Copper Alloy C46500
UNS C46500 · ASTM B21
C46500 is arsenical naval brass — the C46400 α+β tin-brass with an arsenic addition that inhibits dezincification — supplied as rod, bar, plate and forgings to ASTM B21.
Reference datasheet — C46500 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 M20 condition
C46500 tempers and conditions
C46500 is supplied in 9 conditions, soft to hard. M20 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Soft annealed | Pick when maximum ductility for deep bending, spinning or heavy cold forming is needed. | 150 | 370 | 48 | 80 HB | — |
M20Default As hot rolled | Default stock condition for naval-brass plate, tube sheet and heavy bar where full ductility and easy hot forming matter. | 170 | 385 | 40 | 95 HB | 26 % IACS |
As hot extruded | Standard as-extruded rod and profile condition for marine hardware machined after supply. | 170 | 380 | 40 | 92 HB | 26 % IACS |
Light annealed | Partially annealed sheet/tube: good ductility with slightly higher strength and better surface stiffness than O60. | 200 | 400 | 42 | 90 HB | 26 % IACS |
Quarter hard | Light cold work for straight, dimensionally stable bar and sheet that still bends moderately. | 250 | 440 | 30 | 115 HB | — |
Half hard | Most common cold-worked temper for valve stems, shafting and marine fasteners needing higher yield strength. | 340 | 480 | 20 | 130 HB | — |
Hard drawn | Cold-drawn seawater tube/condenser tube temper with good pressure rating and straightness. | 380 | 540 | 15 | 145 HB | 26 % IACS |
Full hard | Choose for maximum strength, wear and thread-holding in springs, clips and highly loaded marine parts; limited bending. | 415 | 585 | 13 | 160 HB | — |
Extra hard | Heavily drawn wire/small rod where peak hardness and spring temper are required. | 470 | 620 | 10 | 175 HB | 25 % IACS |
What is C46500?
C46500 is arsenical naval brass — the C46400 α+β tin-brass with an arsenic addition that inhibits dezincification — supplied as rod, bar, plate and forgings to ASTM B21. It is chosen for seawater hardware that must be both corrosion-resistant and hot-workable, giving 170 MPa yield, 385 MPa tensile, 40 % elongation, 95 HB (55 HRB), 116 W/m·K thermal conductivity, 26 % IACS and 200 °C maximum service temperature. Cold formability is only fair and fusion welding is limited by zinc fuming and porosity; where free-machining matters more than bending or welding behaviour, leaded C48200 or C47940 cut faster. C46500 has a density of 8.41 g/cm³ (0.304 lb/in³), lighter than 72% of copper alloy grades. It melts at 885°C (1,625 °F). C46500 has a yield strength of 170 MPa (24.7 ksi) and a tensile strength of 385 MPa (55.8 ksi) — weaker than 62% of copper alloy grades. Elongation at break is 40% and the elastic modulus is 100 GPa (14.5 Msi).
What is C46500 used for?
- marine hardware
- condenser plates
- shafting sleeves
Advantages
- Ductile — tolerates forming and impact — 40%, better than 84% of copper alloy grades
Limitations
- Low stiffness — 100 GPa (14.5 Msi), worse than 82% of copper alloy grades
C46500 properties
Typical room-temperature values for C46500-M20; bars are the position among copper alloy grades.
Physical3
C46500 has a density of 8.41 g/cm³ (0.304 lb/in³), lighter than 72% of copper alloy grades. It melts at 885°C (1,625 °F).
Mechanical13
C46500 has a yield strength of 170 MPa (24.7 ksi) and a tensile strength of 385 MPa (55.8 ksi) — weaker than 62% of copper alloy grades. Elongation at break is 40% and the elastic modulus is 100 GPa (14.5 Msi).
Thermal6
C46500 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 21.2 µm/m·K (11.8 µin/in·°F).
Electrical3
C46500 conducts electricity at 26 % IACS, better than 63% of copper alloy grades.
Chemical & Environmental3
Corrosion resistance is good (64/100), better than 52% of copper alloy grades.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of C46500 takes about 58 MJ of energy and emits 3.6 kg of CO₂ — more than 61% of copper alloy grades. Typical recycled content is 45%.
