Glidcop®

What is Glidcop®?

Glidcop® is a registered trademark of Höganäs. This family of advanced copper-based alloys combines aluminum oxide (ceramic) particles within a copper matrix to deliver exceptional performance in high-temperature applications.

How Glidcop Enhances Copper Performance

Aluminum oxide particles strengthen Glidcop alloys while maintaining copper’s excellent thermal and electrical properties. At room temperature, these ceramic additions slightly reduce conductivity. However, they dramatically increase the alloy’s resistance to thermal softening and boost mechanical strength at elevated temperatures—especially when manufacturers fabricate the material using cold heading processes.

Cold headed Glidcop parts match copper-tungsten products in hardness while delivering electrical conductivity comparable to RWMA Class 2 alloys. At high temperatures, it maintains its strength far better than ceramic-free copper. The aluminum oxide particles block dislocation movement, which retards recrystallization and prevents grain growth, giving Glidcop excellent resistance to softening.

Glidcop Al-15 (C15715) Applications

Manufacturers use this alloy for:

• Hybrid circuit package components
• Vacuum tube, microwave tube, and x-ray tube components
• Electrical components
• Rotating equipment components
• Electric generator and motor components
• Bushing springs
• High power magnet windings

Glidcop Al-25 (C15725) Applications

Industries rely on this alloy for:

• Seam welding wheels
• MIG welding tips
• Resistance welding electrodes and back-up bars (We use this grade for our full family of Cupal weld caps)
• Electrical motor and generator components
• Electrical relay system components
• Vacuum tube components
• Microwave tube components
• X-ray tube components
• Hybrid circuit packages
• Medical device components
• Heat exchangers
• Power cables
• High power magnet windings

Glidcop AL-25 carries CDA designation #C15725 and RWMA class 20 rating. We provide material property sheets for your review.

Glidcop Al-60 (C15760) Applications

Welding professionals choose Glidcop this alloy for:

• Resistance welding electrodes (We use Glidcop Al-60 for our full family of Nitrode weld caps)
• Solder gun tips and MIG contact tips
• Extended electrode life applications
• Non-sticking performance on coated steels

Welding electrodes made from Glidcop Al-60 deliver significantly improved service life and demonstrate excellent non-sticking performance on coated steels.

Glidcop AL-60 carries CDA designation #C15760 and RWMA class 20 rating. We provide material property sheets for your review.

Available Glidcop Forms and Sizes

We stock both grades as rod and bar stock, strip and strip reroll, plates, and large rounds. Most forms come with or without oxygen-free copper cladding. Unless you specify “de-clad”, we supply Glidcop with cladding intact.

Standard lengths: 78″ and 98″