What is H96 brass?
H96 brass is an alloy material widely used in industrial and mechanical fields. Its excellent mechanical properties and corrosion resistance make it stand out in a variety of applications.
Basic Characteristics of H96 Brass
H96 brass primarily consists of copper and zinc, with copper content approximately 96% and zinc content about 4%. This alloy material exhibits good electrical and thermal conductivity, while also demonstrating excellent plasticity and durability during machining and heat treatment processes.
Phase Transition Temperatures of H96 Brass
Phase transition temperature refers to the temperature at which the internal crystal structure of a material changes. For H96 brass, its phase transition temperatures mainly include the following key points:
Solution Treatment Temperature: The solution treatment temperature for H96 brass is approximately 850°C. At this temperature, the alloy elements within the material fully dissolve and distribute uniformly, thereby improving the overall performance of the material.
Annealing Temperature: The annealing temperature range for H96 brass is between 500°C and 700°C. Annealing treatment helps eliminate stresses generated during processing, enhancing the material's ductility and toughness.
Recrystallization Temperature: The recrystallization temperature for H96 brass is approximately 300°C. At this temperature, the grain structure of the material rearranges, helping to restore its initial properties.
High-Temperature Creep Performance of H96 Brass
High-temperature creep refers to the slow, permanent deformation of a material under constant stress over an extended period at elevated temperatures. Creep performance is an important indicator for evaluating material reliability under high-temperature conditions. The following are the creep characteristics of H96 brass under different temperatures and stress conditions:
Creep Stress-Strain Relationship: At a temperature of 300°C, the creep strain rate of H96 brass under 50 MPa stress is approximately 10⁻⁶/s, while under 100 MPa stress, it is approximately 10⁻⁵/s. This indicates that as stress increases, the creep strain rate shows a significant upward trend.
Creep Life: The creep life of H96 brass under 300°C and 100 MPa stress is approximately 1,000 hours, while under 400°C and 50 MPa stress, it is approximately 500 hours. This demonstrates that increases in temperature and stress significantly shorten the material's creep life.
Creep Rupture Stress: Under 400°C conditions, the creep rupture stress of H96 brass is approximately 80 MPa, while under 500°C conditions, it is approximately 50 MPa. This indicates that in high-temperature environments, the material's load-bearing capacity is significantly reduced.




Applications of H96 Brass in High-Temperature Environments
Due to its relatively good creep performance at high temperatures, H96 brass has broad application prospects in various high-temperature fields. Specific applications include:
Heat Exchangers: Thanks to its excellent thermal conductivity and corrosion resistance, H96 brass is commonly used in manufacturing key components for heat exchangers.
Aerospace Industry: In aircraft engines and spacecraft, H96 brass is utilized for manufacturing high-temperature-resistant components due to its high-temperature stability and mechanical strength.
Chemical Equipment: In high-temperature chemical reaction equipment, H96 brass is widely applied in pipelines, valves, and reactor linings due to its corrosion resistance and high-temperature creep performance.
FAQ
| Q: What exactly is H96 material? A: H96 is a copper-zinc alloy (brass) with a nominal composition of 96% copper and 4% zinc. It is known as Gilding Metal 96% or by its UNS number C21000. It is the brass grade with the highest copper content and lowest zinc content. |
| Q: What are the key properties of H96 (C21000) brass? A: Its key properties are: Excellent thermal and electrical conductivity (the highest among common brasses). Very good corrosion resistance (close to pure copper). Good ductility and formability for both cold and hot working. Characteristic reddish-gold color, making it aesthetically pleasing. |
| Q: How does H96 differ from pure copper (like T2/C11000)? A: While very close to pure copper, the small addition of zinc (4%) in H96 provides slightly higher strength, hardness, and wear resistance than pure copper, while retaining most of its conductivity and corrosion resistance. It is often a more cost-effective and durable alternative for many applications. |
| Q: What are the most common applications for H96 brass? A: Common applications include: Waveguides, heat exchanger/condenser tubes, heat sinks, electrical conductivity springs, jewelry, medals, commemorative coins, decorative architectural trim, and nameplates. |
| Q: Can H96 brass be welded or soldered? A: Yes, it has excellent solderability and brazability. However, welding can be challenging due to its high thermal conductivity and zinc content, which can lead to porosity and zinc fume. Specialized techniques (like TIG welding with proper filler metal) are required. |
| Q: What are the main standards that cover H96/C21000? A: It is covered by various international standards: China: GB/T 5231 (H96) USA: ASTM B36 (C21000 for sheet/plate/strip), ASTM B134 (C21000 for wire) Europe: EN CW500L (similar composition) Japan: JIS C2100 |
| Q: Is H96 brass resistant to dezincification? A: Yes, it has very high resistance to dezincification due to its high copper content (above 85%). This makes it suitable for use in certain aqueous environments where lower-copper brasses (like H70, H62) would be susceptible. |
| Q: What is the typical form and size range for H96 products? A: It is commonly supplied as strip/coil, sheet/plate, wire, and tube. Typical dimensions include: Strip/Coil: Thickness 0.1mm - 3.0mm, Width up to 600mm. Wire: Diameter 0.5mm - 12.0mm. Tube: Outer Diameter (OD) 3mm - 50mm. |
| Q: What is the temper (hardness state) available for H96 strip? A: It is commonly available in soft (O), quarter-hard (H01), half-hard (H02), and hard (H04) tempers to suit different forming requirements. |
Our product range
| Category | Other Key Grades (Extensive Range) | Product Forms | Typical Size Range |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pure Copper | T2 (C11000/C10100), TU1/TU2 (Oxygen-Free), T3 (C11000), C10100, C10200 (OF), C10300, C10400, C10500, C10700, C10800, C11000, C11300, C11400, C11500, C11600, C12000, C12200 | Pipe/Tube, Plate/Sheet, Coil/Strip, Wire/Rod, Busbar | Pipe/Tube: OD 3mm - 400mm, WT 0.5mm - 15mm Sheet/Plate/Coil: Thk 0.1mm - 50mm, Width ≤ 1250mm Wire/Rod: Dia. 0.5mm - 80mm |
| Phosphorus Deoxidized Copper | TP2 (C12200), C1201, C1220, C12200, C14200 | Pipe/Tube, Plate/Sheet, Coil/Strip | Pipe/Tube: OD 4mm - 300mm, WT 0.5mm - 10mm Sheet/Plate/Coil: Thk 0.2mm - 30mm, Width ≤ 1000mm |
| Brass | H96, H68, H65, H70, HPb59-1 (C3771), CW505L (C12200), C2600 (Cartridge Brass), C2680, C2720, C28000, C36000 (Free-Cutting), C38500 | Coil/Strip, Plate/Sheet, Rod/Bar, Wire | Strip/Sheet/Coil: Thk 0.05mm - 10.0mm, Width ≤ 650mm Rod/Bar: Dia. 3mm - 200mm Wire: Dia. 0.5mm - 12mm |
| Bronze & Other Alloys | Phosphor Bronze: C51000, C52100, C54400 Copper-Nickel: C71500, C71640 Aluminum Bronze: C60600, C63000 Beryllium Copper: C17200, C17500 Other: C19210, C19400 |
Strip/Coil, Plate, Rod/Bar, Wire, Pipe | Customizable per alloy and form. Strip/Coil: Thk 0.05mm - 5.0mm Rod/Bar: Dia. up to 150mm |





