On this page 12 sections
What is Brass?
Quick answer
- Definition
- Brass products, copper-zinc alloys including 70/30 cartridge brass (C26000), admiralty brass (C44300) for condenser tubes and naval brass (C46400) for marine hardware.
- Family
- Brass
- Key strength
- Admiralty brass for condenser tubes
- Main forms
- Pipes, Tubes, Plates, Sheets, Bars
- Typical uses
- Condenser and heat-exchanger tubes; Marine fittings and hardware; Valves, fittings and machined parts
Brasses combine good strength, machinability and corrosion resistance at a lower cost than copper. Arsenical admiralty brass (C44300), with about 1% tin, is a classic condenser and heat-exchanger tube alloy for fresh and brackish water. Naval brass (C46400) resists seawater for marine fittings and shafting, and free-cutting brass (C36000) is used for high-volume machined parts.
Tell us the alloy designation, temper and standard. "Brass" covers alloys with quite different properties.
Key characteristics
- Admiralty brass for condenser tubes
- Naval brass for marine hardware
- Excellent machinability (free-cutting grades)
- Lower cost than copper and cupro-nickel
What are the specifications and equivalents of Brass?
| Product form | Specification / designation | Product page |
|---|---|---|
| Pipes | ASTM B43 | Brass pipes → |
| Tubes | ASTM B111 / B135 | Brass tubes → |
| Plates | ASTM B36 | Brass plates → |
| Sheets | ASTM B36 | Brass sheets → |
| Bars | ASTM B16 / B21 | Brass bars → |
UNS C26000 / C44300 / C46400 · EN CuZn30 / CuZn28Sn1As (cross-reference; limits are similar but not identical)
Standards: ASTM B111, ASTM B171, ASTM B43, ASTM B36, ASTM B16.
What is the chemical composition of Brass?
| Element | Limit (%) |
|---|---|
| Cu (C44300) | 70.0 – 73.0 |
| Sn (C44300) | 0.9 – 1.2 |
| As (C44300) | 0.02 – 0.06 |
| Zn | Balance |
| Cu (C26000) | 68.5 – 71.5 |
What are the mechanical properties of Brass?
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Tensile strength | ≈ 310 MPa |
| Yield strength (0.2% offset) | ≈ 105 MPa |
Physical properties and service temperature
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Density (typical) | 8.53 g/cm³ (8530 kg/m³) |
| Magnetism | Non-magnetic. |
| Heat treatment | Supplied annealed or in the specified temper. |
| Service temperature | — |
How is Brass welded and fabricated?
Weldable and brazeable with suitable consumables.
Always follow a qualified welding procedure (for example ASME Section IX) and the filler-metal recommendations for Brass. Verify incoming material by PMI and check the mill test certificate against the specification.
Which Brass products do we supply?
Brass is available in 5 product forms, from ready stock or mill-sourced to your specification, with EN 10204 3.1 mill test certificates (3.2 with third-party inspection on request).
Brass PipesASTM B43Specification & sizes
How it's madeSeamless pipe is pierced from a solid billet and hot-finished or cold-drawn. Welded pipe is formed from strip or plate and welded longitudinally (ERW/HFW, TIG/plasma, EFW, LSAW) or spirally (SAWH). Stainless and nickel-alloy pipe is then solution annealed and pickled. Carbon and alloy steel pipe is supplied as-rolled, normalised, or normalised and tempered according to the specification.
- Specification
- ASTM B43
- Size range
- NPS ⅛" to 48" and larger (DN 6 – DN 1200+), schedules 5S to XXS, single random, double random and cut lengths
- Finish
- Annealed & pickled, bright annealed, mill finish, black, varnished, galvanised or 3LPE / FBE coated (by material)
- Ends
- Plain end (PE), bevelled end (BE, ASME B16.25), threaded (NPT / BSP), grooved
Testing & documents
- Chemical and mechanical (tension, flattening, flare/bend) tests
- Hydrostatic test or non-destructive electric test (UT/ET) on each length
- Dimensional and visual inspection
- Intergranular corrosion (stainless), impact (low-temperature), hardness (sour service) when specified
- PMI and third-party inspection on request
- EN 10204 3.1 certificate; 3.2 with third-party inspection
Brass TubesASTM B111 / B135Specification & sizes
How it's madeSeamless tubes are hot-extruded or pierced and then cold-drawn or pilgered to size. Welded tubes are formed from strip, welded (TIG/laser/HF), bead-worked and drawn or sized. Heat-exchanger and boiler tubes are annealed after final forming, and U-tubes are bent and stress-relieved as required.
