Brass Alloy

High Performance Brass Material Supplier

High-performance brass alloy materials combining excellent machinability, corrosion resistance and mechanical properties for industrial applications.

What is Brass?

A copper-zinc alloy specified for its balance of strength, corrosion resistance and workability.

Brass typically contains 60–70% copper and 30–40% zinc. The high copper content gives the alloy its characteristic golden color.

Typical Specifications of Brass Alloy

Item Specification
Material Brass Alloy
Main Elements Copper (Cu) + Zinc (Zn)
Product Forms Tube, Rod, Bar, Plate, Sheet, Custom Components
Manufacturing Process Casting, Extrusion, Rolling, Drawing, Machining
Surface Mill Finish, Polished, Customized
Condition Annealed / Cold Worked

Chemical Composition of Brass Alloy

Brass is a copper-based alloy mainly composed of copper and zinc. The addition of zinc improves strength, hardness and machinability while maintaining good corrosion resistance and conductivity.

Element Typical Content (%)
Copper (Cu) 55 - 90
Zinc (Zn) Balance
Lead (Pb) 0 - 3 (depending on machining requirements)
Other Elements Small amounts of Fe, Sn, Ni or other alloying elements

Brass Alloy vs Pure Copper

Property Brass Alloy Pure Copper
Main Alloy Element Copper + Zinc High purity Copper
Strength Higher mechanical strength Lower strength
Machinability Excellent Moderate
Electrical Conductivity Lower than pure copper Excellent
Corrosion Resistance Good Excellent
Typical Applications Valves, fittings, connectors, precision parts Conductors, heat exchangers, electrical systems

Mechanical Properties of Brass

Brass (Cu-Zn alloy) offers a balanced combination of strength, corrosion resistance and machinability.

Strength

High tensile strength suitable for load-bearing components in construction, automotive and plumbing systems.

Corrosion Resistance

Forms a stable protective oxide layer; performs well in atmospheric and freshwater environments.

Ductility

Excellent cold-workability for bending, deep drawing and forming without fracture.

Machinability

Leaded grades (e.g., C36000) offer superior machinability for high-precision components.

Thermal Conductivity

Moderate thermal conductivity, ideal for heat exchangers, radiator cores and plumbing fittings.

Typical Properties

The mechanical properties of brass depend on alloy composition, manufacturing process and heat treatment condition. Brass provides an excellent balance between strength, ductility and machinability.

Property Typical Value
Tensile Strength 300 - 600 MPa
Yield Strength 100 - 400 MPa
Hardness 60 - 180 HB
Elongation 10 - 50%
Electrical Conductivity 20 - 60% IACS
Brass Tubes

Brass Tubes

Our Copper maintains inventory of C27200, C33000, and C44300 brass tubing, covering general-purpose, free-machining, and marine-grade applications.

C27200 (Cartridge Brass Tube)

Composition: ~64% Cu, balance Zn
Key Feature: Excellent cold workability

Ideal for deep drawing, bending and complex forming operations. Not recommended for hot working due to low elevated-temperature strength.

Typical applications: Ammunition casings, musical instruments, radiator cores.

C33000 (Leaded Brass Tube)

Composition: Cu-Zn-Pb alloy
Key Feature: Free-machining grade

Lead addition significantly improves machinability. Not weldable. Typically specified for mild corrosive environments.

Typical applications: Plumbing fittings, valve stems, screw machine parts.

C44300 (Admiralty Brass Tube)

Composition: Cu-Zn + 1% Sn + Trace As
Key Feature: Dezincification resistant

Tin and arsenic additions provide excellent resistance to dezincification and general corrosion in freshwater and mildly aggressive environments.

Typical applications: Condenser tubes, heat exchangers, seawater cooling systems.

