Copper Alloy C86500
UNS C86500 · ASTM B584
C86500 is the general-purpose high-strength manganese bronze casting alloy of the ASTM B584 family, an alpha-beta yellow brass with manganese, aluminium and iron additions.
Reference datasheet — C86500 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 M01 condition
C86500 tempers and conditions
C86500 is supplied in 5 conditions, soft to hard. M01 is the default FabDigit quotes; the values on this page are for it.
Compare all 5 conditionsHide
| Condition · open for datasheet | Best for | Yield MPa | Tensile MPa | Elong. % | Hardness | Conductivity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Light annealed | Low-temperature (≈250–300 °C) stress relief used before final machining of thin or dimensionally critical castings; strength essentially unchanged. | 185 | 480 | 32 | 100 HB | 22 % IACS |
M01Default As sand cast | Standard as-cast sand-mould condition per ASTM B584; the usual stock for gears, bushings and marine fittings. | 195 | 490 | 30 | 105 HB | 22 % IACS |
As centrifugally cast | Pick for large rings, worm-gear rims and bushings needing sounder, finer-grained metal than sand casting (ASTM B271). | 205 | 510 | 28 | 110 HB | 22 % IACS |
As continuous cast | Continuous-cast solid and hollow bar (ASTM B505) — best choice when machining bushings or sleeves from stock bar. | 205 | 500 | 25 | 110 HB | 22 % IACS |
As plaster cast | For repeat production of smaller parts where the chilled, fine-grained structure gives higher strength and better surface than sand casting. | 215 | 520 | 25 | 115 HB | 22 % IACS |
What is C86500?
C86500 is the general-purpose high-strength manganese bronze casting alloy of the ASTM B584 family, an alpha-beta yellow brass with manganese, aluminium and iron additions. It is widely poured in sand, centrifugal, permanent-mould and continuous casting for gears, bushings and marine hardware: 490 MPa tensile, 195 MPa yield, 30% elongation, 105 HB, 22% IACS. It has essentially no lead, so machinability is only about 26% of free-cutting brass, fusion welding is not recommended, and service is capped at 200 °C with velocity and dezincification limits in seawater; C86400 is the free-machining alternative. C86500 has a density of 8.3 g/cm³ (0.3 lb/in³), lighter than 80% of copper alloy grades. It melts at 862°C (1,584 °F). C86500 has a yield strength of 195 MPa (28.3 ksi) and a tensile strength of 490 MPa (71.1 ksi) — weaker than 56% of copper alloy grades. Elongation at break is 30% and the elastic modulus is 105 GPa (15.2 Msi).
What is C86500 used for?
- Gears
- Marine hardware
- Bushings
- Structural castings
Advantages
- Low embodied carbon — 3.2 kg CO₂/kg, better than 92% of copper alloy grades
- Ductile — tolerates forming and impact — 30%, better than 75% of copper alloy grades
Limitations
- Limited formability — 15/100, worse than 79% of copper alloy grades
- Difficult to weld — 25/100, worse than 78% of copper alloy grades
C86500 properties
Typical room-temperature values for C86500-M01; bars are the position among copper alloy grades.
Physical3
C86500 has a density of 8.3 g/cm³ (0.3 lb/in³), lighter than 80% of copper alloy grades. It melts at 862°C (1,584 °F).
Mechanical15
C86500 has a yield strength of 195 MPa (28.3 ksi) and a tensile strength of 490 MPa (71.1 ksi) — weaker than 56% of copper alloy grades. Elongation at break is 30% and the elastic modulus is 105 GPa (15.2 Msi).
Thermal6
C86500 is rated for continuous service to 200°C (392 °F). It conducts heat at 87 W/m·K (50.3 BTU/hr·ft·°F), better than 53% of copper alloy grades. Thermal expansion is 21.6 µm/m·K (12 µin/in·°F).
Electrical3
C86500 conducts electricity at 22 % IACS, better than 55% of copper alloy grades.
