What C22000 Red Brass Pipe Is and Which Standards Cover It
C22000 is a single-phase copper-zinc alloy with a nominal composition of 90 % copper and 10 % zinc, which is why it is traded as 90/10 red brass or commercial bronze. The same material is listed across designation systems as EN CuZn10, DIN CEN/TS 13388 CW501L, UNS C22000, BS CZ101 and GB/T 5231 H90, so a purchase specification written in one system can be matched to the others without changing the alloy.
Pipe and tube in this grade are seamless products. The usual order references are ASTM B135 for seamless brass tube, ASTM B43/B43M for seamless red brass pipe in standard sizes, ASTM B587 for welded brass tube, and the matching ASME SB135, SB43 and SB587 specifications. JIS H3250 is used when a Japanese designation is required. Because the zinc level stays at about 10 %, the structure remains single phase, and this is the metallurgical reason for the alloy's reputation for resistance to dezincification in mildly aggressive water and atmospheric service.
Chemical Composition and Property Data
| Element | Cu | Pb | Fe | Zn |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Min / Max, % | 89.0 - 91.0 | 0.05 max | 0.05 max | balance |
| Nominal, % | 90.0 | - | - | 10.0 |
Typical physical values for C22000 are a density of 0.318 lb/in³ (about 8.80 g/cm³), an electrical conductivity of 44 % IACS at 20 °C, equivalent to roughly 25.5 MS/m, and a thermal conductivity of about 109 BTU·in/(hr·ft²·°F), or 159 W/(m·K). The melting range sits in the 1020 - 1040 °C band, comfortably below the melting point of pure copper.
Pipe and tube are supplied across the cold-drawn temper range, from soft annealed through quarter hard, half hard and hard to the higher cold-worked tempers used where stiffness matters. Over this range the minimum tensile strength demanded by the ASTM B135 series rises from roughly 275 MPa in the annealed condition to about 550 MPa in the hardest drawn temper, while elongation falls from above 40 % to a few percent. Wall thickness and temper together decide the pressure rating, so both must be stated on the drawing.
Where C22000 Pipe and Tube Are Used
Plumbing goods, ferrules, flexible connectors and general brass ware.
Marine hardware, pump trim and fittings that see humid or salt-laden air.
Heat exchanger and radiator components, condenser plates and gasket stock.
Electrical parts such as wave guides, rotor bars for AC motors and cable wrap.
Architectural and decorative work: weather stripping, ornamental trim, screen cloth, kick plates and grille work.
Fastener shells, rivets, studs and line clamps where a combination of formability and stiffness is needed.
Supply Range, Fabrication and Quality Control
Seamless pipe and tube are produced in round, square and rectangular sections, with outside diameters from approximately 4 mm to 150 mm and wall thickness from 0.25 mm to 8 mm in the standard offer. Lengths of 1 m, 2 m, 3 m, 4 m and 6 m are held, and single random, double random and fixed cut lengths can be scheduled to suit fabrication drawings.
C22000 has very good cold forming behaviour, which makes it suitable for coining, beating, embossing and deep drawing operations as well as for bending and flaring tube. It welds and brazes without difficulty, and both tin-lead and silver brazing fillers wet the surface well. Users who need a guaranteed grain structure for severe forming should specify grain size on the order, since formability in the annealed condition is directly linked to grain size and to the amount of residual cold work.
Inspection follows the order specification: chemical composition by spectrometer, tensile and hardness testing on each lot, flattening and flaring checks on tube, eddy current testing for wall and surface defects, and hydrostatic or pneumatic pressure testing where a pressure class is quoted. Surface finish is normally bright, polished, oiled or as drawn, and export packing uses plastic film with wooden cases or steel-strapped bundles. Mill test certificates covering heat number, composition and mechanical results are issued with each shipment.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Is C22000 the same alloy as 90/10 red brass?
A: Yes. C22000 is the UNS designation for the 90 % copper / 10 % zinc alloy also called commercial bronze, listed as CuZn10 in EN, CW501L in DIN CEN/TS 13388, CZ101 in BS and H90 in GB/T 5231.
Q: Which standards are normally quoted on a C22000 pipe order?
A: Seamless tube is quoted to ASTM B135 or ASME SB135, seamless pipe in standard sizes to ASTM B43/B43M, and welded tube to ASTM B587. JIS H3250 is used for the Japanese equivalent.
Q: Does C22000 pipe suffer from dezincification?
A: The alloy is single phase with only about 10 % zinc, which gives it good resistance to dezincification in potable water and atmospheric service. For aggressive or chloride-rich conditions the operating temperature and water chemistry should be checked before selection.
Q: Can C22000 be welded and brazed?
A: It brazes and solders readily and can be welded with common processes. Annealed temper gives the best ductility at the joint, while harder tempers are chosen when the joint must resist deformation.
Q: What tempers and sizes are available?
A: Soft annealed through hard cold-drawn tempers are produced, with outside diameters of roughly 4 mm to 150 mm, wall thickness from 0.25 mm to 8 mm, and fixed, single random or double random cut lengths.
Q: Which documents accompany the shipment?
A: Each lot is supplied with a mill test certificate showing heat number, chemical analysis and mechanical results. Dimensional records and test reports for eddy current or pressure testing are issued when the purchase order requires them.
