How to Specify and Order C18070 Copper Strip

The earlier articles covered the metallurgy and selection of C18070. This final one is practical: what to put on an enquiry so the quotation is comparable and the strip that arrives is the strip you designed for. An alloy number alone leaves too much undefined.

What a complete enquiry states

• Alloy and specification — C18070 (CuCrSiTi), and the specification if one applies (e.g. EN 1654 for connector strip).
• Temper — R400 / R460 / R540 / R580, or the target mechanical values if you prefer to specify by property.
• Thickness and tolerance — nominal gauge with the tolerance class the part needs, no tighter.
• Width and tolerance — slit width, plus edge condition (slit, deburred or rounded).
• Bend requirement — minimum bend radius and orientation (good-way / bad-way), which drives the temper.
• Surface / plating — bare, pre-plated or selectively plated, with the plating spec if applicable.
• Coil form — coil weight and inner diameter to suit your press feed.
• Quantity and schedule — order quantity and delivery dates, for both price and lead time.

Certificates and testing

For a current-carrying connector alloy, the certificate is part of the product. Ask for an EN 10204 3.1 mill test certificate covering chemical composition and mechanical properties — tensile, yield, elongation and hardness — for the delivered lot. Where the part is reliability-critical, agree any additional testing up front: conductivity measurement, bend test, or a stress-relaxation figure at the relevant temperature, rather than after delivery.

Compliance documentation

Export buyers increasingly need the paperwork alongside the metal. Confirm what is required:

• RoHS conformity for the strip and any plating.
• REACH / SVHC declaration.
• Country of origin and, where needed, the relevant HS code for customs.

Packaging and shipping

Copper strip is dense and easily marked, and a connector alloy that arrives edge-damaged is scrap. For sea freight, specify moisture protection (VCI wrap or desiccant), secure coil restraint, and export-grade wooden or steel packaging. Agreeing Incoterms — for example FOB Shanghai or CIF to your port — at the order stage avoids surprises in landed cost.

A short pre-order checklist

• Alloy, specification and temper stated
• Thickness, width and tolerances defined
• Bend radius and orientation given
• Surface / plating specified
• Coil weight and ID stated
• EN 10204 3.1 certificate requested
• Conductivity / relaxation testing agreed if critical
• RoHS / REACH documentation confirmed
• Packaging, Incoterms and schedule agreed

Shanghai Xinye Metal Material supplies copper and copper alloy strip to customers in around 30 countries and can review a drawing against this checklist before quoting, so the first quotation reflects the part you actually need rather than a generic grade.

Frequently asked questions

What certificate should I ask for?

An EN 10204 3.1 mill test certificate covering composition and mechanical properties for the delivered lot.

Can I specify C18070 by property instead of temper?

Yes. State the required tensile, yield, elongation, hardness and bend requirement, and the temper can be selected to meet them.

What packaging is used for export?

Moisture-protected coils with export-grade wooden or steel packaging suited to sea freight; specify any particular requirement on the order.

This completes the C18070 series: what it is, how it performs, where it is used, how to select it, and how to order it. For a specification review of a specific part, contact us with the drawing.