Copper Alloy C43500
UNS C43500
C43500 is a higher-tin wrought brass supplied as strip and drawn tube in tempers from OS035 to H80, with the added tin improving corrosion resistance over plain Cu-Zn brasses.
Reference datasheet — C43500 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 OS025 condition
C43500 tempers and conditions
C43500 is supplied in 8 conditions, soft to hard. OS025 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 to 0.035 mm grain size | Softest commercial temper — pick for deep drawing, tube bending and severe forming of bellows/Bourdon blanks. | 110 | 315 | 50 | 55 HB | 28 % IACS |
OS025Default Annealed to 0.025 mm grain size | Standard stocked soft temper: fine grain gives a smooth drawn surface (orange-peel free) with still-excellent formability. | 125 | 330 | 46 | 60 HB | 28 % IACS |
Quarter hard | Light cold work for parts needing extra stiffness while retaining moderate bend formability. | 275 | 380 | 25 | 95 HB | 27.5 % IACS |
Hard drawn | Standard as-drawn tube temper for Bourdon tubes, gauge and instrument tubing needing elastic response with some bendability. | 310 | 415 | 20 | 115 HB | — |
Half hard | Best strength/formability compromise for springy clips, ferrules and gauge parts that still need 90° bends. | 345 | 420 | 13 | 120 HB | — |
Full hard | Full-hard strip for flat springs, contacts and stamped parts requiring high yield strength and only gentle forming. | 450 | 505 | 5 | 145 HB | — |
Extra hard | Choose when higher spring rate than H04 is needed and forming is limited to flat blanking. | 505 | 560 | 4 | 160 HB | 27 % IACS |
Spring hard | Maximum-strength strip temper for flat springs and diaphragms; essentially no cold forming capability. | 540 | 605 | 3 | 172 HB | 27 % IACS |
What is C43500?
C43500 is a higher-tin wrought brass supplied as strip and drawn tube in tempers from OS035 to H80, with the added tin improving corrosion resistance over plain Cu-Zn brasses. In the annealed default condition it gives 125 MPa yield, 330 MPa tensile, 46% elongation, 60 HB (20 HRB) and 28% IACS, with a formability score of 88 for deep drawing and tube work. Machinability is only 30 relative to free-cutting brass, arc welding is not recommended, and heavy cold work must be stress-relieved to prevent season cracking. C43500 has a density of 8.53 g/cm³ (0.308 lb/in³), lighter than 62% of copper alloy grades. It melts at 899°C (1,650 °F). C43500 has a yield strength of 125 MPa (18.1 ksi) and a tensile strength of 330 MPa (47.9 ksi) — weaker than 77% of copper alloy grades. Elongation at break is 46% and the elastic modulus is 110 GPa (16 Msi).
What is C43500 used for?
- marine hardware
- plumbing fittings
- electrical hardware
Advantages
- Ductile — tolerates forming and impact — 46%, better than 96% of copper alloy grades
- Forms and bends easily — 88/100, better than 87% of copper alloy grades
Limitations
- Low strength — 125 MPa (18.1 ksi), worse than 77% of copper alloy grades
C43500 properties
Typical room-temperature values for C43500-OS025; bars are the position among copper alloy grades.
Physical3
C43500 has a density of 8.53 g/cm³ (0.308 lb/in³), lighter than 62% of copper alloy grades. It melts at 899°C (1,650 °F).
Mechanical12
C43500 has a yield strength of 125 MPa (18.1 ksi) and a tensile strength of 330 MPa (47.9 ksi) — weaker than 77% of copper alloy grades. Elongation at break is 46% and the elastic modulus is 110 GPa (16 Msi).
Thermal6
C43500 is rated for continuous service to 200°C (392 °F). It conducts heat at 116 W/m·K (67 BTU/hr·ft·°F), better than 64% of copper alloy grades. Thermal expansion is 20.3 µm/m·K (11.3 µin/in·°F).
Electrical3
C43500 conducts electricity at 28 % IACS, better than 69% of copper alloy grades.
Chemical & Environmental3
Corrosion resistance is good (60/100), worse than 68% of copper alloy grades.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of C43500 takes about 55 MJ of energy and emits 3.5 kg of CO₂ — less than 72% of copper alloy grades. Typical recycled content is 45%.
Manufacturability8
C43500's machinability is poor (30/100, worse than 67% of copper alloy grades); weldability fair (40/100); formability excellent (88/100).
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. C43500 is highlighted; hover a dot for its name, or open the interactive family chart.
Working with C43500
Is C43500 easy to machine?
Machinability ~30 % of free-cutting brass — gummy, long chips; use sharp positive-rake tools, high speed, generous coolant and chip breakers.
Can C43500 be welded?
Solders and brazes excellently (best joining route); resistance and oxyacetylene welding fair, arc welding not recommended due to zinc fuming and porosity.
Can C43500 be formed, bent or molded?
Excellent cold formability in OS tempers — deep drawing, tube drawing and bending; stress-relieve at 250–300 °C after heavy forming to avoid season cracking.
C43500 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Cucopper plus silver | 79 – 83 | 81 |
| Sn | 0.6 – 1.2 | 0.9 |
| Pb | ≤ 0.1 | |
| Fe | ≤ 0.05 | |
| Znremainder, nominally ~18 % | balance |
What surface finishes work on C43500?
Not anodizable; polishes to a bright yellow-gold finish, accepts nickel/chrome/tin plating and clear lacquer, or can be chemically patinated.
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).
How much does C43500 cost?
C43500 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.
C43500 — frequently asked
What is C43500 used for?
C43500 is typically used for marine hardware, plumbing fittings and electrical hardware. In short: most formable tin brass; higher tin for corrosion resistance; deep-draw and tube grade.
What is the yield strength of C43500?
C43500 has a typical yield strength of 125 MPa (18.1 ksi) and a tensile strength of 330 MPa (47.9 ksi) — weaker than 77% of copper alloy grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 8 listed tempers.
Is C43500 easy to machine?
Not especially — machinability is rated poor (30/100, worse than 67% of copper alloy grades). Machinability ~30 % of free-cutting brass — gummy, long chips; use sharp positive-rake tools, high speed, generous coolant and chip breakers.
Can C43500 be welded?
With care — weldability is rated fair (40/100). Solders and brazes excellently (best joining route); resistance and oxyacetylene welding fair, arc welding not recommended due to zinc fuming and porosity.
What surface finishes work on C43500?
Not anodizable; polishes to a bright yellow-gold finish, accepts nickel/chrome/tin plating and clear lacquer, or can be chemically patinated.
Can C43500 be formed, bent or molded?
Excellent cold formability in OS tempers — deep drawing, tube drawing and bending; stress-relieve at 250–300 °C after heavy forming to avoid season cracking.
What is the maximum service temperature of C43500?
C43500 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 C43500-OS025 and C43500-H08?
OS025 is the default condition — standard stocked soft temper: fine grain gives a smooth drawn surface (orange-peel free) with still-excellent formability. H08: maximum-strength strip temper for flat springs and diaphragms; essentially no cold forming capability. Yield strength is 125 MPa in OS025 versus 540 MPa in H08.
How much does C43500 cost?
C43500 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 B135 / B587 — Seamless Brass Tube and Welded Brass Tube — ASTM International (2019)
- ASTM B36/B36M — Brass Plate, Sheet, Strip and Rolled Bar — ASTM International (2018)
- CDA Alloy Database, C43500 tin brass — Copper Development Association (2023)
- ASM Handbook Vol. 2 — Properties and Selection: Nonferrous Alloys — ASM International (1990)
- GB/T 26303 / GB/T 1527 (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.