What H62 Brass Is
H62 is an ordinary copper-zinc brass containing 60.5 to 63.5 percent copper with zinc as the balance, and permitted maxima of 0.15 percent iron and 0.08 percent lead with total other impurities limited to 0.5 percent. That composition places it in the duplex alpha plus beta field, which is why it hot works so readily and machines more cleanly than the low-zinc brasses, while still retaining enough ductility for cold bending, stamping and moderate drawing. It is supplied as high-precision strip, plate, rod, tube and wire, and it is the most widely consumed brass grade in plumbing, heating, electrical and general hardware manufacture.
H62 Brass Density and Unit Conversions
The density of H62 brass is 8.43 g/cm³ at room temperature. This is the figure normally used for engineering and commercial calculation, including strip weight per square metre and tube weight per metre.
| Unit | Value | Note |
|---|---|---|
| g/cm³ | 8.43 | Primary engineering value |
| kg/m3 | 8430 | SI equivalent |
| lb/in³ | 0.304 | Imperial equivalent |
| kg/mm per m2 | 8.43 | Weight of a one square metre sheet one millimetre thick |
Density is not a fixed constant across the brass family. It falls as zinc content rises, so the low-zinc H96 grade at about 8.85 g/cm³ is noticeably heavier per unit volume than H62 at 8.43 g/cm³. Published tables sometimes round the H62 figure to 8.4 or 8.5 g/cm³ for convenience; where strip or tube weight is part of a commercial settlement, the 8.43 g/cm³ value should be used consistently by both parties.
Equivalent Grades and Standards
| System | Designation |
|---|---|
| China (GB/T 5231) | H62 |
| USA (UNS) | C28000 |
| Japan (JIS) | C2801 |
| Germany (DIN) | CuZn37 |
| Europe (EN) | CW508L |
These equivalents are approximate. The composition windows overlap but are not identical, and product-form standards differ between systems, so a drawing that specifies one designation should not be substituted with another without engineering review of the composition and the applicable product standard.
Physical and Mechanical Properties
| Property | Value | Condition |
|---|---|---|
| Density | 8.43 g/cm³ | Room temperature |
| Electrical conductivity | About 27% IACS | Typical commercial strip |
| Thermal conductivity | About 120 W/(m·K) | Room temperature |
| Tensile strength | 372 to 540 MPa | Temper dependent |
| Yield strength | 250 to 360 MPa | Temper dependent |
| Elongation | 30% and above | Soft tempers |
| Hardness | About 85 to 120 HV | Strip |
Because H62 is used in every temper from fully soft to hard, the mechanical figures must always be read together with the delivery condition. A soft strip that satisfies a 30 percent elongation requirement will fail a hardness requirement written for hard temper, and the reverse mistake is equally common.
Processing, Forming and Applications
Hot working: typically 650 to 850 degrees Celsius. The duplex structure gives H62 excellent hot deformability, which is why forged and extruded fittings are so often made from it.
Annealing: typically 520 to 650 degrees Celsius, used to restore ductility between cold forming stages.
Cold working: good plasticity for bending, stamping and drawing, but multi-stage forming generally needs intermediate annealing to avoid edge cracking.
Machining: moderate. For high-volume screw machining a leaded free-cutting brass is a better choice, subject to the lead restrictions of the destination market.
Joining: good brazing and welding response; soldering is straightforward with standard fluxes.
Typical applications include plumbing and heating fittings, valves and valve bodies, connectors and terminals, radiator and heat exchanger components, stampings and deep-drawn shells, pins, rivets, washers, nuts and pressure gauge springs. High-precision strip is produced in thicknesses from about 0.05 mm upwards, with common commercial coverage between 0.15 mm and 3 mm, and slitting to narrow widths is standard practice.
FAQ
Q: What is the density of H62 brass?
8.43 g/cm³ at room temperature, equivalent to 8430 kg/m3 or 0.304 lb/in³.
Q: Why do some tables show 8.5 g/cm³ for H62?
Because published values are sometimes rounded. The 8.43 g/cm³ figure is the value normally used for engineering and commercial weight calculation and should be applied consistently.
Q: What are the equivalent grades of H62 brass?
UNS C28000 in the United States, JIS C2801 in Japan, DIN CuZn37 in Germany and EN CW508L in Europe. These are approximate rather than exact equivalents.
Q: How is H62 strip weight calculated?
Multiply length by width by thickness in metres to obtain volume in cubic metres, then multiply by 8430 kg/m3. A one square metre sheet one millimetre thick weighs 8.43 kg.
Q: What is the electrical conductivity of H62 brass?
Approximately 27 percent IACS, which is adequate for general connectors and terminals but far below the low-zinc brasses and unalloyed copper.
Q: Which tempers are available in H62 strip?
Soft, half-hard, hard and extra-hard conditions are all produced, and the temper determines the tensile strength, elongation and hardness of the delivered material.
