Copper Alloy C22600
UNS C22600
C22600 is an unleaded single-phase alpha brass of nominally 87.5Cu-12.5Zn, slightly redder than commercial bronze and supplied under the ASTM/UNS wrought copper-alloy system.
Reference datasheet — C22600 is not in the instant-quote catalog. Upload your part and an engineer will quote it in this grade or suggest the closest stocked equivalent.
Values for the H02 condition
C22600 tempers and conditions
C22600 is supplied in 8 conditions, soft to hard. H02 is the default FabDigit quotes; the values on this page are for it.
Compare all 8 conditionsHide
| Condition · open for datasheet | Best for | Yield MPa | Tensile MPa | Elong. % | Hardness | Conductivity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Annealed | Pick for deep drawing, coining, spinning and heavy bending of jewelry blanks. | 100 | 290 | 45 | 58 HB | 41 % IACS |
Quarter hard | Pick when moderate bending or shallow forming is still needed but annealed material is too limp. | 276 | 359 | 25 | 90 HB | 40 % IACS |
H02Default Half hard | Default stock condition: good balance of stiffness for stamped/blanked decorative parts with useful residual ductility. | 330 | 400 | 12 | 105 HB | 40 % IACS |
Three-quarter hard | Pick for flat stamped hardware needing higher yield strength with only light forming. | 359 | 435 | 8 | 118 HB | 40 % IACS |
Full hard | Pick for flat or lightly formed parts needing maximum strength with acceptable blanking behavior. | 400 | 462 | 5 | 130 HB | 39 % IACS |
Extra hard | Pick for stiff decorative strip, clips and light spring-like flat parts made without forming. | 448 | 517 | 4 | 145 HB | 39 % IACS |
Spring hard | Pick for flat springs, contacts and snap features where the gold color must be retained. | 483 | 552 | 3 | 155 HB | 38 % IACS |
Extra spring hard | Pick for the highest strength/stiffness available in this alloy; essentially no forming capability. | 503 | 579 | 3 | 162 HB | 38 % IACS |
What is C22600?
C22600 is an unleaded single-phase alpha brass of nominally 87.5Cu-12.5Zn, slightly redder than commercial bronze and supplied under the ASTM/UNS wrought copper-alloy system. Engineers specify it for its warm gold tone plus high cold formability (formability score 72) with 330 MPa yield, 400 MPa tensile, 12 % elongation and 40 % IACS in the default temper, in strip, sheet and wire from O61 through H10. The trade-off is poor machinability (score 32, roughly 30 % of free-cutting brass), only fair fusion weldability because of zinc fuming, and susceptibility to ammonia stress-corrosion cracking after heavy cold work. Where turning volume dominates, a leaded grade such as C31400 is the practical alternative. C22600 has a density of 8.8 g/cm³ (0.318 lb/in³), heavier than 58% of copper alloy grades. It melts at 1,005°C (1,841 °F). C22600 has a yield strength of 330 MPa (47.9 ksi) and a tensile strength of 400 MPa (58 ksi) — stronger than 69% of copper alloy grades. Elongation at break is 12% and the elastic modulus is 117 GPa (17 Msi).
What is C22600 used for?
- jewelry
- decorative hardware
- name plates
Advantages
- Polishes to a fine finish — 90/100, better than 99% of copper alloy grades
- Forms and bends easily — 72/100, better than 82% of copper alloy grades
C22600 properties
Typical room-temperature values for C22600-H02; bars are the position among copper alloy grades.
Physical3
C22600 has a density of 8.8 g/cm³ (0.318 lb/in³), heavier than 58% of copper alloy grades. It melts at 1,005°C (1,841 °F).
Mechanical11
C22600 has a yield strength of 330 MPa (47.9 ksi) and a tensile strength of 400 MPa (58 ksi) — stronger than 69% of copper alloy grades. Elongation at break is 12% and the elastic modulus is 117 GPa (17 Msi).
Thermal6
C22600 is rated for continuous service to 200°C (392 °F). It conducts heat at 172 W/m·K (99.4 BTU/hr·ft·°F), better than 74% of copper alloy grades. Thermal expansion is 18.5 µm/m·K (10.3 µin/in·°F).
Electrical3
C22600 conducts electricity at 40 % IACS, better than 74% of copper alloy grades.
Chemical & Environmental3
Corrosion resistance is good (62/100), worse than 57% of copper alloy grades.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of C22600 takes about 58 MJ of energy and emits 3.8 kg of CO₂ — more than 61% of copper alloy grades. Typical recycled content is 50%.
Manufacturability8
C22600's machinability is poor (32/100, worse than 57% of copper alloy grades); weldability good (55/100); formability very good (72/100).
Common Calculations5
Values are nominal handbook figures for design screening. Certified mill or lot data ships with every FabDigit order on request.
Strength versus weight in the copper alloy family
Yield strength against density for every copper alloy grade FabDigit runs. C22600 is highlighted; hover a dot for its name, or open the interactive family chart.
