Brass - Basic Copper Zinc & Lead Alloys
On this page is a table of Brass - Basic Copper Zinc & Lead Alloys specifications, its data comes from many references and is accumulated here .
The Table below is as good a reference as to what brass can be found in various products and will provide valuable guide as to the type of metals that are contained within various Copper alloys.
It lists BS, European, CEN & ISO identification, listing Common British Description, a brief remark on use & its availability.
| BS EN Compositional | Type Availibility | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Designation | Number | Historic BS Equivalent | Common British Description | Remarks | Tube | Rod | Profiles | Wire | Forging | Plate Sheet | Strip |
| CuZn0,5 | CW119C | N/A | N/A | Used for radiator fin strip and for building purposes. | ✔ | ||||||
| CuZn5 | CW500L | CZ125 | Cap copper | Industrial use practically confined to caps for ammunition. | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | |||
| CuZn10 | CW501L | CZ101 | Gilding metal | Good corrosion resistance. Used for architectural metalwork and costume jewellery. Can be brazed and enamelled. | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ||
| CuZn15 | CW502L | CZ102 | Gilding metal | As above. This alloy is used for condenser cooling units, gauges and instrument tubes. | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ||
| CuZn20 | CW503L | CZ103 | Ductile Brass | As above. This alloy has good deep drawing properties. | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ||
| CuZn28 | CW504L | N/A | N/A | Suitable for cold deformation. | ✔ | ||||||
| CuZn30 | CW505L | CZ106 | 70/30 brass (cartridge brass) | In sheet form known as deep drawing brass. As wire, suitable for severe cold deformation. | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ||
| CuZn33 | CW506L | N/A | N/A | A good cold working brass. | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ||||
| CuZn36 | CW507L | N/A | N/A | General purpose alloy suitable for simple forming. | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | |
| CuZn37 | CW508L | CZ108 | Common brass | General purpose alloy suitable for simple forming. | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| CuZn40 | CW509L | CZ103 | N/A | Good for hot working. Limited ductility at room temperature. | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | |
| BS EN Compositional | Type Availibility | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Designation | Number | Historic BS Equivalent | Common British Description | Remarks | Tube | Rod | Profiles | Wire | Forging | Plate Sheet | Strip |
| CuZn35Pb1 | CW600N | N/A | N/A | Machinable and has good workability. | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | |
| CuZn35Pb2 | CW601N | N/A | N/A | Machinable and has good workability. Used for riveting. | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | |||
| CuZn36Pb2As | CW602N | CZ132 | Dezincification resistant brass | Good hot ductility. Heat treated to give dezincification resistance. | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | |||
| CuZn36Pb3 | CW603N | CZ124 | Free cutting brass | Excellent machinability but very limited cold workability. | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | |||
| CuZn37Pb0,5 | CW604N | N/A | N/A | Machinable and has some cold workability. | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ||||
| CuZn37Pb1 | CW605N | N/A | N/A | Machinable and has good to very good cold workability. | ✔ | ✔ | |||||
| CuZn37Pb2 | CW606N | CZ119/131 | Free cutting brass with improved ductility | Good machinability, some cold workability. Used for cold heading and riveting. | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ||
| CuZn38Pb1 | CW607N | CZ129 | N/A | Machinable and has good to very good cold workability | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ||||
| CuZn38Pb2 | CW608N | CZ120 | Engraving Brass | Good machinability, sufficient ductility for some cold work. | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| CuZn38Pb4 | CW609N | CZ121Pb4 | High speed machining brass | Extra high machining speeds but very limited cold workability. Also used for hot stamping. | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ||||
| CuZn39Pb0,5 | CW610N | CZ137 | N/A | Machinable and has some workability. | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | |
| CuZn39Pb1 | CW611N | CZ129 | Free cutting 60/40 brass k nown as bending brass | Commonly used for hot stamping. Machinable and good workability with fine dispersion of lead particles. |
✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ||||
| CuZn39Pb2 | CW612N | CZ120/128 | Free cutting brass with improved ductility | Good machinability, some cold workability but lower than that of CZ131. | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | |
| CuZn39Pb2Sn | CW613N | N/A | N/A | Similar to CZ128 but with higher permitted impurity level. Unsuitable for machining at highest speeds. | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ||||
| CuZn39Pb3 | CW614N | CZ121Pb3 | High speed machining brass | Excellent machinability, very limited cold workability. Also used for hot stamping. | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ||
| CuZn39Pb3Sn | CW615N | N/A | N/A | Similar to CZ121Pb3 but with higher permitted impurity level. Unsuitable for machining at highest speeds. | ✔ | ||||||
| CuZn40Pb1Al | CW616N | Forging brass. The aluminium gives an attractive colour and eases extraction from the dies. | ✔ | ||||||||
| CuZn40Pb2 | CW617N | CZ122 | Stamping Brass | Most popular alloy for hot stamping. Excellent machinability but very limited cold ductility compared with alloys also containing 2%Pb but with higher copper content. | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ||
| CuZn40Pb2Al | CW618N | Brass for architectural sections | Good bright yellow colour for architectural profiles. The higher the zinc content the more complex the profiles achievable. | ✔ | |||||||
| CuZn40Pb2Sn | CW619N | Similar to CZ122 but with higher permitted impurity level. Unsuitable for machining at highest speeds. | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ||||||
| CuZn41Pb1Al | CW620N | Production of complex profiles by hot extrusion. | ✔ | ||||||||
| CuZn42PbAl | CW621N | Production of complex profiles by hot extrusion. | ✔ | ||||||||
| CuZn43Pb1Al | CW622N | Production of complex profiles by hot extrusion. | ✔ | ||||||||
| CuZn43Pb2 | CW623N | CZ130 | Production of complex profiles by hot extrusion. Aluminium free. (The British Standard CZ130 covers aluminium contents from 0 to 0.5%) |
✔ | |||||||
| CuZn43Pb2Al | CW624N | CZ130 | Good bright yellow colour for architectural profiles. The higher the zinc content the more complex the profiles achievable. | ✔ | |||||||