- Specification
- ASTM B111 / B135
- Size range
- OD 3 mm to about 127 mm (¼" to 5") typical, wall 0.5 mm to 12 mm; BWG or mm; straight lengths up to about 30 m, U-bent to drawing
- Finish
- Annealed & pickled, bright annealed (BA), polished (sanitary), cold-drawn
- Ends
- Plain square-cut, deburred; U-bends with stress-relieved bends on request
Testing & documents
- Eddy-current and/or ultrasonic testing on each tube
- Hydrostatic or pneumatic test
- Flattening, flaring and flange tests
- Grain size (H grades), IGC and hardness when specified
- Surface roughness (Ra) for sanitary and instrumentation tube
- EN 10204 3.1 certificate; 3.2 with third-party inspection
Brass PlatesASTM B36Specification & sizes
How it's madeSlabs are hot-rolled on a reversing plate mill (or a Steckel/hot-strip mill for thinner plate), then heat treated (annealed, normalised, or quenched and tempered, depending on material), descaled and pickled or shot-blasted. Plates are cut to size by plasma, oxy-fuel, waterjet or shearing.
- Specification
- ASTM B36
- Size range
- Thickness about 3 – 150 mm (and heavier on request), widths 1,000 – 3,000 mm, lengths 2,000 – 12,000 mm; cut-to-size and profile-cut parts
- Finish
- No.1 (hot-rolled, annealed and pickled) for stainless; shot-blasted, mill scale or primed for carbon steel
- Ends
- Mill edge, sheared, plasma or waterjet cut, profile cut to drawing
Testing & documents
- Chemical analysis and tensile tests (per plate or heat)
- Impact tests for low-temperature and pressure-vessel plates
- Ultrasonic testing (e.g. ASTM A435 / A578) when specified
- IGC, HIC and simulated PWHT tests as required
- Flatness and dimensional inspection
- EN 10204 3.1 certificate; 3.2 with third-party inspection
Brass SheetsASTM B36Specification & sizes
How it's madeHot-rolled coil is cold-rolled to final thickness, then annealed and pickled (2B/2D) or bright annealed (BA), temper-passed, and polished or textured as needed. Coils are then levelled and cut into sheets.
- Specification
- ASTM B36
- Size range
- Thickness about 0.3 – 6 mm, standard sizes 1,000 × 2,000, 1,219 × 2,438 (4 × 8 ft), 1,250 × 2,500 and 1,500 × 3,000 mm; custom cut lengths
- Finish
- 2B, 2D, BA, No.4 (brushed), HL (hairline), No.8 (mirror), embossed, PVC or laser-film protected
- Ends
- Sheared or slit edges; laser-cut blanks on request
Testing & documents
- Chemical and mechanical tests
- Surface and finish inspection
- Thickness and flatness checks
- Hardness and bend tests as specified
- EN 10204 3.1 certificate; 3.2 with third-party inspection
Brass BarsASTM B16 / B21Specification & sizes
How it's madeBillets are hot-rolled or forged to size, then heat treated (annealed, solution treated, or quenched and tempered) and finished by descaling, peeling, turning, cold-drawing or centreless grinding for bright bar with tight tolerance.
- Specification
- ASTM B16 / B21
- Size range
- Round bars about 3 – 500 mm diameter; hex 6 – 100 mm A/F; square and flat sections to order; lengths 3 – 6 m random or cut to size
- Finish
- Black (hot-rolled), peeled, bright drawn, centreless ground and polished (h9 / h11 tolerance)
- Ends
- Saw-cut, chamfered on request
Testing & documents
- Chemical and mechanical tests
- Ultrasonic testing for internal soundness
- Hardness, IGC and impact tests as specified
- Straightness and tolerance checks
- EN 10204 3.1 certificate; 3.2 with third-party inspection
Where is Brass used?
Typical applications
- Condenser and heat-exchanger tubes
- Marine fittings and hardware
- Valves, fittings and machined parts
- Architectural and decorative items
- Electrical connectors
What should you specify when buying Brass?
- Grade and specification, e.g. ASTM B43
- Product form, size and tolerance
- Heat treatment / condition and surface finish
- Quantity, delivery location and required date
- Tests: PMI, hydro/NDT, IGC, impact or hardness as required
- Certificate type (EN 10204 3.1 / 3.2) and third-party inspection
See our RFQ checklist guide and what drives metal prices.
Explore more on Brass
Brass products
Related grades
Frequently asked questions
What is admiralty brass used for?
Condenser and heat-exchanger tubes in fresh and brackish water. Its tin and arsenic additions improve corrosion and dezincification resistance.
What is Brass used for?
Condenser and heat-exchanger tubes, Marine fittings and hardware, Valves, fittings and machined parts, Architectural and decorative items. It's used across Power Generation, Marine & Offshore, Heat Exchanger Manufacturing, Construction & Architecture.
What is the UNS number of Brass?
Brass is designated UNS C26000 / C44300 / C46400; the closest EN cross-reference is CuZn30 / CuZn28Sn1As.
Which product forms is Brass available in?
Pipes, Tubes, Plates, Sheets, Bars, to ASTM B43, ASTM B111 / B135, ASTM B36 and related specifications.
What is the density of Brass?
About 8.53 g/cm³ (8530 kg/m³), used for weight calculations.
Is Brass magnetic?
Non-magnetic.