Copper Alloy C23000
UNS C23000 · ASTM B43 · EN CuZn15, CW502L · JIS C2300 · GB H85
C23000 is an 85/15 copper-zinc alpha brass (red brass, CuZn15, CW502L) strengthened by cold work and supplied as pipe, tube, strip, rod and wire in OS050 through H10 tempers.
Reference datasheet — C23000 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 OS050 condition
C23000 tempers and conditions
C23000 is supplied in 9 conditions, soft to hard. OS050 is the default FabDigit quotes; the values on this page are for it.
Compare all 9 conditionsHide
| Condition · open for datasheet | Best for | Yield MPa | Tensile MPa | Elong. % | Hardness | Conductivity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
As hot rolled | Hot-rolled plate/bar stock for further machining or forming where surface finish and tight temper are not critical. | 70 | 275 | 47 | 45 HB | 37 % IACS |
OS050Default Annealed to 0.050 mm grain size | Softest commercial condition — pick for deep drawing, spinning, severe bending and tube bending. | 85 | 280 | 45 | 46 HB | 37 % IACS |
Quarter hard | Light cold work for slightly stiffer parts that still need moderate bending and forming. | 205 | 305 | 35 | 68 HB | 37 % IACS |
Half hard | Most common stiff-but-formable strip/tube temper for hardware, fittings and shallow-formed parts. | 275 | 340 | 25 | 88 HB | — |
Three-quarter hard | Higher strength with limited bending — for flat springs, clips and stiff panels. | 325 | 380 | 12 | 105 HB | 37 % IACS |
Full hard | Standard hard temper for blanked, sheared and lightly formed strength parts. | 360 | 420 | 5 | 120 HB | 36 % IACS |
Extra hard | Choose when high strength and stiffness matter more than any forming ability. | 415 | 490 | 4 | 140 HB | 36 % IACS |
Spring hard | Spring strip for contacts, washers and flat springs where corrosion resistance beats conductivity needs. | 430 | 525 | 3 | 150 HB | 36 % IACS |
Extra spring hard | Maximum cold-worked strength; only for flat, blanked or very lightly formed spring components. | 440 | 545 | 3 | 158 HB | 36 % IACS |
What is C23000?
C23000 is an 85/15 copper-zinc alpha brass (red brass, CuZn15, CW502L) strengthened by cold work and supplied as pipe, tube, strip, rod and wire in OS050 through H10 tempers. It is chosen where corrosion resistance close to copper must be combined with higher strength: 280 MPa tensile, 85 MPa yield, 45 % elongation and 46 HB in the listed condition, with 159 W/m·K thermal conductivity and 37 % IACS for tube and heat-transfer work. Limits are a machinability rating of 28, zinc fuming and porosity in fusion welding, and a 200 °C service ceiling; use C36000 for machined parts. C23000 has a density of 8.75 g/cm³ (0.316 lb/in³), lighter than 51% of copper alloy grades. It melts at 990°C (1,814 °F). C23000 has a yield strength of 85 MPa (12.3 ksi) and a tensile strength of 280 MPa (40.6 ksi) — weaker than 89% of copper alloy grades. Elongation at break is 45% and the elastic modulus is 117 GPa (17 Msi).
What is C23000 used for?
- plumbing pipe and fittings
- radiator cores
- electrical sockets
- weatherstripping
- hardware
Advantages
- Polishes to a fine finish — 88/100, better than 97% of copper alloy grades
- Forms and bends easily — 95/100, better than 94% of copper alloy grades
- Ductile — tolerates forming and impact — 45%, better than 91% of copper alloy grades
Limitations
- Low strength — 85 MPa (12.3 ksi), worse than 89% of copper alloy grades
C23000 properties
Typical room-temperature values for C23000-OS050; bars are the position among copper alloy grades.
Physical3
C23000 has a density of 8.75 g/cm³ (0.316 lb/in³), lighter than 51% of copper alloy grades. It melts at 990°C (1,814 °F).
Mechanical12
C23000 has a yield strength of 85 MPa (12.3 ksi) and a tensile strength of 280 MPa (40.6 ksi) — weaker than 89% of copper alloy grades. Elongation at break is 45% and the elastic modulus is 117 GPa (17 Msi).
Thermal6
C23000 is rated for continuous service to 200°C (392 °F). It conducts heat at 159 W/m·K (91.9 BTU/hr·ft·°F), better than 73% of copper alloy grades. Thermal expansion is 18.7 µm/m·K (10.4 µin/in·°F).
