Copper Alloy C24000
UNS C24000 · ASTM B36 · EN CuZn20, CW503L · JIS C2400 · GB H80
C24000 is an 80/20 copper-zinc alpha brass (low brass, CuZn20, CW503L) hardened by cold work and supplied as strip, tube, rod and wire from OS050 to H10.
Reference datasheet — C24000 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
C24000 tempers and conditions
C24000 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
OS050Default Annealed to 0.050 mm grain size | Standard stocked soft temper for deep drawing, spinning, tube bending and instrument work. | 105 | 290 | 55 | 55 HB | 32 % IACS |
As hot rolled | Pick for hot-rolled plate/bar where a soft, as-worked surface is acceptable and no temper control is needed. | 105 | 290 | 50 | 58 HB | 32 % IACS |
Quarter hard | Light cold-work temper when moderate stiffness is needed but severe bending/forming still follows. | 230 | 340 | 43 | 95 HB | — |
Half hard | The workhorse cold-rolled temper: good balance of strength and remaining bend ductility. | 310 | 395 | 30 | 120 HB | — |
Three-quarter hard | Use where higher yield strength is required and only mild forming (gentle bends) remains. | 380 | 450 | 15 | 135 HB | — |
Full hard | Standard hard strip/wire temper for flat springs, contacts and stiff decorative trim. | 415 | 510 | 8 | 150 HB | — |
Extra hard | Choose for high-strength flat stock and wire where forming is limited to shallow forming or straight cut parts. | 480 | 570 | 5 | 165 HB | — |
Spring hard | Spring temper strip/wire for flexible metal hose, reeds and formed springs with high elastic limit. | 510 | 620 | 4 | 175 HB | — |
Extra spring hard | Maximum cold-rolled strength for thin spring strip; almost no bend ductility, order only when the elastic limit governs. | 525 | 640 | 3 | 180 HB | — |
What is C24000?
C24000 is an 80/20 copper-zinc alpha brass (low brass, CuZn20, CW503L) hardened by cold work and supplied as strip, tube, rod and wire from OS050 to H10. Annealed values of 290 MPa tensile, 105 MPa yield, 55 % elongation and 55 HB with a formability score of 95 make it a standard choice for corrugated flexible hose, drawn shells and instrument tubing; thermal conductivity is 138 W/m·K and electrical conductivity 32 % IACS. Machinability is only about 30 % of C36000, fusion welding is marginal, and service is limited to 200 °C — specify C36000 for turned parts. C24000 has a density of 8.67 g/cm³ (0.313 lb/in³), lighter than 57% of copper alloy grades. It melts at 1,000°C (1,832 °F). C24000 has a yield strength of 105 MPa (15.2 ksi) and a tensile strength of 290 MPa (42.1 ksi) — weaker than 85% of copper alloy grades. Elongation at break is 55% and the elastic modulus is 105 GPa (15.2 Msi).
What is C24000 used for?
- musical instruments
- flexible metal hose
- jewelry
- battery caps
Advantages
- Ductile — tolerates forming and impact — 55%, better than 98% of copper alloy grades
- Forms and bends easily — 95/100, better than 94% of copper alloy grades
- Polishes to a fine finish — 85/100, better than 92% of copper alloy grades
Limitations
- Low strength — 105 MPa (15.2 ksi), worse than 85% of copper alloy grades
C24000 properties
Typical room-temperature values for C24000-OS050; bars are the position among copper alloy grades.
Physical3
C24000 has a density of 8.67 g/cm³ (0.313 lb/in³), lighter than 57% of copper alloy grades. It melts at 1,000°C (1,832 °F).
Mechanical11
C24000 has a yield strength of 105 MPa (15.2 ksi) and a tensile strength of 290 MPa (42.1 ksi) — weaker than 85% of copper alloy grades. Elongation at break is 55% and the elastic modulus is 105 GPa (15.2 Msi).
Thermal6
C24000 is rated for continuous service to 200°C (392 °F). It conducts heat at 138 W/m·K (79.7 BTU/hr·ft·°F), better than 71% of copper alloy grades. Thermal expansion is 18.4 µm/m·K (10.2 µin/in·°F).
Electrical3
C24000 conducts electricity at 32 % IACS, better than 72% of copper alloy grades.