Chemical & Environmental3
Corrosion resistance is good (58/100), worse than 76% of copper alloy grades.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of C86500 takes about 50 MJ of energy and emits 3.2 kg of CO₂ — less than 89% of copper alloy grades. Typical recycled content is 80%.
Manufacturability8
C86500's machinability is poor (30/100, worse than 67% of copper alloy grades); weldability poor (25/100); formability poor (15/100).
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. C86500 is highlighted; hover a dot for its name, or open the interactive family chart.
Working with C86500
Is C86500 easy to machine?
Machines like a tough alpha-beta brass: rating ≈26% of free-cutting brass, use sharp positive-rake carbide, moderate speeds and generous coolant; chips are stringy because Pb is limited.
Can C86500 be welded?
Fusion welding is not recommended (Zn fume, hot cracking); repair by braze welding or silicon-bronze GTAW with low heat input, or use brazing/soldering for joints.
Can C86500 be formed, bent or molded?
Casting alloy — sand, centrifugal, permanent-mould and continuous casting all work well; pour with low turbulence and adequate feeding, and expect ~2% shrinkage plus Zn loss control in melting.
C86500 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 | 55 – 60 | 58 |
| Fegrain refiner / strengthener | 0.4 – 2 | 1 |
| Al | 0.5 – 1.5 | 1 |
| Mn | 0.1 – 1.5 | 0.5 |
| Sn | ≤ 1 | 0.3 |
| Pb | ≤ 0.4 | 0.2 |
| Niincluding Co | ≤ 1 | |
| Si | ≤ 0.05 | |
| Zn | ≥ 36 (balance) |
What surface finishes work on C86500?
Not anodisable; use mechanical polishing, chemical brass finishes/black oxide, Ni or Cr plating, or leave bare for marine service with attention to velocity limits.
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 C86500 in FabDigit's catalog. Equivalence is nominal — check the exact specification when certification matters.
- ASTM
- B584
How much does C86500 cost?
C86500 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.
C86500 — frequently asked
What is C86500 used for?
C86500 is typically used for gears, marine hardware, bushings and structural castings. In short: workhorse manganese bronze; high ductility for the family; strong marine casting alloy.
What is the yield strength of C86500?
C86500 has a typical yield strength of 195 MPa (28.3 ksi) and a tensile strength of 490 MPa (71.1 ksi) — weaker than 56% of copper alloy grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 5 listed tempers.
Is C86500 easy to machine?
Not especially — machinability is rated poor (30/100, worse than 67% of copper alloy grades). Machines like a tough alpha-beta brass: rating ≈26% of free-cutting brass, use sharp positive-rake carbide, moderate speeds and generous coolant; chips are stringy because Pb is limited.
Can C86500 be welded?
Not readily — weldability is rated poor (25/100). Fusion welding is not recommended (Zn fume, hot cracking); repair by braze welding or silicon-bronze GTAW with low heat input, or use brazing/soldering for joints.
What surface finishes work on C86500?
Not anodisable; use mechanical polishing, chemical brass finishes/black oxide, Ni or Cr plating, or leave bare for marine service with attention to velocity limits.
Can C86500 be formed, bent or molded?
Casting alloy — sand, centrifugal, permanent-mould and continuous casting all work well; pour with low turbulence and adequate feeding, and expect ~2% shrinkage plus Zn loss control in melting.
What is the maximum service temperature of C86500?
C86500 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 C86500-M01 and C86500-M05?
M01 is the default condition — standard as-cast sand-mould condition per ASTM B584; the usual stock for gears, bushings and marine fittings. M05: for repeat production of smaller parts where the chilled, fine-grained structure gives higher strength and better surface than sand casting. Yield strength is 195 MPa in M01 versus 215 MPa in M05.
How much does C86500 cost?
C86500 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 B584 — Standard Specification for Copper Alloy Sand Castings for General Applications — ASTM International (2022)
- ASTM B271 — Copper-Base Alloy Centrifugal Castings — ASTM International (2020)
- ASTM B505/B505M — Copper Alloy Continuous Castings — ASTM International (2018)
- CDA/UNS Alloy Datasheet C86500 — Copper Development Association (copper.org) (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.