Copper in its pure, unalloyed state is soft, provides high electrical and thermal conductivity and has excellent corrosion resistance.
There are various grades of unalloyed copper, which differ in the amount of impurities they contain. Oxygen-free coppers are used specifically in applications
requiring high conductivity and exceptional ductility.
| Material | Normal Composition | Nearest Relevant Composition Specification | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BS: 2870 | ISO | JIS | ||
| Electrolytic Tough Pitch H.C. Copper |
Cu - 99.90% Min. Pb - 0.005% Max Bi - 0.001% Max O2 - 0.060% Max |
C 101 |
Cu ETP 1337 |
H 3100 C 1100 |
| Phosphorous Deoxidized Copper (DONA) |
Cu - 99.85% Min. P - 0.013-0.050% |
C 106 |
Cu DHP 1337 |
H 3100 C 1220 |
| Material | Temper | Tensile Strength N/mm² | Elongation% on 50 mm G.L. | Vickers Hardness VPN | ISO | JIS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electrolytic Tough Pitch H.C. Copper | 'O' | 210 Min | 35 Min | 55 Max | Cu ETP ISO: 1337 |
H 3100 C 1100 |
| M | 210 Min | 35 Min | 65 Max | |||
| 1/2 H | 240 Min | 10 Min | 70 to 95 | |||
| H | 290 Min | - | 90 Min | |||
| Phosphorous Deoxidized Copper | 'O' | 210 Min | 35 Min | 55 Max | Cu DHP ISO: 1337 |
H 3100 C 1220 |
| M | 210 Min | 35 Min | 65 Max | |||
| 1/2 H | 240 Min | 10 Min | 70 to 95 | |||
| H | 290 Min | - | 90 Min |
| 'O'>b : | Annealed Condition |
| 1/2H>v: | Half Hard |
| H>b: | Hard |
| * : | Electric Conductivity at 20°C: 100% IACS (For Cu ETP 'O' Temper) |
BRASS
Brass is an alloy of copper and zinc; the proportions of zinc and copper can be varied to create a range of brasses with varying properties.
Brasses set the standard by which the machinability of other materials is judged and do not become brittle at low temperatures like mild steel.
Brass has excellent thermal conductivity and is a first choice for heat exchangers. Disinfection is a unique property of brass, as common pathogens
die on its surface within hours, making it ideal for doorknobs and other devices commonly touched by human hands.Brasses are most commonly characterised
by their free machining grades by which machining standards are set for all other metals.Brasses can also have high corrosion resistance and high tensile
strength. Some Brasses are also suited to hot forging.
Brass Families
There are three main families of wrought alloy brasses:
| Material Description | Standard Specifications | Copper Cu% | Lead Pb% | Tin Sn% | Iron Fe% | Aluminum Al% | Manganese Mn% | Other Elements | Zinc Zn% | Nickel Ni% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FREE CUTTING BRASS TYPE I | IS : 319/89/85 : 249 EQUIV. : BS 2874/86 CZ124 |
56 to 59 | 2.0 to 3.5 | - | 0.35 Max | - | - | 0.7 Max | Rem. | - |
| FREE CUTTING BRASS TYPE II | IS : 319/89 EQUIV. : BS 2874/86 CZ124 |
60 to 63 | 2.5 to 3.7 | - | 0.35 Max | - | - | 0.5 Max | Remn. | - |
