (spring) | strong and springy | springs and contacts |
Applications
- Electrical springs and contacts
- Musical instruments
- Keys
- Coins and jewelry
- Optical components
Fabrication
Forming
Excellent cold when annealed.
Brazing
Good.
Appearance
Keeps a silvery look, and can be silver or nickel plated.
Compared with similar materials
| Material | Rm / Rp0.2 | Welding | When it is the better choice |
|---|---|---|---|
| C71500 (CuNi 70/30) | — / | Good — CuNi 70/30 filler | C71500: copper-nickel without zinc, for seawater · material page |
| C510 | 330–690 / 130–550 MPa | Medium | C510: phosphor bronze for springs · material page |
| C260 | 300–550 / 75–420 MPa | Medium | C260: 70/30 brass · material page |
Common mistakes
Assuming it contains silver
It contains none.
Using it in seawater
For marine service copper-nickel is better.
Choosing it for high conductivity
Its conductivity is relatively low.
Equivalents, standards and supply
| EN | CW409J (CuNi18Zn20) |
|---|---|
| UNS | C75200 |
| Standards | ASTM B122 / ASTM B151 |
| Forms | sheet · bar · wire |
| Producers | Wieland · KME |
Learn more
Values are typical and for comparison only. For design, rely on the standard and the mill certificate. Sources: Copper Development Association (copper.org), ASTM B111 and B124, producer data sheets, and the METAL HUB materials database.
Updated: October 31, 2026