Copper Alloy C26800
UNS C26800 · EN CW506L, CuZn33
C26800 is a 33 % zinc yellow brass (CuZn33, EN CW506L) in the wrought C20000–C49999 family, supplied as strip, sheet, wire and rod in M20 and OS050 through H10 tempers.
Reference datasheet — C26800 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
C26800 tempers and conditions
C26800 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 | Softest standard stock condition — pick for deep drawing, spinning, severe bending and re-forming. | 110 | 324 | 55 | 55 HB | 27 % IACS |
As hot rolled | Mill hot-rolled plate/bar condition — soft, cheap, for parts that will be machined or further worked. | 117 | 331 | 50 | 58 HB | 27 % IACS |
Quarter hard | Light cold work — still very formable but with useful added stiffness for stamped brackets and trim. | 276 | 379 | 43 | 90 HB | 27 % IACS |
Half hard | The workhorse temper: good strength with enough ductility for 90° bends across the grain. | 358 | 427 | 23 | 115 HB | 27 % IACS |
Three-quarter hard | Choose when higher yield is needed but the part still requires mild forming or riveting. | 400 | 476 | 15 | 130 HB | 26.5 % IACS |
Full hard | Standard hard sheet/strip for flat stamped parts, washers and contacts needing stiffness, minimal forming. | 427 | 524 | 8 | 145 HB | 26.5 % IACS |
Extra hard | High-strength strip for flat springs and shims where only slight forming is required. | 462 | 586 | 5 | 160 HB | 26 % IACS |
Spring hard | Spring strip: highest practical elastic limit for clips, contact fingers and diaphragms. | 500 | 634 | 4 | 170 HB | 26 % IACS |
Extra spring hard | Maximum-strength thin strip; bend only along generous radii parallel to rolling direction. | 540 | 683 | 3 | 180 HB | 26 % IACS |
What is C26800?
C26800 is a 33 % zinc yellow brass (CuZn33, EN CW506L) in the wrought C20000–C49999 family, supplied as strip, sheet, wire and rod in M20 and OS050 through H10 tempers. Annealed material gives 110 MPa yield, 324 MPa tensile and 55 % elongation at 55 HB (20 HRB), with 121 W/m·K and 27 % IACS, making it a standard choice for deep-drawn, spun and stamped fasteners and plumbing or electrical hardware. Machinability is about 30 % of free-cutting brass, fusion welding is only fair, service tops out at 250 °C, and cold-worked parts must be stress relieved against season cracking; use C36000 for turning-intensive parts. C26800 has a density of 8.47 g/cm³ (0.306 lb/in³), lighter than 68% of copper alloy grades. It melts at 909°C (1,668 °F). C26800 has a yield strength of 110 MPa (16 ksi) and a tensile strength of 324 MPa (47 ksi) — weaker than 82% of copper alloy grades. Elongation at break is 55% and the elastic modulus is 105 GPa (15.2 Msi).
What is C26800 used for?
- fasteners
- plumbing hardware
- electrical hardware
- stamped and drawn parts
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 — 110 MPa (16 ksi), worse than 82% of copper alloy grades
C26800 properties
Typical room-temperature values for C26800-OS050; bars are the position among copper alloy grades.
Physical3
C26800 has a density of 8.47 g/cm³ (0.306 lb/in³), lighter than 68% of copper alloy grades. It melts at 909°C (1,668 °F).
Mechanical12
C26800 has a yield strength of 110 MPa (16 ksi) and a tensile strength of 324 MPa (47 ksi) — weaker than 82% of copper alloy grades. Elongation at break is 55% and the elastic modulus is 105 GPa (15.2 Msi).
Thermal6
C26800 is rated for continuous service to 250°C (482 °F). It conducts heat at 121 W/m·K (69.9 BTU/hr·ft·°F), better than 68% of copper alloy grades. Thermal expansion is 20 µm/m·K (11.1 µin/in·°F).
Electrical3
C26800 conducts electricity at 27 % IACS, better than 67% of copper alloy grades.
