What is H96 brass?
H96 brass, also known as C21000, is a copper-zinc alloy widely used in industry and manufacturing. Its main components are copper and zinc, with copper comprising approximately 96% and zinc approximately 4%.
H96 Brass Chemical Composition
The chemical composition of H96 brass is as follows:
Copper (Cu): 96.0% - 98.0%
Zinc (Zn): 1.5% - 4.0%
Lead (Pb): ≤ 0.05%
Iron (Fe): ≤ 0.05%
Beryllium (Bi): ≤ 0.002%
Other Impurities: Total content ≤ 0.3%
H96 Brass Physical Properties
Density: 8.47 g/cm³
Melting Point: 950°C - 1050°C
Electrical Conductivity: 28% IACS (International Standard for Annealed Copper)
Thermal Conductivity: 120 W/m·K
H96 Brass Mechanical Properties
Tensile Strength: 350 - 450 MPa
Yield Strength: 80 - 100 MPa
Elongation: 45% - 55% Hardness: 50 - 70 HB (Britt hardness)
Special Fatigue Properties of H96 Brass
1. Fatigue Strength
H96 brass exhibits excellent fatigue strength under different stress states. Its fatigue limit (the maximum stress at which the material can withstand an infinite number of cycles without fracturing) is approximately 50% to 60% of its tensile strength. Under a stress amplitude of 140 MPa, H96 brass can withstand more than 10^7 cyclic loads without fracturing.
2. Strain Fatigue
H96 brass demonstrates high fatigue life in strain-controlled fatigue tests. Its fatigue life curve (S-N curve) shows that the cycle life of H96 brass decreases significantly at higher strain amplitudes, but at lower strain amplitudes, its fatigue life can reach millions of cycles.
3. Fatigue Crack Propagation
H96 brass exhibits good resistance to fatigue crack propagation rate. Under a stress intensity factor range of ΔK of 20 MPa√m, its fatigue crack propagation rate is approximately 2.5 × 10⁻⁶ m/cycle. This indicates that H96 brass can effectively resist fatigue crack propagation even within a high stress intensity factor range.
Advantages of H96 Brass in Special Applications
1. High Corrosion Resistance
Due to its high copper content, H96 brass exhibits excellent corrosion resistance in atmospheric, fresh water, and some acidic environments. This makes it widely used in shipbuilding, chemical equipment, and marine engineering.
2. Excellent Machining Performance
H96 brass possesses good hot and cold working properties. It exhibits good plasticity at high temperatures and good strength at low temperatures, making it suitable for various processing techniques such as casting, forging, extrusion, and rolling.
3. Good Electrical and Thermal Conductivity
H96 brass has relatively high electrical and thermal conductivity, making it suitable for manufacturing various conductive and thermally conductive components, such as electrical connectors, radiators, and heat exchangers.
FAQ
| 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. |
| Q: How does the price of H96 compare to other brasses and copper? A: Due to its high copper content, its price is higher than common brasses like H62 and H68, but generally lower than pure copper and premium alloys like phosphor bronze. It offers a good balance of performance and cost. |
| Q: What are the main surface finishes available for H96/C21000 brass? A: Standard finishes for H96/C21000 brass include mill finish (matte), polished, and various coated finishes (such as clear lacquer or passivation) to prevent tarnishing, especially for decorative uses. |
| Q: Is H96 suitable for making springs? A: Yes, its good combination of conductivity, corrosion resistance, and spring properties (in hardened tempers) makes H96/C21000 a preferred material for certain electrical conductivity springs and contacts. |
| Q: How does H96 perform in terms of machinability? A: Its machinability rating is relatively low (around 20% on the free-cutting brass C36000=100% scale). It is gummy and tends to adhere to cutting tools. It is not typically chosen for high-volume machining operations. |
| Q: Are H96 from China and C21000 from the USA exactly the same? A: They are equivalent grades with nearly identical nominal compositions. Minor differences may exist in permissible impurity levels between the GB (Chinese) and ASTM (U.S.) standards. For most applications, they are considered interchangeable, but critical applications should verify the exact specification requirements. |
| Q: Can H96/C21000 brass be used for marine applications? A: With its high corrosion and dezincification resistance, H96/C21000 brass can be used in certain low-corrosion marine environments (e.g., interior components, decorative fittings). However, for critical seawater applications, more specialized alloys like aluminum brass or copper-nickel are recommended over H96 brass. |
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 |
