Copper Alloy C90400
UNS C90400
C90400 is a tin bronze casting alloy in the C90000 family with a zinc addition that improves fluidity and pressure tightness.
Reference datasheet — C90400 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
C90400 tempers and conditions
C90400 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Sand cast + stress relief anneal | Use when tight dimensional stability is needed after rough machining of thin-wall valve bodies. | 145 | 305 | 11 | 78 HB | 11 % IACS |
M01Default As sand cast | Standard route for valve bodies, pump housings and one-off/low-volume castings. | 150 | 310 | 10 | 80 HB | 11 % IACS |
As plaster cast | Medium-volume near-net parts; finer grain than sand cast, better surface and slightly higher strength. | 165 | 330 | 11 | 85 HB | 11 % IACS |
As centrifugally cast | Choose for large rings, bushings and worm-wheel rims needing dense, sound walls. | 170 | 340 | 12 | 85 HB | 11 % IACS |
As continuous cast | Standard stock form for machined bushings and thrust washers — densest structure, best machined finish. | 180 | 350 | 12 | 90 HB | 12 % IACS |
What is C90400?
C90400 is a tin bronze casting alloy in the C90000 family with a zinc addition that improves fluidity and pressure tightness. It is used for valves, bearings and gear blanks that need more hardness than low-tin grades, offering 310 MPa tensile strength, 150 MPa yield, 10 % elongation and 80 HB. It is a casting alloy only and is not cold formable, and fusion welding is difficult because the alloy is hot short and forms tin oxide dross. Where higher ductility matters more than hardness, C90200 is the nearer alternative. C90400 has a density of 8.75 g/cm³ (0.316 lb/in³), lighter than 51% of copper alloy grades. It melts at 830°C (1,526 °F). C90400 has a yield strength of 150 MPa (21.8 ksi) and a tensile strength of 310 MPa (45 ksi) — weaker than 69% of copper alloy grades. Elongation at break is 10% and the elastic modulus is 103 GPa (14.9 Msi).
What is C90400 used for?
- Valve bodies
- Bearings
- Pump components
- Gears
Advantages
- High service temperature — 260°C (500 °F), better than 75% of copper alloy grades
Limitations
- Limited formability — 5/100, worse than 98% of copper alloy grades
- Limited ductility — 10%, worse than 76% of copper alloy grades
C90400 properties
Typical room-temperature values for C90400-M01; bars are the position among copper alloy grades.
Physical3
C90400 has a density of 8.75 g/cm³ (0.316 lb/in³), lighter than 51% of copper alloy grades. It melts at 830°C (1,526 °F).
Mechanical15
C90400 has a yield strength of 150 MPa (21.8 ksi) and a tensile strength of 310 MPa (45 ksi) — weaker than 69% of copper alloy grades. Elongation at break is 10% and the elastic modulus is 103 GPa (14.9 Msi).
Thermal6
C90400 is rated for continuous service to 260°C (500 °F). It conducts heat at 47 W/m·K (27.2 BTU/hr·ft·°F), worse than 69% of copper alloy grades. Thermal expansion is 18.4 µm/m·K (10.2 µin/in·°F).
Electrical3
C90400 conducts electricity at 11 % IACS, worse than 68% of copper alloy grades.
Chemical & Environmental3
Corrosion resistance is good (66/100), better than 64% of copper alloy grades.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of C90400 takes about 62 MJ of energy and emits 4.2 kg of CO₂ — more than 76% of copper alloy grades. Typical recycled content is 65%.
Manufacturability8
C90400's machinability is fair (45/100, better than 64% of copper alloy grades); weldability poor (30/100); formability not recommended (5/100).
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. C90400 is highlighted; hover a dot for its name, or open the interactive family chart.
Working with C90400
Is C90400 easy to machine?
Machines readily with sharp, positive-rake carbide or HSS tooling at ~30 % of free-cutting brass; unleaded so chips are stringy — use good chip breaking and flood coolant.
Can C90400 be welded?
Fusion welding is difficult (hot short, tin oxide/dross); repair by GTAW with matching Cu-Sn filler and preheat 150–200 °C, or prefer brazing/soldering.
Can C90400 be formed, bent or molded?
Casting alloy only — not cold formable; design generous fillets and directional solidification with chills, keep pouring 1050–1150 °C to avoid tin sweat and shrinkage porosity.
C90400 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Snprimary strengthening/wear element | 10 – 12 | 11 |
| Zndeoxidiser, improves fluidity and pressure tightness | 1 – 3 | 1.5 |
| Pbimpurity limit | ≤ 0.25 | |
| Fe | ≤ 0.2 | |
| Niincl. Co | ≤ 0.5 | |
| Sb | ≤ 0.2 | |
| Phigher P allowed in some foundry practice for deoxidation | ≤ 0.05 | |
| S | ≤ 0.05 | |
| Al | ≤ 0.01 | |
| Si | ≤ 0.01 | |
| Cu | ≥ 86 (balance) |
What surface finishes work on C90400?
Takes a fine machined or polished finish; can be tin, nickel or chrome plated, or chemically patinated and lacquered; do not anodize.
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 C90400 cost?
C90400 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.
C90400 — frequently asked
What is C90400 used for?
C90400 is typically used for valve bodies, bearings, pump components and gears. In short: harder tin-zinc cast bronze; bearing and gear castings; pressure-tight valve bodies.
What is the yield strength of C90400?
C90400 has a typical yield strength of 150 MPa (21.8 ksi) and a tensile strength of 310 MPa (45 ksi) — weaker than 69% of copper alloy grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 5 listed tempers.
Is C90400 easy to machine?
Reasonably — machinability is rated fair (45/100, better than 64% of copper alloy grades). Machines readily with sharp, positive-rake carbide or HSS tooling at ~30 % of free-cutting brass; unleaded so chips are stringy — use good chip breaking and flood coolant.
Can C90400 be welded?
Not readily — weldability is rated poor (30/100). Fusion welding is difficult (hot short, tin oxide/dross); repair by GTAW with matching Cu-Sn filler and preheat 150–200 °C, or prefer brazing/soldering.
What surface finishes work on C90400?
Takes a fine machined or polished finish; can be tin, nickel or chrome plated, or chemically patinated and lacquered; do not anodize.
Can C90400 be formed, bent or molded?
Casting alloy only — not cold formable; design generous fillets and directional solidification with chills, keep pouring 1050–1150 °C to avoid tin sweat and shrinkage porosity.
What is the maximum service temperature of C90400?
C90400 is rated for continuous use to about 260°C (500 °F). Strength falls off well before that limit — check the elevated-temperature data for load-bearing parts.
What is the difference between C90400-M01 and C90400-M07?
M01 is the default condition — standard route for valve bodies, pump housings and one-off/low-volume castings. M07: standard stock form for machined bushings and thrust washers — densest structure, best machined finish. Yield strength is 150 MPa in M01 versus 180 MPa in M07.
How much does C90400 cost?
C90400 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 B505/B505M Continuous Cast Copper Alloys — ASTM International (2018)
- ASTM B584 Copper Alloy Sand Castings for General Applications — ASTM International (2014)
- CDA Copper Alloy Data — cast tin bronzes (C904xx–C907xx) — Copper Development Association (2023)
- ASM Handbook Vol. 2 — Properties of Copper and Copper Alloys — ASM International (1990)
- GB/T 1176 (ZCuSn10Zn2 comparable grade) — SAC (2013)
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.