| FREE CUTTING BRASS TYPE III | IS : 319/89 BSS : 249 EQUV. : BS 2874/86 CZ124 |
60 to 63 | 0.5 to 1.5 | - | 0.20 Max | - | - | 0.5 Max | Remn. | - |
| FORGING BRASS | IS : 3488/80 BSS : 218 EQUV. : BS 2874/86 CZ122 CuZn42Pb2 | 56.5 to 60.5 | 0.6 to 2.0 | - | 0.30 Max | - | - | 0.2 Max | Remn. | - |
| CuZn40b2 | 57 to 59 | 1.5 to 2.5 | - | 0.40 Max | - | - | 0.7 Max | Remn. | - | |
| SPECIAL HIGH TENSILE BRASS FOR VALVES | GRADE I GENERAL | 56.5 to 60.0 | 0.75 to 1.75 | - | 0.30 Max | - | 0.4 to 1.1 | 0.75 Max Lnci. Fe | Remn. | - |
| GRADE II I.O.C. | 56.5 to 60.0 | 1.0 to 1.5 | - | 0.30Max | - | 0.2 to 0.5 | 0.7 0Max Lnci. Fe | Remn. | - | |
| RIVETING BRASS RODS LEAD FREE | BS : 2874/86 CZ109 EQUV. : IS 4170/67 CuZn40 |
59 to 62 | - | - | - | - | - | 0.30 Max | Remn. | - |
| IS 4413/81 CuZn37 EQUV. : BS 2873/86 CZ108 |
62 to 65 | 0.30 Max | - | 0.10 Max | - | - | 0.60 Max | Remn. | - | |
| HIGH TENSILE BRASS RODS | BS : 2874/86 CZ114 EQUV. : BS 250 |
56.5 to 58.5 | 0.50 to 1.5 | 0.2 to 0.8 | 0.3 to 1.0 | 0.5 Max | 0.5 to 2.0 | 0.5 Max | Remn. | - |
| BS : 2874/86 CZ115 EQUV.: BS 1001 |
56.0 to 58.5 | 0.50 to 1.5 | 0.62 to 1.1 | 0.25 to 1.2 | 0.2 Max | 0.3 to 2.0 | 0.5 Max | Remn. | - | |
| HIGH TENSILE BRASS RODS-I | IS : 320/80 | 56.0 to 60.5 | 0.20 to 1.5 | 0.2 to 1.0 | 0.2 to 1.25 | 0.2 Max | 0.25 to 2.0 | 0.5 Max | Remn. | - |
| HIGH TENSILE BRASS RODS-II | IS : 320/80 | 56.0 to 61.0 | 0.5 to 1.5 | 1.0 Max | 0.2 to 1.5 | 0.3 to 2.0 | 0.5 to 2.0 | 0.5 Max | Remn. | - |
| RIVETING BRASS RODS LEADED | IS : 2704/83 CuZn35Pb1 |
62.0 to 65.0 | 0.75 to 1.5 | - | 0.1 Max | - | - | 0.5 Max | Remn. | - |
| IS : 2704/83 CuZn35 |
63.0 to 68.0 | 0.02 Max | - | 0.1 Max | - | - | 0.3 Max | Remn. | - | |
| NAVAL BRASS ROD GRADE I | IS : 291/77 GR.I EQUV.: BS 2874 CZ112 |
61.0 to 64.0 | 0.20 Max | 1.0 to 1.5 | 0.1 Max | - | - | 0.2 Max | Remn. | - |
| NAVAL BRASS ROD GRADE II | IS : 291/77 GR.II | 59.0 to 62.0 | 0.5 to 1.0 | 0.5 to 1.0 | - | - | - | 0.2 Max | Remn. | - |
| NICKEL SILVER ALLOY RODS | BS : 2874/86 NS101 | 44.0 to 47.0 | 1.0 to 2.5 | - | 0.4 Max | - | 0.2 to 0.5 | 0.3 Max | Remn. | 9.0 to 11.0 |
| COPPER ROD FOR GENERAL ENG PURPOSE | BS : 2874/86 CC 101 | REMAINDER | - | - | - | - | - | 0.36 to 1.4 (chromium) | - | - |
Bronze is an alloy of copper and usually tin as the main additive that is much harder and more brittle than brass. The term "bronze" is sometimes used interchangeably for different types of copper alloys, but the most common typically refers to a mix of about 90% copper and 10% tin in its "pure" form. Common additives to bronze include phosphorous to harden bronze and lead to make bronze more castable. It creates little friction and does not spark, making it ideal for metal on metal contact applications such as gears and for tools used in combustible environments.
The wrought bronze alloy families are: