Compare copper, brass, and bronze alloy grades with mechanical properties, machinability ratings, and electrical conductivity. Covers C110, C101, C360, C260, C172, C510, C630, C954, C715, and more.
| Alloy ▲ | Common Name ▲ | Tensile (ksi) ▲ | Yield (ksi) ▲ | Hardness (HRB) ▲ | Machinability (%) ▲ | Conductivity (% IACS) ▲ | Common Uses ▲ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| C110 | ETP Copper | 32 – 50 | 10 – 40 | 10 – 65 | 20 | 101 | Bus bars, electrical connectors, heat sinks |
| C101 | OFE Copper | 32 – 45 | 10 – 36 | 10 – 60 | 20 | 101 | Semiconductor, vacuum, superconductors |
| C102 | OFHC Copper | 32 – 45 | 10 – 36 | 10 – 60 | 20 | 101 | Waveguides, high-purity applications |
| C360 | Free-Cutting Brass | 49 – 68 | 18 – 45 | 55 – 80 | 100 | 26 | Screw machine products, fittings, valves |
| C260 | Cartridge Brass (70/30) | 44 – 76 | 15 – 60 | 35 – 82 | 30 | 28 | Cartridge cases, hardware, radiator cores |
| C230 | Red Brass (85/15) | 40 – 70 | 12 – 55 | 30 – 75 | 30 | 37 | Plumbing, weather stripping, conduit |
| C353 | High-Leaded Brass | 45 – 60 | 15 – 40 | 50 – 70 | 90 | 26 | Clock gears, watch parts, engraving |
| C385 | Architectural Bronze | 50 – 65 | 20 – 45 | 55 – 75 | 80 | 25 | Hinges, lock bodies, architectural trim |
| C172 | Beryllium Copper | 68 – 200 | 30 – 175 | 60 – 43 HRC | 20 | 22 | Springs, mold inserts, non-spark tools |
| C510 | Phosphor Bronze A | 47 – 100 | 19 – 76 | 40 – 95 | 20 | 15 | Bearings, springs, electrical contacts |
| C544 | Free-Cut Phosphor Bronze | 50 – 75 | 20 – 55 | 45 – 80 | 80 | 12 | Screw machine bearings, bushings |
| C630 | Aluminum Bronze (Cu-Al) | 80 – 100 | 35 – 50 | 80 – 92 | 20 | 7 | Marine hardware, pump components |
| C954 | Aluminum Bronze (cast) | 75 – 95 | 30 – 45 | 70 – 88 | 50 | 7 | Bearings, gears, wear plates, valves |
| C715 | Copper-Nickel 70/30 | 54 – 75 | 18 – 55 | 40 – 78 | 20 | 4 | Marine, desalination, heat exchangers |
| C932 | SAE 660 Bearing Bronze | 35 – 40 | 17 – 20 | 55 – 65 | 60 | 7 | Bushings, bearings, washers |
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Upload CAD for Instant QuoteC360 free-cutting brass is the benchmark for machinability, rated at 100% on the copper alloy machinability scale. It contains about 3% lead which acts as a chip breaker, producing small chips and allowing high cutting speeds. C360 is the go-to choice for screw machine products and any high-volume turned parts.
C110 (ETP copper) is 99.9% pure copper with up to 0.04% oxygen, offering excellent electrical conductivity at 101% IACS. C101 (OFE copper) is 99.99% pure with very low oxygen content (less than 0.0005%), giving slightly better conductivity and superior performance in vacuum and high-purity applications like semiconductor and superconductor manufacturing.
C172 beryllium copper is used when you need high strength (up to 200 ksi tensile) combined with good conductivity and corrosion resistance. Common applications include springs, electrical contacts, non-sparking tools, and mold inserts. It can be age-hardened after machining. Note: beryllium dust is toxic, so machining requires proper ventilation and safety controls.
Phosphor bronze (C510, C521, C544) offers excellent wear resistance, fatigue strength, and corrosion resistance. It is commonly machined into bushings, bearings, springs, electrical connectors, and marine hardware. C544 (free-cutting phosphor bronze) has added lead for improved machinability.
Standard brass alloys like C260 and C360 have moderate corrosion resistance in fresh water but can suffer dezincification in seawater or aggressive environments. For better corrosion resistance, use red brass (C230, lower zinc content), aluminum bronze (C630, C954), or copper-nickel (C715). For marine applications, copper-nickel 70/30 (C715) is the standard choice.
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