Electrical3
C23000 conducts electricity at 37 % IACS, better than 73% of copper alloy grades.
Chemical & Environmental3
Corrosion resistance is good (63/100), better than 52% of copper alloy grades.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of C23000 takes about 62 MJ of energy and emits 4 kg of CO₂ — more than 76% of copper alloy grades. Typical recycled content is 45%.
Manufacturability8
C23000's machinability is poor (28/100, worse than 78% of copper alloy grades); weldability good (55/100); formability excellent (95/100).
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. C23000 is highlighted; hover a dot for its name, or open the interactive family chart.
Working with C23000
Is C23000 easy to machine?
Gummy alpha brass at ~30 % of free-cutting brass — use sharp positive-rake tools, high speed, light feeds and good lubrication; not a screw-machine alloy.
Can C23000 be welded?
Excellent soldering and brazing; GTAW/oxyfuel are workable with silicon-bronze or brass filler but zinc fuming and porosity limit fusion welding; resistance welding fair.
Can C23000 be formed, bent or molded?
Outstanding cold formability in OS tempers — deep drawing, spinning, heading and tube bending; interanneal ~450–600 °C and stress-relieve ~275 °C to avoid season cracking.
C23000 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 + named elements ≥ 99.8 % | 84 – 86 | 85 |
| Pbimpurity limit | ≤ 0.05 | |
| Feimpurity limit | ≤ 0.05 | |
| Zn | balance |
What surface finishes work on C23000?
Buffs to a bright red-gold; readily nickel-, chrome- or gold-plated, chemically colored/antiqued, and clear-lacquered to prevent tarnish; anodizing not applicable.
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 C23000 in FabDigit's catalog. Equivalence is nominal — check the exact specification when certification matters.
- ASTM
- B43
- EN / DIN / Werkstoff-Nr.
- CuZn15CW502L
- GB (China)
- H85
- JIS
- C2300
How much does C23000 cost?
C23000 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.
C23000 — frequently asked
What is C23000 used for?
C23000 is typically used for plumbing pipe and fittings, radiator cores, electrical sockets, weatherstripping and hardware. In short: corrosion-resistant plumbing brass; 159 W/m·K tube alloy; high cold-drawing capability.
What is the yield strength of C23000?
C23000 has a typical yield strength of 85 MPa (12.3 ksi) and a tensile strength of 280 MPa (40.6 ksi) — weaker than 89% of copper alloy grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 9 listed tempers.
Is C23000 easy to machine?
Not especially — machinability is rated poor (28/100, worse than 78% of copper alloy grades). Gummy alpha brass at ~30 % of free-cutting brass — use sharp positive-rake tools, high speed, light feeds and good lubrication; not a screw-machine alloy.
Can C23000 be welded?
Yes — weldability is rated good (55/100). Excellent soldering and brazing; GTAW/oxyfuel are workable with silicon-bronze or brass filler but zinc fuming and porosity limit fusion welding; resistance welding fair.
What surface finishes work on C23000?
Buffs to a bright red-gold; readily nickel-, chrome- or gold-plated, chemically colored/antiqued, and clear-lacquered to prevent tarnish; anodizing not applicable.
Can C23000 be formed, bent or molded?
Outstanding cold formability in OS tempers — deep drawing, spinning, heading and tube bending; interanneal ~450–600 °C and stress-relieve ~275 °C to avoid season cracking.
What is the maximum service temperature of C23000?
C23000 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 C23000-OS050 and C23000-H10?
OS050 is the default condition — softest commercial condition — pick for deep drawing, spinning, severe bending and tube bending. H10: maximum cold-worked strength; only for flat, blanked or very lightly formed spring components. Yield strength is 85 MPa in OS050 versus 440 MPa in H10.
How much does C23000 cost?
C23000 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
- ASTM B43 — Seamless Red Brass Pipe, Standard Sizes — ASTM International (2020)
- ASTM B36/B36M — Brass Plate, Sheet, Strip and Rolled Bar — ASTM International (2018)
- CDA Alloy Datasheet C23000 (Red Brass 85 %) — Copper Development Association (2023)
- ASM Handbook Vol. 2 — Properties of Nonferrous Alloys — ASM International (1990)
- EN 12164/12165 CuZn15 (CW502L) — CEN (2016)
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.