Manufacturability8
C46500's machinability is poor (32/100, worse than 57% of copper alloy grades); weldability fair (45/100); formability good (60/100).
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. C46500 is highlighted; hover a dot for its name, or open the interactive family chart.
Working with C46500
Is C46500 easy to machine?
Free-machining only in a relative sense (≈30 % of AISI 1212) — the α+β structure cuts cleanly with sharp positive-rake carbide/HSS tools, high speed, light feed and soluble-oil coolant; chips are short but stringier than in leaded C36000.
Can C46500 be welded?
GTAW/GMAW with silicon-bronze or aluminium-bronze filler is possible but zinc fuming and porosity require good extraction, low heat input and no preheat above ~150 °C; brazing and soldering are the preferred joining routes.
Can C46500 be formed, bent or molded?
Excellent hot workability at 650–800 °C (forge, extrude, hot roll); cold formability is only fair — anneal at 425–600 °C between heavy draws and avoid retained cold work in ammonia-bearing service to prevent SCC.
C46500 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Cu | 59 – 62 | 60.5 |
| Sn | 0.5 – 1 | 0.75 |
| Asdezincification inhibitor | 0.02 – 0.06 | 0.04 |
| Pbimpurity limit | ≤ 0.2 | 0.05 |
| Feimpurity limit | ≤ 0.1 | 0.05 |
| Znremainder, ≈37–40 % | balance |
What surface finishes work on C46500?
Polishes to a bright yellow finish; not anodizable — protect with benzotriazole/chromate passivation, clear lacquer, or Ni/Cr electroplate, and passivate/de-stress after machining for marine exposure.
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 C46500 in FabDigit's catalog. Equivalence is nominal — check the exact specification when certification matters.
- ASTM
- B21
- Similar grades
- C46400
How much does C46500 cost?
C46500 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.
C46500 — frequently asked
What is C46500 used for?
C46500 is typically used for marine hardware, condenser plates and shafting sleeves. In short: dezincification-resistant naval brass; severe seawater service grade; excellent hot workability.
What is the yield strength of C46500?
C46500 has a typical yield strength of 170 MPa (24.7 ksi) and a tensile strength of 385 MPa (55.8 ksi) — weaker than 62% of copper alloy grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 9 listed tempers.
Is C46500 easy to machine?
Not especially — machinability is rated poor (32/100, worse than 57% of copper alloy grades). Free-machining only in a relative sense (≈30 % of AISI 1212) — the α+β structure cuts cleanly with sharp positive-rake carbide/HSS tools, high speed, light feed and soluble-oil coolant; chips are short but stringier than in leaded C36000.
Can C46500 be welded?
With care — weldability is rated fair (45/100). GTAW/GMAW with silicon-bronze or aluminium-bronze filler is possible but zinc fuming and porosity require good extraction, low heat input and no preheat above ~150 °C; brazing and soldering are the preferred joining routes.
What surface finishes work on C46500?
Polishes to a bright yellow finish; not anodizable — protect with benzotriazole/chromate passivation, clear lacquer, or Ni/Cr electroplate, and passivate/de-stress after machining for marine exposure.
Can C46500 be formed, bent or molded?
Excellent hot workability at 650–800 °C (forge, extrude, hot roll); cold formability is only fair — anneal at 425–600 °C between heavy draws and avoid retained cold work in ammonia-bearing service to prevent SCC.
What is the maximum service temperature of C46500?
C46500 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 C46500-M20 and C46500-H06?
M20 is the default condition — default stock condition for naval-brass plate, tube sheet and heavy bar where full ductility and easy hot forming matter. H06: heavily drawn wire/small rod where peak hardness and spring temper are required. Yield strength is 170 MPa in M20 versus 470 MPa in H06.
How much does C46500 cost?
C46500 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 B21/B21M — Naval Brass Rod, Bar and Shapes — ASTM International (2021)
- ASTM B171/B171M — Copper-Alloy Plate for Condensers and Heat Exchangers — ASTM International (2018)
- CDA Alloy Datasheet C46500 (Arsenical Naval Brass) — Copper Development Association / copper.org (2023)
- ASM Handbook Vol.2 — Properties and Selection: Nonferrous Alloys — ASM International (1990)
- ASM Handbook Vol.13B — Corrosion: Materials (copper alloys in seawater) — 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.