Copper C12200 vs. Nickel Inconel 718

Compare Copper C12200 vs. Nickel Inconel 718 strength, stiffness, weight and thermal properties.

Mechanical	Copper C12200	Nickel Inconel 718
Yield strength	69MPa1	1,207MPa217.5x stronger
Ultimate tensile strength	221MPa1	1,389MPa26.29x stronger
Elongation at break	45%12.25x more ductile	20%2
Young's modulus (stiffness)	117GPa1	200GPa21.71x stiffer
Density	8,941kg/m³1	8,221kg/m³2
Strength to weight	7.72kN·m/kg	147kN·m/kg19x higher
Stiffness to weight	13.1MN·m/kg	24.3MN·m/kg1.86x higher
Poisson's ratio	0.343	0.2942
Shear modulus	43.7GPa	77.3GPa1.77x stiffer in shear
Bulk modulus	122GPa	162GPa33% higher
Speed of sound	3,621m/s	4,932m/s36% faster

Stiffness against densityHigher and further left: stiffer for its weight

Strength against densityHigher and further left: stronger for its weight

Thermal	Copper C12200	Nickel Inconel 718
Thermal conductivity	339W/m·K129.8x more heat through a fin	11.4W/m·K2
Thermal expansion	16.9µm/m·K1	13.2µm/m·K228% less
100 mm part over a 50 °C swing	84.5µm growth	66µm growth28% less
Specific heat	385J/kg·K1	435J/kg·K213% higher
Heats up and cools (diffusivity)	98.5mm²/s30.9x faster	3.19mm²/s
Thermal shock resistance	7,799W/m2.12x more resistant	3,680W/m
Melting point	liquidus1,083°C1	melting range1,260–1,336°C2
Max service temperature	not sourced	704°C2

Thermal conductivity against densityHigher and further left: spreads more heat for its weight

Thermal expansion against thermal conductivityLower and further right: warps less when heated

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Sources3 documents: Copper Development Association, Special Metals, Wieland

Copper C12200: C12200 phosphorus-deoxidized copper (DHP, the air-conditioning and refrigeration tube copper), tube annealed to 0.050 mm grain size (OS050), 0.065 in. wall, copper.org typical values
Nickel Inconel 718: INCONEL alloy 718, standard grade, 1750 °F/1 hr anneal + 1325 °F/8 hr F.C. to 1150 °F aged; Special Metals bulletin SMC-045 typical values

1
C12200 Alloy (copper.org)Copper Development Associationarchived copyCopper C12200 · Yield strength: typical, 0.5% extension under load, 0.065 in. tubeCopper C12200 · Ultimate tensile strength: typical, 0.065 in. tubeCopper C12200 · Elongation at break: typical, 0.065 in. tubeCopper C12200 · Young's modulus (stiffness): typicalCopper C12200 · Density: nominalCopper C12200 · Thermal conductivity: typical, 20 °CCopper C12200 · Thermal expansion: typical, mean 20-100 °CCopper C12200 · Specific heat: typical, 20 °CCopper C12200 · Melting point: liquidus
2
INCONEL alloy 718 (SMC-045)Special Metalsarchived copyNickel Inconel 718 · Yield strength: typical, 1.0 in. hot-rolled bar, 0.2% offsetNickel Inconel 718 · Ultimate tensile strength: typical, 1.0 in. barNickel Inconel 718 · Elongation at break: typical, 1.0 in. barNickel Inconel 718 · Young's modulus (stiffness): typical, 21 °C, annealed + agedNickel Inconel 718 · Density: nominal, annealed and agedNickel Inconel 718 · Poisson's ratio: typical, 21 °C, annealed + agedNickel Inconel 718 · Thermal conductivity: typical, 21 °C, annealed + aged (calculated from resistivity per footnote a)Nickel Inconel 718 · Thermal expansion: typical, mean 21-93 °C, annealed + agedNickel Inconel 718 · Specific heat: typical, 21 °CNickel Inconel 718 · Melting point: melting rangeNickel Inconel 718 · Max service temperature: upper use temperature stated by producer
3
Wieland-K19 (Cu-DHP, C12200) Data SheetWielandarchived copyCopper C12200 · Poisson's ratio: reference value at room temperature (Wieland-K19 = Cu-DHP = C12200, rolled products)

Each number points to the document that states it, with the exact basis. Values without a number are computed from the sourced ones. "Not sourced" means no citable source states it (or only a specification minimum); figures computed from it are left out too.

Questions

Mechanical

Is Copper C12200 stronger than Nickel Inconel 718?

Nickel Inconel 718 is stronger: its yield strength is 1,207 MPa against 69 MPa for Copper C12200 (17.5x).

Which is lighter, Copper C12200 or Nickel Inconel 718?

Nickel Inconel 718 is lighter: 8,221 kg/m³ against 8,941 kg/m³ for Copper C12200.

Which is stiffer, Copper C12200 or Nickel Inconel 718?

Nickel Inconel 718 is stiffer: Young's modulus 200 GPa against 117 GPa for Copper C12200, so the same part in Nickel Inconel 718 deflects less under the same load.

Which is lighter for the same job, Copper C12200 or Nickel Inconel 718?

For the same stiffness or strength: Nickel Inconel 718 is lighter for a stiff rod or tie (tension), stiff beam (bending), stiff panel or plate, strong rod or tie, strong beam, strong panel or plate.

Part that must be	Copper C12200	Nickel Inconel 718
Stiff rod or tie (tension)	1.86x heavier	lighter
Stiff beam (bending)	42% heavier	lighter
Stiff panel or plate	30% heavier	lighter
Strong rod or tie	19x heavier	lighter
Strong beam	7.33x heavier	lighter
Strong panel or plate	4.55x heavier	lighter

For the same stiffness or strength, mass scales with density over stiffness (or strength) raised to a power set by how the part is loaded: 1 for a rod in tension, 1/2 for a beam in bending, 1/3 for a panel (the standard material-selection indices).

Which is more ductile, Copper C12200 or Nickel Inconel 718?

Copper C12200 stretches further before it breaks: 45% elongation at break against 20% for Nickel Inconel 718.

Thermal

Which conducts heat better, Copper C12200 or Nickel Inconel 718?

Copper C12200 conducts heat better: 339 W/m·K against 11.4 W/m·K for Nickel Inconel 718.

Which expands less with temperature?

Nickel Inconel 718 expands less: 13.2 µm/m·K against 16.9 µm/m·K for Copper C12200.