Oxygen-Free High-Conductivity Tellurium Copper: A High-Performance Copper Alloy Gaining Traction in High-End Manufacturing
As a special oxygen-free copper alloy doped with trace tellurium, the core advantage of oxygen-free high-conductivity tellurium copper lies in its perfect balance of high conductivity and Excellent machinability. It uses an oxygen-free smelting process to control oxygen content below 15ppm, with electrical conductivity reaching 90-93% IACS, which is close to the conductive and thermal conductivity of pure copper, and can meet the needs of large-current transmission and efficient heat dissipation. Tellurium forms dispersed copper telluride particles in the copper matrix, which plays a role in chip breaking and lubrication during cutting. Its cutting performance reaches 80-90% of that of free-cutting brass, and its processing speed is three times faster than pure copper. It also avoids tool adhesion, and the finished product has a far higher surface finish than ordinary copper alloys, making it ideal for processing complex precision structural parts. In addition, it retains the excellent corrosion resistance of pure copper, and is lead-free and environmentally friendly to meet RoHS standards, which can adapt to many scenarios with high environmental requirements such as food contact and medical equipment.
At present, this tellurium copper alloy has been widely used in many high-end fields: In the new energy vehicle industry, it is used to manufacture high-voltage fast-charging connectors, charging gun terminals and automotive electromagnetic switch contacts, balancing large-current carrying capacity and processing accuracy; in the electronics and semiconductor industry, it is the core material for 5G base station RF connectors, semiconductor lead frames, and wafer probe cards; in the precision processing field, it is also commonly used for parts with high requirements for wear resistance and accuracy such as plasma cutting nozzles and resistance welding electrodes.
Industry data shows that the annual growth rate of global demand for high-end oxygen-free high-conductivity tellurium copper has exceeded 30% in recent years. With the development of the third-generation semiconductor and AI computing industry, the market size of this high-performance copper alloy will continue to expand.