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C14500 Tellurium Copper — also designated as UNS C14500 or CuTe — is a copper alloy containing approximately 0.4–0.7% tellurium. This small but critical addition of tellurium transforms standard copper into a free-machining powerhouse that retains up to 93–95% of the electrical conductivity of pure copper (IACS), making it the alloy of choice for high-precision electrical components where both conductivity and machinability are non-negotiable.
Unlike lead-containing free-machining copper alloys, C14500 tellurium copper offers a more environmentally responsible profile, aligning with global RoHS compliance trends and the growing demand for lead-free materials in electrical and electronic manufacturing. Its unique microstructure — with telluride particles uniformly distributed throughout the copper matrix — creates natural chip-breaking characteristics that dramatically reduce tool wear and machining cycle times.
From a mechanical standpoint, C14500 delivers a tensile strength of approximately 220–380 MPa depending on temper, with excellent ductility and good hot and cold workability. These properties allow manufacturers to produce complex geometries — threaded connectors, contact pins, relay terminals, switch components — with tight dimensional tolerances that are critical in high-density electronic assemblies.
The alloy's thermal conductivity (approximately 370 W/m·K) further enhances its suitability for components that must dissipate heat efficiently, such as bus bars, heat sinks, and high-current terminals. Combined with its corrosion resistance and excellent solderability, C14500 tellurium copper stands as an indispensable material in the modern electrical component supply chain.
Key Differentiator: C14500 Tellurium Copper achieves up to 500% improvement in machinability compared to standard electrolytic tough pitch copper (ETP), while maintaining ≥93% IACS electrical conductivity — a combination unmatched by any other copper alloy at comparable cost.
≥93% IACS — retains near-pure copper conductivity, ideal for high-frequency signal transmission and power delivery in electrical contacts and terminals.
Machinability rating of ~85% (vs. free-cutting brass = 100%), far superior to standard copper. Enables high-speed CNC turning, milling, and drilling with excellent surface finish.
~370 W/m·K — outstanding heat dissipation capability for power electronics, bus bars, and components operating under sustained electrical load.
Tensile strength 220–380 MPa with good elongation. Maintains structural integrity under vibration, thermal cycling, and mechanical stress in demanding environments.
Tellurium replaces lead as the free-machining agent, making C14500 compatible with global environmental regulations including RoHS, REACH, and ELV directives.
Outstanding wettability with standard solders and brazing alloys, ensuring reliable electrical connections in PCB assemblies, relay contacts, and connector manufacturing.
C14500 is extensively used in EV charging connectors, battery management system (BMS) terminals, and high-voltage relay contacts. Its combination of high conductivity and machinability enables the production of miniaturized, high-current connectors that meet the stringent thermal and electrical requirements of 800V+ fast-charging architectures in modern EVs.
The rollout of 5G networks demands connectors, antenna feed-through components, and RF signal contacts with minimal signal loss. C14500's near-pure copper conductivity ensures low resistive losses at millimeter-wave frequencies, while its machinability supports the high-volume production of precision RF connectors at competitive cost.
Lithium battery relay contacts and electromagnetic contactor terminals demand materials with consistent contact resistance, arc erosion resistance, and dimensional precision. C14500 tellurium copper delivers all three, enabling reliable make/break cycles in energy storage systems, grid-scale battery installations, and industrial automation equipment.
From M2 threaded contact pins to complex multi-cavity connector housings, C14500's machinability rating enables manufacturers to achieve tolerances of ±0.005mm on CNC lathes and machining centers. This precision is critical for aerospace-grade connectors, medical device electrodes, and semiconductor test sockets.
C14500 tellurium copper is the preferred material for plasma torch electrodes and laser cutting nozzles. Its thermal conductivity efficiently dissipates the extreme heat generated during cutting operations, extending electrode service life and maintaining consistent cut quality — directly impacting production economics in metal fabrication industries.
High-current bus bars, switchgear contacts, and distribution panel components benefit from C14500's combination of conductivity and structural stability. In data centers, substations, and industrial power distribution systems, tellurium copper bus bars reduce I²R losses and operating temperatures compared to aluminum alternatives, improving overall system efficiency.
The global electric vehicle market is projected to exceed 45 million units annually by 2030. Each EV contains 3–5x more copper than a conventional vehicle, with tellurium copper specifically required in high-precision connector and relay applications. This is creating sustained demand growth for C14500 alloy at a CAGR exceeding 8% in the electrical components segment.
Global regulatory pressure — EU RoHS, China's GB/T standards, and US EPA guidelines — is accelerating the transition from leaded free-machining copper to C14500 tellurium copper. Manufacturers across Europe, North America, and Asia-Pacific are actively qualifying C14500 as a direct drop-in replacement for C14700 leaded copper in electrical component production lines.