Brass Tube Weight Reference (KG/MTR)

Outside Diameter (in) 1" 3/4" 1/2" 3/8" 1/4" 3/16" 10SWG 13SWG 16SWG 18SWG 20SWG 22SWG 24SWG 26SWG
3/16 .14 .121 .098 .080 .06 .05
1/4 .220 .18 .15 .111 .09 .07
5/16 .28 .24 .20 .14 .11 .09
3/8 .54 .45 .351 .290 .215 .180 .13 .11
7/16 .551 .42 .32 .270 .230 .16 .13
1/2 1.01 .823 .652 .493 .38 .30 .233 .18 .15
9/16 1.21 .95 .74 .528 .42 .345 .26 .20 .17
5/8 1.41 1.160 .84 .495 .500 .390 .29 .23 .19
11/16 1.61 1.236 .94 .68 .53 .40 .32 .25 .21
3/4 2.15 1.81 1.443 1.049 .800 .56 .47 .35 .27 .23
13/16 2.41 2.01 1.520 1.14 .82 .59 .48 .38 .30 .25
7/8 2.68 2.21 1.74 1.24 .910 .68 .52 .41 .32 .26
15/16 2.95 2.41 1.78 1.44 .96 .73 .56 .44 .35 .28
1 3.22 2.61 1.92 1.43 1.03 .800 .630 .47 .37 .30
1.1/16 3.49 2.82 2.05 1.53 1.10 .84 .640 .50 .440
1.1/8 3.75 3.02 2.19 1.63 1.17 .89 .67 .53 .42
1.1/4 4.30 3.38 2.55 1.83 1.325 1.050 .800 .59 .46
1.3/8 4.83 3.82 2.890 2.03 1.45 1.09 .848 .65 .51
1.1/2 5.36 4.22 3.030 2.22 1.59 1.27 .950 .71 .56
1.5/8 5.90 4.63 3.29 2.42 1.702 1.310 .980 .77 .61
1.3/4 6.44 5.03 3.760 2.62 1.850
2.120		 1.40 1.06 .83 .65
1.7/8 6.97 5.43 3.84 2.81 2.25 1.50 1.14 .89 .70
2 12.87 10.46 7.51 5.83 4.20 3.01 2.26 1.71 1.28 .95 .75
2.1/8 12.07 8.04 6.23 4.39 3.21 2.40 1.72 1.29 1.01
2.1/4 15.02 13.67 8.58 6.64 4.66 3.41 2.56 1.81 1.37 1.07
2.3/8 9.12 7.04 4.94 3.60 2.67 1.92 1.44 1.13
2.1/2 22.52 17.16 9.65 7.80 5.21 3.80 2.81 2.04 1.52 1.19
2.5/8 10.19 7.84 5.48 4.00 2.95 2.12 1.60 1.25
2.3/4 10.73 8.24 5.76 4.20 3.09 2.23 1.68 1.31
2.7/8 11.26 8.65 6.03 4.39 3.258 2.33 1.75 1.37
3 34.00 28.96 21.45 12.20 9.05 6.63 4.59 3.47 2.43 1.83 1.43
3.1/8 20.11 12.33 9.45 6.63 4.79 3.50 2.53
3.1/4 12.87 9.85 6.86 4.99 3.64 2.64
3.3/8 13.41 10.26 7.13 5.18 4.10 2.74
3.1/2 42.90 35.39 25.74 23.33
26.54		 13.94 10.66 7.45 5.38 3.91 2.84
3.5/8 29.70 14.48 11.06 7.68 5.58 4.05 2.95
3.3/4 15.02 11.46 7.96 5.77 4.32 3.05
4 51.48 41.83 30.03 16.09 12.27 8.70
4.1/2 34.32 18.23 13.38 9.60
5 68.64 54.70 38.61 20.38 15.48 10.70

Note: All weights are in KG/MTR. Wall thicknesses correspond to standard fractions and SWG (Standard Wire Gauge).

Brass Machined Fittings

Brass Machined Fittings

Popular Types

Brass Alloy

Brass alloys are categorized by their secondary alloying elements. Each type offers a distinct balance of machinability, corrosion resistance, and strength.