Chemical & Environmental3
Corrosion resistance is good (58/100), worse than 76% of copper alloy grades.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of C26800 takes about 62 MJ of energy and emits 3.8 kg of CO₂ — more than 76% of copper alloy grades. Typical recycled content is 60%.
Manufacturability8
C26800'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. C26800 is highlighted; hover a dot for its name, or open the interactive family chart.
Working with C26800
Is C26800 easy to machine?
Machinability only ~30 % of free-cutting brass — gummy, long chips; use sharp positive-rake carbide, high speed, light feeds, or switch to C36000 if turning-intensive.
Can C26800 be welded?
Resistance and oxy-fuel brazing/soldering are excellent; fusion welding is fair — zinc fume and porosity require silicon-bronze filler, low heat input and ventilation.
Can C26800 be formed, bent or molded?
Outstanding cold formability in OS050/H01 for deep drawing, spinning and stamping; interanneal ~450–600 °C and stress-relieve ~260–300 °C after forming to prevent season cracking.
C26800 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Cuincludes Ag | 64 – 68.5 | 66 |
| Pbimpurity limit | ≤ 0.15 | |
| Feimpurity limit | ≤ 0.05 | |
| Zn | balance |
What surface finishes work on C26800?
Not anodizable; bright-dips, tumbling and buffing give a high polish — protect with lacquer or clear coat, or nickel/chrome/PVD plate for wear and tarnish resistance.
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 C26800 in FabDigit's catalog. Equivalence is nominal — check the exact specification when certification matters.
- EN / DIN / Werkstoff-Nr.
- CW506LCuZn33
How much does C26800 cost?
C26800 is a premium-cost copper alloy ($$$), cheaper than about 51% 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.
C26800 — frequently asked
What is C26800 used for?
C26800 is typically used for fasteners, plumbing hardware, electrical hardware and stamped and drawn parts. In short: top-formability yellow brass; 55 % elongation annealed; standard drawing and stamping brass.
What is the yield strength of C26800?
C26800 has a typical yield strength of 110 MPa (16 ksi) and a tensile strength of 324 MPa (47 ksi) — weaker than 82% of copper alloy grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 9 listed tempers.
Is C26800 easy to machine?
Not especially — machinability is rated poor (32/100, worse than 57% of copper alloy grades). Machinability only ~30 % of free-cutting brass — gummy, long chips; use sharp positive-rake carbide, high speed, light feeds, or switch to C36000 if turning-intensive.
Can C26800 be welded?
With care — weldability is rated fair (45/100). Resistance and oxy-fuel brazing/soldering are excellent; fusion welding is fair — zinc fume and porosity require silicon-bronze filler, low heat input and ventilation.
What surface finishes work on C26800?
Not anodizable; bright-dips, tumbling and buffing give a high polish — protect with lacquer or clear coat, or nickel/chrome/PVD plate for wear and tarnish resistance.
Can C26800 be formed, bent or molded?
Outstanding cold formability in OS050/H01 for deep drawing, spinning and stamping; interanneal ~450–600 °C and stress-relieve ~260–300 °C after forming to prevent season cracking.
What is the maximum service temperature of C26800?
C26800 is rated for continuous use to about 250°C (482 °F). Strength falls off well before that limit — check the elevated-temperature data for load-bearing parts.
What is the difference between C26800-OS050 and C26800-H10?
OS050 is the default condition — softest standard stock condition — pick for deep drawing, spinning, severe bending and re-forming. H10: maximum-strength thin strip; bend only along generous radii parallel to rolling direction. Yield strength is 110 MPa in OS050 versus 540 MPa in H10.
How much does C26800 cost?
C26800 is a premium-cost copper alloy ($$$), cheaper than about 51% 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)
- EN 1652 / EN 12164 — CuZn33 (CW506L) — CEN (2016)
- CDA Alloy Datasheet C26800 (Yellow Brass 66/34) — Copper Development Association (2023)
- 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.