As electronic devices shrink and connector pitch dimensions decrease below 1mm, the machinability advantage of C14500 becomes increasingly critical. The ability to produce burr-free, dimensionally accurate micro-contacts at high throughput rates is driving premium pricing and long-term supply agreements between C14500 producers and Tier-1 connector manufacturers.
Grid-scale energy storage systems (ESS) using lithium-ion and next-generation solid-state batteries require thousands of precision copper relay contacts and bus bar connections per installation. C14500 tellurium copper is emerging as the standard material specification for these applications, with major ESS manufacturers in China, Germany, and the US incorporating it into their component sourcing strategies.
China's 14th Five-Year Plan has designated high-performance copper alloys including tellurium copper as strategic new materials, supporting domestic production capacity expansion. Companies like Sichuan Kepai New Materials are at the forefront of this capacity build-out, investing in advanced smelting and precision processing equipment to meet growing domestic and international demand.
Advanced manufacturing technologies — AI-driven process control, real-time conductivity monitoring with eddy current instruments, and automated metallographic analysis — are enabling C14500 producers to achieve unprecedented consistency in alloy composition and mechanical properties, meeting the Six Sigma quality standards demanded by aerospace and automotive Tier-1 customers.
Sichuan Kepai New Material Co., Ltd.
Sichuan Kepai New Materials Co., Ltd., established in 2017, is a high-tech enterprise integrating research and development, production, and sales. Currently, the factory covers an area of approximately 9,000 square meters, with an office space of about 1,000 square meters. The company primarily engages in the production of strategic emerging new materials for the national 13th Five-Year Plan, including special copper alloys such as tellurium copper, high-conductivity oxygen-free copper, silver copper, and dispersion copper, while also focusing on the research and development of high-conductivity, easy-to-machine, high-strength copper alloys. The products are mainly applied in high-tech fields such as new energy vehicles, 5G technology, laser cutting, and lithium battery relays.
The company is located in the western area of the Sichuan Guanghan Industrial Development Zone, adjacent to National Highway 108, boasting a superior geographical location and convenient transportation, which lays a solid foundation for the rapid development of the enterprise. Since its establishment, Kepai has adhered to the business philosophy of "innovation-driven development, quality wins the market," committed to providing customers with the highest quality high-end copper alloy materials, and promoting industrial upgrading and sustainable development.
Technological innovation is the core competitiveness of Sichuan Kepai New Materials Co., Ltd. The company has a research and development and production team composed of senior industry experts who keep pace with international cutting-edge technology trends and continuously explore the unknown boundaries in the field of new copper alloy materials. Through a combination of independent research and development and industry-university-research collaboration, Kepai has made breakthrough progress in several areas, including high-performance tellurium copper, lead copper, and sulfur copper. Many of its technological achievements have reached international advanced levels and have been successfully applied in various industries such as new energy vehicles, precision machining parts, plasma cutting, relays, and energy storage, earning widespread recognition and praise in the market.
Kepai's product line is rich and diverse, covering a comprehensive range of solutions from basic materials to high-end customization. We focus on providing customers with high-performance, high-quality high-end copper alloy products, including but not limited to pure copper, oxygen-free copper, oxygen-free high-conductivity tellurium copper, nickel tellurium copper, tin bronze, beryllium copper, lead bronze, sulfur copper, and chromium zirconium copper. These products play an important role in reducing production costs and enhancing product performance due to their excellent physical and chemical properties and environmental friendliness, creating significant economic and social benefits for customers.
In the face of global market competition, Sichuan Kepai New Materials adheres to the development strategy of "rooted in Sichuan, radiating nationwide, and moving towards the world." By continuously optimizing market layout and improving the sales network, we have established a stable customer base in multiple provinces and cities across the country and have formed long-term cooperative relationships with several internationally renowned enterprises. At the same time, the company actively expands into overseas markets, participates in international competition and cooperation, and strives to promote Kepai's brand influence on the global stage.
We understand that the long-term development of an enterprise is inseparable from an excellent corporate culture. We advocate the corporate spirit of "integrity, innovation, collaboration, and win-win," encouraging employees to explore boldly and innovate courageously, while also emphasizing teamwork and talent cultivation, striving to create a harmonious, open, and inclusive work atmosphere. We believe that only by continuously pursuing excellence and creating value can we win the trust of customers and the respect of society.
Smelting
Laying-off
Extrusion
Drawing
Straightening
Package
Eddy Current Conductance Instrument
Chemical Composition Test Room
Metallographic Sample Polishing Machine
Microcomputer Controlled Electro-Hydraulic Servo Universal Testing Machine
Liquid Crystal Display Electronic Universal Testing Machine
Hardness Tester
Looking ahead, Sichuan Kepai New Materials Co., Ltd. will continue to uphold its original intention, with even greater enthusiasm and determination, to engage in research and application in the field of new materials, contributing to the development of the new copper alloy materials industry in China and globally. We look forward to working hand in hand with friends from all walks of life to create a brilliant future together!
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