Alloy Family Common Name Key Alloying Element Cu (%) Primary Characteristic
Cu-Zn Cartridge Brass Zinc ~70 Excellent cold workability & deep drawing
Cu-Zn-Pb Free-Cutting Brass Lead ~60 Superior machinability (industry benchmark)
Cu-Zn-Sn Admiralty Brass / Red Brass Tin ~85 High corrosion resistance (especially seawater)
Cu-Zn-Al Aluminum Brass Aluminum ~76 Enhanced strength & dezincification resistance

Yellow Brass (Cartridge Brass)

Typically contains 70% Copper and 30% Zinc (ASTM C26000 / CW505L). Its bright, gold-like appearance makes it a common choice for decorative applications.

  • Workability: Excellent cold forming and deep-drawing properties.
  • Typical Uses: Plumbing fittings, hardware, ammunition casings, and decorative trim.

Red Brass (Admiralty Brass)

Contains a higher copper content (~85% Cu) with additions of Tin (approx. 1%). Often referred to as Admiralty Brass in marine contexts.

  • Corrosion Resistance: Superior resistance to freshwater and seawater corrosion.
  • Typical Uses: Marine hardware, condenser tubes, heat exchangers, and architectural fittings.

Leaded Brass (Free-Cutting Brass)

Based on the yellow brass composition but with 1.8% to 3.7% Lead added (e.g., C36000 / C3604). Note: While often associated with 360 brass, "Yellow Brass" typically refers to the unleaded C26000 grade.

  • Machinability: Rated 100 — the industry benchmark for automatic screw machine operations.
  • Typical Uses: Precision valve components, gear blanks, screw machine parts, and plumbing fittings.

Aluminum Brass

Contains 2–3% Aluminum along with trace Arsenic (e.g., C68700). The aluminum forms a protective oxide layer on the surface.

  • Protection: Highly resistant to dezincification and saltwater corrosion.
  • Typical Uses: High-pressure heat exchanger tubes, marine condensers, and desalination plants.

Industries & Applications of Brass

Brass offers corrosion resistance, formability and machinability, making it suitable for a wide range of industries.

Construction

Plumbing fixtures, door hardware, architectural trim and outdoor fittings.

Automotive & Aerospace

Radiator cores, fuel fittings, bushings, hydraulic connectors and instrument parts.

Electronics & Telecommunications

Circuit board contacts, RF connectors, cable shielding and EMI enclosures.

Marine & Industrial

Seawater condenser tubes, heat exchanger fins, gear blanks and bearing cages.

