What is C26000 metal?
Brass alloy C26000, also known as Cartridge Brass, is a copper-zinc alloy with excellent cold workability, moderate strength, and good corrosion resistance. It is widely used in applications that require a balance of strength, ductility, and electrical conductivity.
Characteristics of Brass Alloy C26000:
Excellent cold workability, making it suitable for deep drawing and forming.
Moderate strength with good hardness and flexibility.
Corrosion-resistant in most environments but susceptible to dezincification in some conditions.
Good electrical and thermal conductivity.
Soldering and brazing are easy; welding is possible with proper methods.
Low machinability due to high ductility.
Applications:
Ammunition Casings: Its nickname "Cartridge Brass" comes from its historical use in bullet casings, thanks to its ability to be deeply drawn and withstand pressure.
Plumbing: Fittings, valves, and pipes benefit from its corrosion resistance and workability.
Decorative Items: Architectural trim, hardware, and musical instruments (eg, trumpets) due to its attractive finish and formability.
Heat Exchangers: Its thermal conductivity (~120 W/m·K) suits it for radiator cores or similar uses.
General Fabrication: Stamping, bending, and machining into components.
Key Properties of C26000 Brass:
Composition: 68.5–71.5% Cu, 28.5–31.5% Zn (per ASTM B36 standards).
Density: ~8.53 g/cm³.
Tensile Strength: Varies with temper (eg, ~300–550 MPa depending on annealing or cold-working).
Yield Strength: ~100–450 MPa (again, temper-dependent).
Elongation: High ductility, often 8–50%, making it ideal for forming.
Corrosion Resistance: Good in most environments, though it can dezincify in prolonged exposure to acidic or salty conditions.
Color: Bright, golden-yellow finish, often used for aesthetic purposes.
FAQ
| What is equivalent to C26000 material? C26000 (UNS C26000) has direct international equivalents, including: European (EN): CW508L (CuZn30) Japanese (JIS): C2600 Chinese (GB): H68 / T2 (Note: T2 is a newer standard designation) Common Name: Cartridge Brass or 70/30 Brass. The chemical composition (Cu ~70%, Zn ~30%) and key properties are essentially identical across these standards. |
| What is C26000 brass? C26000 brass, commonly known as Cartridge Brass, is a copper-zinc alloy containing approximately 70% copper and 30% zinc. It is a single-phase (alpha) brass renowned for its excellent cold workability, good strength, decent corrosion resistance, and attractive gold-like color. Its primary historical use is in ammunition cartridge cases, but it is now widely used in electrical connectors, heat exchangers, decorative hardware, and various stamped components. |
| What is the difference between C260 and C26000? There is no practical difference in the material itself. C26000 is the full Unified Numbering System (UNS) designation. C260 is a common shorthand or truncated form used in industry (e.g., in older SAE standards like SAE CA260). When sourcing material, specifying C26000 is the most precise and universally recognized way to ensure you get the correct 70/30 brass alloy. |
| What is the difference between C260 and C360 brass? This is a comparison between two fundamentally different brass alloys: C26000 (Cartridge Brass): A binary alloy of Cu (~70%) and Zn (~30%). It has excellent cold-forming properties (deep drawing, bending) but only fair machinability (rated ~20% of a free-machining brass). C36000 (Free-Cutting Brass): A leaded brass containing Cu (~61%), Zn (~35%), and Pb (~3%). The added lead improves machinability dramatically (rated at 100%, the industry standard). However, this comes at the cost of significantly poorer cold workability (it cracks if severely bent or stamped) and lower ductility. Choice: Use C26000 for formed parts. Use C36000 for parts that require extensive drilling, turning, or milling. |
| What is the difference between C2600 and C2680? Both are Japanese JIS designations for brass, but with different compositions and properties: C2600 (JIS): The direct equivalent to C26000. It is CuZn30 (70/30 brass) with excellent cold workability. C2680 (JIS): This is CuZn35 or 65/35 brass. It contains roughly 65% Cu and 35% Zn. This higher zinc content makes it slightly stronger and cheaper than C2600, but with reduced ductility and cold-forming capability. It is often used for simpler stamped parts, hinges, and plumbing fixtures where the highest formability is not required. |
| What is the melting point of C26000 brass? The melting temperature range is approximately 915-955°C (1680-1750°F). |
| Can C26000 brass be welded? Yes, it can be welded using gas tungsten arc welding (GTAW/TIG) and resistance welding, but it is more commonly joined by brazing or soldering for best results. |
| What is the hardness of C26000 in the hard temper? In the hard (H04) temper, C26000 typically has a Rockwell B hardness in the range of 55-75 HRB. |
| Is C26000 brass non-magnetic? Yes, like most copper alloys, C26000 is essentially non-magnetic. |
Our factory
Our factory specializes in the production and manufacturing of high-quality copper products. We operate a comprehensive, end-to-end production line equipped with advanced continuous casting and rolling mills, precision drawing machines, high-speed rolling mills, and automated heat treatment systems. We professionally produce a wide range of copper tubes, plates, bars, wires, and foils. A strict quality inspection system is implemented throughout the entire process, from raw material intake to finished product delivery. Supported by precision instruments such as spectrometers, metallographic microscopes, tensile testing machines, eddy current flaw detectors, and laser dimension gauges, we ensure that our products fully comply with international and domestic standards-including ASTM, EN, JIS, and GB-in terms of chemical composition, mechanical properties, dimensional accuracy, and surface quality. We are committed to providing global customers with stable, reliable, and fully-specified copper material solutions.
copper product packaging
Our products are packaged using professional, customized industrial packaging solutions to ensure they remain intact during long-distance transportation and multiple handlings. For long products such as copper tubes and bars, we use sturdy waterproof wooden crates or metal-frame boxes for secure fixing and protection. Copper plates and foils are individually wrapped with anti-rust paper, then packed into steel-edged boxes or on pallets with reinforced hard corners. Copper wires are wound with moisture-proof film and neatly coiled onto custom-designed reels or placed in wooden cases. All packaging is clearly marked according to customer requirements with shipping marks, specifications, batch numbers, and handling symbols. Desiccants can also be placed inside the packages when needed, providing complete protection against rust, moisture, and impact throughout the entire journey from production to the destination port.
