Description
⚙️ Product Overview
W50Cu50 Tungsten Copper Rod is a high-performance composite material made from approximately 50% tungsten and 50% copper by weight. It is widely used in applications that require a balanced combination of electrical conductivity, thermal conductivity, arc erosion resistance, and dimensional stability. This grade is commonly associated with ASTM B702 copper-tungsten electrical contact material, and ASTM lists B702-93(2024) as the current standard designation for this specification.
Compared with high-tungsten grades such as W70Cu30 or W80Cu20, W50Cu50 Tungsten Copper Rod offers a more balanced profile. It provides better conductivity and easier machining while still retaining the heat resistance and wear resistance that make tungsten-copper alloys valuable in demanding industrial environments. Suppliers commonly list W50Cu50 as a standard copper-tungsten grade under ASTM B702, with copper content typically controlled around 48–52%.
This material is especially suitable for components exposed to electrical loading, repeated thermal cycling, spark erosion, and moderate mechanical stress. Typical end uses include EDM electrodes, resistance welding electrodes, electrical contacts, heat-resistant conductive parts, and custom machined alloy components.
📋 Standard and Material Class
Our W50Cu50 Tungsten Copper Rod can be supplied in accordance with:
ASTM B702-93 Class A
Material Type: Copper-Tungsten Electrical Contact Material
Product Form: Rod / Bar / Machined Blank / Custom Fabricated Part
ASTM’s current catalog lists B702-93(2024) as the active specification for copper-tungsten electrical contact material. In commercial practice, W50Cu50 is widely recognized as a Class A composition range within this specification family.
🧪 Typical Chemical Composition
| Grade | Copper (Cu) | Tungsten (W) | Total Impurities |
|---|---|---|---|
| W50Cu50 | 48–52 wt.% | Balance | Typically ≤0.5 wt.% |
Commercial copper-tungsten suppliers commonly describe W50Cu50 as containing 48–52% copper, with tungsten making up the balance, and list it under ASTM B702-93 Class A.
📊 Typical Physical and Electrical Properties
Below is a practical property range for W50Cu50 Tungsten Copper Rod based on commonly published supplier data for this grade:
| Property | Typical Value |
|---|---|
| Density | 11.85–11.90 g/cm³ |
| Electrical Conductivity | ~54% IACS |
| Resistivity | ~3.2 μΩ·cm |
| Hardness | ~115 HB |
| Material Structure | Tungsten skeleton infiltrated with copper |
Several suppliers publish very similar data for W50Cu50, including density around 11.85–11.90 g/cm³, conductivity around 54% IACS, and hardness around 115 HB.
These numbers make W50Cu50 Tungsten Copper Rod attractive when the customer needs a material that is significantly more heat-resistant and erosion-resistant than copper, but still much more conductive and workable than high-tungsten compositions. That balance is the real value of the 50/50 grade.
✨ Why W50Cu50 Tungsten Copper Rod Is a Practical Choice
🔌 Balanced Electrical Conductivity
With conductivity commonly published around 54% IACS, W50Cu50 Tungsten Copper Rod performs well in current-carrying applications where pure tungsten would be too resistive and pure copper would lack thermal stability or erosion resistance.
🌡️ Better Heat Resistance Than Copper
Tungsten contributes high-temperature strength and resistance to softening, while copper helps move heat away quickly. This makes the material suitable for electrical contacts, resistance welding components, and EDM parts that experience local heating and repeated service cycles.
⚡ Arc and Spark Erosion Resistance
Copper-tungsten is widely selected for contact and electrode duty because the tungsten phase improves resistance to wear, burn-off, and arc erosion. ASTM B702 itself is specifically directed at electrical contact material, which aligns well with these use cases.
🛠️ Easier to Machine Than Higher-Tungsten Grades
Compared with W70Cu30 or W80Cu20, the W50Cu50 Tungsten Copper Rod grade is generally easier to machine into finished parts while still offering good service performance. This is valuable for customers ordering custom rods, turned bars, EDM blanks, contact inserts, and special conductive wear parts.