Frequently Asked Questions
Brass is a copper-based alloy mainly composed of copper and zinc. It provides a good balance of strength, corrosion resistance, electrical conductivity and excellent machinability for industrial applications.
The main advantages of brass include excellent machinability, good corrosion resistance, stable mechanical properties, good electrical conductivity and attractive surface finishing performance.
Brass mainly consists of copper and zinc. Some special brass alloys may contain additional elements such as lead, tin, nickel or iron to improve specific properties.
Brass alloy can be supplied in tubes, rods, bars, plates, sheets and customized components according to customer requirements.
Pure copper provides higher electrical and thermal conductivity, while brass offers higher strength, better machinability and improved wear resistance due to the addition of zinc.
Brass has excellent machinability, allowing efficient cutting, drilling and turning operations while maintaining good dimensional accuracy and surface quality.
Yes. Brass provides good corrosion resistance in many industrial environments. The corrosion performance depends on the alloy composition and service conditions.
Yes. Brass is widely used for valves, pipe fittings, connectors and plumbing components because of its corrosion resistance, machinability and reliable mechanical performance.
Yes. Brass is commonly used for electrical terminals, connectors, switches and contact components where good conductivity and mechanical strength are required.
Brass alloys are widely used in electrical equipment, automotive components, machinery, valves, plumbing systems, precision manufacturing and industrial equipment.
Yes. Customized brass components can be manufactured according to customer drawings, technical specifications and application requirements.
Sunny Steel supplies brass tubes, rods, bars, plates, sheets and customized brass parts for different industrial applications.
Yes. Brass rods are widely used for CNC machining because of their excellent cutting performance and dimensional stability.
Brass tubes are used in heat transfer equipment, mechanical components, electrical applications and industrial systems requiring corrosion resistance and good fabrication performance.
Yes. Brass has good thermal conductivity, although it is lower than pure copper. It provides a good balance between thermal performance and mechanical strength.
Brass can be used in many moderate-temperature industrial applications. The suitable operating temperature depends on alloy composition and service conditions.
Lead-free brass is a brass alloy designed to minimize or eliminate lead content for applications requiring improved environmental and health requirements.
Free machining brass contains alloying elements that improve cutting performance, making it suitable for high-speed machining of precision components.
Brass products are manufactured through melting, alloying, casting, extrusion, rolling, drawing, machining and surface treatment processes.
Quality inspection may include chemical composition analysis, dimensional inspection, hardness testing, mechanical testing, surface inspection and final product inspection.
Yes. Brass has excellent surface finishing capability and can be polished or processed according to customer requirements.
Certain brass alloys can be used in marine environments where corrosion resistance and mechanical performance are required. Alloy selection depends on the specific conditions.
Brass is mainly a copper-zinc alloy, while bronze generally contains elements such as tin or aluminum. Bronze often provides higher wear resistance and strength for heavy-duty applications.
Yes. Brass products can be supplied for international customers with export packaging, inspection documents and technical support.
Sunny Steel supplies brass alloy materials with various product forms, customized processing capability, quality control procedures and international export experience.

Brass

Copper-zinc alloy with excellent machinability, wear resistance and corrosion resistance. Widely used for valves, fittings, plumbing and heat exchangers.

China Grade
(GB)		 JIS Grade ASTM / CDA Cu (%) Zn Pb (%)
H59 C2800 C28000 57.0–60.0 Remainder ≤ 0.5
H62 C2800 C27400 60.5–63.5 ≤ 0.08
H65 C2680 C26800 63.5–68.0 ≤ 0.03
H68 C2600 C26200 67.0–70.0 ≤ 0.03
H70 C2600 C26000 68.5–71.5 ≤ 0.03
HPb59-1 C3604 C37700 57.0–60.0 0.8–1.9

Free-Cutting Brass (JIS C3600 Series)

The C3600 series are leaded, free-cutting brasses optimized for high-speed automatic machining:

JIS Grade Cu (%) Pb (%) Fe+Sn (≤ %) Tensile Strength
(MPa, min)		 Hardness
HV (min)
C3600 59.0–63.0 1.8–3.7 1.0 315 75
C3602 59.0–63.0 1.8–3.7 1.2 315 75
C3604 57.0–61.0 1.8–3.7 1.2 335 80

Typical uses: screws, nuts, bolts, gears, valve bodies, connectors, watch & camera parts.

Technical Overview

  • Ordinary Brass: Cu + Zn only (e.g., H59, H62, H65, H68, H70).
  • Special Brass: Cu + Zn + additional elements (e.g., Pb, Al, Sn, Mn) for enhanced properties.
  • Excellent wear resistance — suitable for bearings, bushings and sliding parts.
  • Good corrosion resistance — widely used in plumbing, HVAC and marine fittings.
  • Superior machinability — especially leaded grades (C3602, C3604).
Iridium Unique Properties

A range of Brass Alloy Shapes

Sunny Steel supplies Brass Alloy materials in various forms to meet different industrial manufacturing requirements.

Brass Alloy Tube

Brass Alloy Rod

Brass Alloy Plate

Brass Alloy Coil

Brass Alloy Foil

Brass Alloy Sheet

Brass Alloy Bar

Brass Alloy Components

Brass Alloy Wire

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