Chemical & Environmental3
Corrosion resistance is good (60/100), worse than 68% of copper alloy grades.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of C24000 takes about 58 MJ of energy and emits 4 kg of CO₂ — more than 61% of copper alloy grades. Typical recycled content is 40%.
Manufacturability8
C24000's machinability is poor (32/100, worse than 57% of copper alloy grades); weldability fair (45/100); 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. C24000 is highlighted; hover a dot for its name, or open the interactive family chart.
Working with C24000
Is C24000 easy to machine?
Machinability only ~30 % of free-cutting C36000 — gummy, long chips; use sharp positive-rake tools, high speed, light feeds and generous emulsion, or switch to C36000 where turning dominates.
Can C24000 be welded?
Fusion welding is marginal (zinc fume, porosity); resistance spot/seam welding is fair and soldering/silver brazing is excellent — braze or solder wherever possible and ventilate for Zn.
Can C24000 be formed, bent or molded?
Outstanding cold formability in OS050: deep drawing, spinning, tube bending and flexible-hose corrugating; interstage anneal at 425–600 °C and stress-relieve cold-worked parts at 260–300 °C to avoid season cracking.
C24000 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 |
|---|---|---|
| CuASTM B36/B135 range for C24000 | 78.5 – 81.5 | 80 |
| Pbimpurity limit | ≤ 0.05 | |
| Feimpurity limit | ≤ 0.05 | |
| Znbalance, incl. minor unnamed impurities | balance |
What surface finishes work on C24000?
Polishes to a bright gold luster; accepts nickel/chrome/gold plating, clear lacquer and chemical patination — not anodizable, and lacquer or oil is needed to prevent tarnish.
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 C24000 in FabDigit's catalog. Equivalence is nominal — check the exact specification when certification matters.
- ASTM
- B36
- EN / DIN / Werkstoff-Nr.
- CuZn20CW503L
- GB (China)
- H80
- JIS
- C2400
How much does C24000 cost?
C24000 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.
C24000 — frequently asked
What is C24000 used for?
C24000 is typically used for musical instruments, flexible metal hose, jewelry and battery caps. In short: high-elongation drawing brass; warm gold color; flexible-hose corrugating grade.
What is the yield strength of C24000?
C24000 has a typical yield strength of 105 MPa (15.2 ksi) and a tensile strength of 290 MPa (42.1 ksi) — weaker than 85% of copper alloy grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 9 listed tempers.
Is C24000 easy to machine?
Not especially — machinability is rated poor (32/100, worse than 57% of copper alloy grades). Machinability only ~30 % of free-cutting C36000 — gummy, long chips; use sharp positive-rake tools, high speed, light feeds and generous emulsion, or switch to C36000 where turning dominates.
Can C24000 be welded?
With care — weldability is rated fair (45/100). Fusion welding is marginal (zinc fume, porosity); resistance spot/seam welding is fair and soldering/silver brazing is excellent — braze or solder wherever possible and ventilate for Zn.
What surface finishes work on C24000?
Polishes to a bright gold luster; accepts nickel/chrome/gold plating, clear lacquer and chemical patination — not anodizable, and lacquer or oil is needed to prevent tarnish.
Can C24000 be formed, bent or molded?
Outstanding cold formability in OS050: deep drawing, spinning, tube bending and flexible-hose corrugating; interstage anneal at 425–600 °C and stress-relieve cold-worked parts at 260–300 °C to avoid season cracking.
What is the maximum service temperature of C24000?
C24000 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 C24000-OS050 and C24000-H10?
OS050 is the default condition — standard stocked soft temper for deep drawing, spinning, tube bending and instrument work. H10: maximum cold-rolled strength for thin spring strip; almost no bend ductility, order only when the elastic limit governs. Yield strength is 105 MPa in OS050 versus 525 MPa in H10.
How much does C24000 cost?
C24000 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 B36/B36M — Brass Plate, Sheet, Strip, and Rolled Bar — ASTM International (2018)
- ASTM B135/B135M — Seamless Brass Tube — ASTM International (2017)
- Copper Alloy C24000 alloy datasheet (properties, tempers, machinability) — Copper Development Association (2023)
- ASM Handbook Vol. 2 — Properties and Selection: Nonferrous Alloys — ASM International (1990)
- EN 1652 / EN 12163 — Cu-Zn20 (CW503L) wrought copper products — CEN (2016)
- GB/T 2040 / GB/T 2059 — H80 (2017)
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.