🏭 Manufacturing Route
W50Cu50 Tungsten Copper Rod is not a simple cast alloy in the usual sense. In commercial production, copper-tungsten materials are commonly produced by powder metallurgy and infiltration routes, because tungsten and copper do not form a conventional fully soluble alloy system. This process route helps achieve the characteristic combination of density, conductivity, and structural stability associated with WCu materials.
That manufacturing approach is one reason why W50Cu50 Tungsten Copper Rod is often preferred in engineered applications: it allows a controlled tungsten framework with copper filling the structure, giving the material its distinctive performance under thermal and electrical load.
🧩 Typical Applications
W50Cu50 Tungsten Copper Rod is widely used for:
- ⚡ Electrical contacts
- 🔥 Resistance welding electrodes
- ✨ EDM electrodes and spark erosion components
- 🧲 Conductive heat-resistant inserts
- 🧰 Custom machined industrial components
- 🛰️ Thermal management and specialty conductive structures
Across supplier data sheets and technical descriptions, the most frequently cited applications for copper-tungsten include electrical contacts, welding electrodes, EDM electrodes, and heat sink or heat-resistant conductive parts.
For buyers who need a material that sits between pure copper and high-tungsten grades, W50Cu50 Tungsten Copper Rod is often one of the most cost-effective and functional options.
📐 Available Sizes and Custom Processing
We can supply W50Cu50 Tungsten Copper Rod in:
- Round rod
- Square bar
- Flat bar
- Cut-to-length blanks
- Machined semi-finished parts
- Custom drawings and non-standard sizes
Commercial suppliers commonly offer tungsten-copper rod and bar in multiple forms and custom dimensions, and this product family is frequently machined into finished or semi-finished parts depending on the customer’s end use.
🪄 Available processing options
- Saw cutting
- Turning
- Grinding
- Surface machining
- Custom tolerance control
- Drawing-based fabrication
📈 Quick Comparison: Why Choose W50Cu50 Instead of Higher W Grades?
| Grade | Main Advantage | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| W50Cu50 | Better conductivity, easier machining | EDM, contacts, general conductive wear parts |
| W60Cu40 | More heat resistance, slightly lower conductivity | Higher thermal load parts |
| W70Cu30 | Higher density and strength | Heavy-duty contacts, structural inserts |
| W80Cu20 | Lower expansion, higher wear resistance | Demanding thermal management and special contacts |
Commercial data sets show a clear trend: as tungsten content rises, density and hardness increase, while electrical conductivity decreases. That makes W50Cu50 Tungsten Copper Rod a strong choice when the customer wants the most balanced overall profile instead of maximum density or maximum refractory character.
✅ Key Advantages at a Glance
- 💛 ASTM B702-93 Class A related grade
- 💛 Balanced 50/50 tungsten-copper composition
- 💛 Good electrical conductivity
- 💛 Good thermal conductivity
- 💛 Excellent resistance to arc erosion
- 💛 Better machinability than high-W grades
- 💛 Suitable for electrodes, contacts, and custom conductive parts
- 💛 Custom size service available
📝 Product Summary
If your application needs a material that is stronger and more heat-resistant than copper, but more conductive and easier to process than very high tungsten grades, W50Cu50 Tungsten Copper Rod is a highly practical option. Its typical density of about 11.85–11.90 g/cm³, conductivity of about 54% IACS, and hardness around 115 HB make it suitable for many industrial electrical and thermal applications.
Backed by the industry-recognized ASTM B702 copper-tungsten electrical contact material specification family, this grade is widely used where customers need a dependable combination of conductivity, heat resistance, and dimensional reliability.
📞 Contact Us
Shaanxi Nickel Titanium Copper Metal Co., Ltd. is a professional supplier of industrial metal materials and custom-machined alloy products. If you are sourcing W50Cu50 Tungsten Copper Rod for EDM, electrical contact, resistance welding, or other conductive high-temperature applications, feel free to contact us for quotation and technical communication.
Email: sales@niticu.com
Phone / WhatsApp / WeChat: +86 13335373172
Factory: Baotai Road Industrial Park, High-tech Zone, Baoji City, Shaanxi, China
Website: https://niticu.com
WhatsApp Link: https://wa.me/8613335373172
Send us your drawing, required size, quantity, or application details, and we will provide a suitable quotation accordingly.










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