Working with C22600
Is C22600 easy to machine?
Gummy, unleaded alpha brass — use sharp positive-rake tools, high speed, light feed and generous lubricant; expect roughly 30 % of free-cutting brass throughput.
Can C22600 be welded?
Solders and brazes superbly and resistance-welds well; fusion welding (GTAW) is only fair due to zinc fume/porosity, so mechanical or brazed joints are preferred.
Can C22600 be formed, bent or molded?
Excellent cold formability in O61/H01 — deep draws, coins, spins and stamps cleanly; interanneal near 425–650 °C and stress-relieve heavily worked parts to avoid ammonia SCC.
C22600 chemical composition (wt %)
Limits by weight percent from the governing specification, written the way the spec states them — a single maximum for impurities, a range for alloying elements, and the base element as balance. Nominal is the typical mid-range value.
| Element | Spec limit (wt %) | Nominal |
|---|---|---|
| CuCu may include Ag | 86 – 89 | 87.5 |
| Pbimpurity limit | ≤ 0.05 | |
| Feimpurity limit | ≤ 0.05 | |
| Zn | balance |
What surface finishes work on C22600?
Buffs to a bright warm-gold luster; not anodizable — protect with clear lacquer, or nickel/gold/rhodium electroplate, or chemically patinate for antique effects.
Surface treatments FabDigit runs on copper alloy parts — pick them in the quote configurator or call them out on the drawing. Each links to its datasheet in the surface-finish library (thickness, specs, call-out, material verdicts).
Equivalent designations
Standards and trade names that resolve to Copper Alloy C22600 in FabDigit's catalog. Equivalence is nominal — check the exact specification when certification matters.
- Also called
- Jewelry Bronze
How much does C22600 cost?
C22600 is a high-cost copper alloy ($$$$), pricier than about 78% of the materials FabDigit quotes. Part price depends far more on geometry, tolerance and quantity than on the raw stock — upload a CAD file for a live quote.
C22600 — frequently asked
What is C22600 used for?
C22600 is typically used for jewelry, decorative hardware and name plates. In short: warm gold-tone brass; excellent deep-draw formability; poor machining rating.
What is the yield strength of C22600?
C22600 has a typical yield strength of 330 MPa (47.9 ksi) and a tensile strength of 400 MPa (58 ksi) — stronger than 69% of copper alloy grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 8 listed tempers.
Is C22600 easy to machine?
Not especially — machinability is rated poor (32/100, worse than 57% of copper alloy grades). Gummy, unleaded alpha brass — use sharp positive-rake tools, high speed, light feed and generous lubricant; expect roughly 30 % of free-cutting brass throughput.
Can C22600 be welded?
Yes — weldability is rated good (55/100). Solders and brazes superbly and resistance-welds well; fusion welding (GTAW) is only fair due to zinc fume/porosity, so mechanical or brazed joints are preferred.
What surface finishes work on C22600?
Buffs to a bright warm-gold luster; not anodizable — protect with clear lacquer, or nickel/gold/rhodium electroplate, or chemically patinate for antique effects.
Can C22600 be formed, bent or molded?
Excellent cold formability in O61/H01 — deep draws, coins, spins and stamps cleanly; interanneal near 425–650 °C and stress-relieve heavily worked parts to avoid ammonia SCC.
What is the maximum service temperature of C22600?
C22600 is rated for continuous use to about 200°C (392 °F). Strength falls off well before that limit — check the elevated-temperature data for load-bearing parts.
What is the difference between C22600-H02 and C22600-O61?
H02 is the default condition — default stock condition: good balance of stiffness for stamped/blanked decorative parts with useful residual ductility. O61: pick for deep drawing, coining, spinning and heavy bending of jewelry blanks. Yield strength is 330 MPa in H02 versus 100 MPa in O61.
How much does C22600 cost?
C22600 is a high-cost copper alloy ($$$$), pricier than about 78% of the materials FabDigit quotes. Part price depends far more on geometry, tolerance and quantity than on the raw stock — upload a CAD file for a live quote.
Sources
- C22600 Jewelry Bronze alloy data (properties, tempers, fabrication ratings) — Copper Development Association (copper.org) (2023)
- ASTM B36/B36M — Brass Plate, Sheet, Strip and Rolled Bar — ASTM International (2018)
- ASTM B134/B134M — Brass Wire — ASTM International (2020)
- ASM Handbook Vol. 2 — Properties and Selection: Nonferrous Alloys — ASM International (1990)
- ASM Handbook Vol. 13B — Corrosion: Materials — ASM International (2005)
Property data is compiled from published supplier and standards handbooks and normalised for comparison; hardness values on non-Brinell scales are converted approximately for charting only. Manufacturability limits are FabDigit quote-engine defaults and may be relaxed by engineering review. Nothing on this page is a certification — request mill certs, CoC or material test reports with your order.