What is C28000 brass?
C28000 is an α+β duplex ordinary brass under the American ASTM/UNS standard system, also commonly known as 60/40 brass (with copper content of 59.0%–63.0% and zinc as the remainder). It exhibits excellent hot-working properties, a balanced combination of strength and plasticity, and moderate corrosion resistance. This makes it a versatile brass material widely used in mechanical manufacturing, piping, and construction fields. The corresponding Chinese grade is H60.
Core Information and Equivalent Grades
This material is recognized across various international standards:
USA (ASTM/UNS): C28000 (CDA280), applicable standards include ASTM B134/B135.
China (GB/T): H60, considered equivalent in composition and performance for direct substitution.
Europe (EN): CW509L (CuZn40), matching forming characteristics.
Germany (DIN): CuZn40 (Material No. 2.0402), with a similar copper-zinc ratio and hot-working performance.
Japan (JIS): C2801, with overlapping composition ranges and consistent application scenarios.
United Kingdom (BS): CZ109, a lead-free variant with essentially identical performance parameters.
Chemical Composition (Mass %, per ASTM B134)
| Element | Content Range | Element | Content Range |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cu | 59.0 – 63.0 | Zn | Balance (~37.0–41.0%) |
| Fe | ≤0.30 | Pb | ≤0.30 |
| Sn | ≤0.25 | Ni | ≤0.50 |
| Al | ≤0.05 | Total Impurities | ≤0.70 |
Key Performance Parameters
3.1 Physical Properties (Typical values at room temperature)
| Property | Typical Value |
|---|---|
| Density | Approx. 8.43 g/cm³ |
| Melting Point | 900 – 940 °C |
| Electrical Conductivity (20°C) | Approx. 26–28% IACS |
| Thermal Conductivity (20°C) | Approx. 115 W/(m·K) |
| Coefficient of Thermal Expansion (20–300°C) | Approx. 20.6 × 10⁻⁶/°C |
| Modulus of Elasticity | Approx. 105 GPa |
3.2 Mechanical Properties (Typical values, varying with temper condition)
| Temper Condition (ASTM) | Tensile Strength (MPa) | Yield Strength Rp0.2 (MPa) | Elongation δ₁₀ (%) | Hardness (HV) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annealed (O61) | 380 – 430 | 160 – 200 | 25 – 35 | 90 – 110 |
| Half-Hard (H02) | 480 – 540 | 320 – 390 | 10 – 18 | 120 – 140 |
| Hard (H04) | 550 – 610 | 460 – 520 | 5 – 10 | 150 – 170 |
| Hot-Forged | 390 – 450 | 170 – 220 | 20 – 28 | 95 – 115 |
Processing Characteristics
Hot-Working Performance: The optimal hot-working temperature range is 680–780°C. It demonstrates excellent high-temperature plasticity, allowing single-pass deformation up to 50–60%, making it suitable for hot rolling, forging, and extrusion. Note: The temperature range of 500–600°C should be avoided during processing to prevent medium-temperature brittleness and cracking.
Cold-Working Performance: It has good cold-working capability, with a maximum cold reduction of about 50%. An intermediate annealing at 420–460°C followed by air cooling can fully restore its plasticity, making it suitable for stamping, bending, and cold heading processes for moderately complex parts.
Machinability: Machinability is moderate (rated around 70–80, with free-cutting brass C36000 as 100 reference). It tends to produce continuous chips, requiring sharp tools and appropriate cutting parameters.
Weldability: Brazing and gas-shielded welding are applicable. Arc welding is generally not recommended as it can easily cause intergranular cracking. Pre-weld cleaning of surface oxides and contaminants is essential, and heat input must be controlled to minimize defects.
Corrosion Resistance: It offers good resistance in dry air, fresh water, and neutral salt solutions. However, it is susceptible to dezincification corrosion in moist, sulfur-containing atmospheres and acidic media. Surface treatments like passivation or nickel plating can improve corrosion resistance. For high-stress applications, stress relief annealing at 250–300°C is necessary to prevent stress corrosion cracking.
Application Areas
Due to its good cost-performance ratio and formability, C28000 brass is widely used in:
Mechanical Manufacturing: Gears, bushings, bearing cages, instrument housings.
Piping & Plumbing: Pipe fittings, valve bodies, bathroom accessories, radiator parts.
Architectural Decoration: Door/window hardware, curtain wall fittings, lamp bases, decorative profiles.
Automotive Industry: Fuel line brackets, air conditioning pipe joints, sensor housings.
General Hardware: Zipper pullers, nameplates, key blanks, stamped hardware components.
Our factory
We operate a modern, specialized copper production facility equipped with advanced continuous casting and rolling lines, precision CNC machining equipment, and a rigorous quality inspection system, focusing on the manufacturing of copper tubes, plates, rods, wires, and strips. The factory is ISO9001 certified and possesses a complete industry chain capability-from raw material smelting and precision processing to finished product sorting. With an annual production capacity of tens of thousands of tons, we can flexibly handle customized orders, ensuring that our products meet international standards in dimensional accuracy, mechanical properties, and surface finish.
Copper product packaging
We implement customized packaging solutions based on product characteristics: copper tubes and rods are wrapped with moisture-resistant kraft paper, reinforced with bundling, and secured on wooden pallets or iron frame boxes to prevent deformation and damage during transit. Copper plates and strips are covered with protective film, separated by foam padding between layers, and externally secured with steel strapping along with waterproof packaging. Wires are coiled on industrial reels or vacuum-packed with plastic film. All packaging includes clear labels indicating product specifications, batch numbers, and protective symbols, ensuring safe delivery during long-distance sea and land transportation.
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