What C12200 is
C12200 is 99.9% copper deoxidized with phosphorus. The phosphorus removes oxygen from the melt, which makes the alloy weld and braze without embrittlement and gives it the formability that lets it be bent, flared, and swaged in the field. It carries heat almost as well as pure copper and resists corrosion in potable water, steam condensate, and most refrigerants.
Why it matters where it is made
Copper tube for drinking water and federally funded projects increasingly has to be domestic, and not just finished domestically. Ameritube now melts and casts its own copper, so C12200 from Hillsboro qualifies as melted and manufactured in the United States. For water utilities, military housing, and infrastructure work, that is the line item that keeps a bid compliant.
Standards we supply to
- ASTM B75 / ASME SB-75, seamless copper tube
- ASTM B88, seamless copper water tube, Types K, L, and M
- ASTM B111 / ASME SB-111, condenser and heat exchanger tube
- ASTM B280, ACR refrigeration tube
- ASTM B280 and B819 on request; NSF/ANSI 61 and 372 lead-free compliance, ask for current certification
Chemical composition
| Element | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Copper | 99.9% min |
| Phosphorus | 0.015 to 0.040% |
Typical mechanical properties
| Temper | Tensile | Yield | Elongation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Annealed O60 | 30,000 psi min | 9,000 psi | 45% |
| Light drawn H55 | 36,000 psi min | 30,000 psi | 25% |
| Hard drawn H58 | 45,000 psi min | 40,000 psi | 8% |
Where it is used
- Potable water: building plumbing, service lines, water utilities. Copper is naturally antimicrobial and does not leach plasticizers.
- HVAC and refrigeration: evaporator and condenser coils, ACR line sets, chillers.
- Heat exchangers: fresh-water condensers, oil coolers, solar thermal.
- Medical gas and process: where a clean, brazable, non-permeable tube is required.
Three reasons engineers still specify copper for drinking water
- It kills bacteria on contact and does not support biofilm the way plastics do.
- It does not become brittle, off-gas, or permeate under UV, heat, or hydrocarbon exposure.
- A properly installed copper system lasts the life of the building and is fully recyclable when the building comes down.
Application (potable water, refrigeration, heat exchanger), OD and wall or B88 type, temper, straight length or coil, quantity, and whether NSF/ANSI 61 or lead-free certification is required.