Copper Alloy C91600
UNS C91600
C91600 is a nickel-bearing tin bronze in the C90000–C95999 cast family, where the nickel addition refines grain structure and raises strength and wear resistance over plain high-tin gear bronzes.
Reference datasheet — C91600 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 M07 condition
C91600 tempers and conditions
C91600 is supplied in 4 conditions, soft to hard. M07 is the default FabDigit quotes; the values on this page are for it.
Compare all 4 conditionsHide
| Condition · open for datasheet | Best for | Yield MPa | Tensile MPa | Elong. % | Hardness | Conductivity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
As sand cast | Pick for large or one-off gear/worm-wheel castings and complex shapes; slightly lower hardness and strength than continuous cast, higher ductility. | 152 | 310 | 16 | 90 HB | 11 % IACS |
M07Default As continuous cast | Standard stock form: continuous-cast bar, tube and hollow for gear blanks, worm gears and heavy-duty bearings; densest and most uniform structure. | 172 | 310 | 10 | 105 HB | 11 % IACS |
As centrifugally cast | Choose for large-diameter rings, worm-gear rims and bushings where a dense, porosity-free wall and high strength are required. | 180 | 320 | 12 | 105 HB | 11 % IACS |
As pressure die cast | Used for smaller repeat gear and bearing parts; chilling refines the structure giving hardness at the upper end of the range. | 190 | 330 | 10 | 115 HB | 11 % IACS |
What is C91600?
C91600 is a nickel-bearing tin bronze in the C90000–C95999 cast family, where the nickel addition refines grain structure and raises strength and wear resistance over plain high-tin gear bronzes. It is used for worm gears and wear parts needing 310 MPa tensile, 172 MPa yield and 10 % elongation, and is available as sand, permanent-mold, centrifugal and continuous castings. Service is limited to about 250 °C, machinability is only 20–30 % of free-cutting brass, and the alloy is not practically weldable. C91700 offers slightly higher elongation at similar strength. C91600 has a density of 8.8 g/cm³ (0.318 lb/in³), heavier than 58% of copper alloy grades. It melts at 855°C (1,571 °F). C91600 has a yield strength of 172 MPa (24.9 ksi) and a tensile strength of 310 MPa (45 ksi) — weaker than 60% of copper alloy grades. Elongation at break is 10% and the elastic modulus is 110 GPa (16 Msi).
What is C91600 used for?
- worm gears
- gear wheels
- wear parts
Limitations
- Limited formability — 8/100, worse than 94% of copper alloy grades
- Difficult to weld — 20/100, worse than 88% of copper alloy grades
- Limited ductility — 10%, worse than 76% of copper alloy grades
C91600 properties
Typical room-temperature values for C91600-M07; bars are the position among copper alloy grades.
Physical3
C91600 has a density of 8.8 g/cm³ (0.318 lb/in³), heavier than 58% of copper alloy grades. It melts at 855°C (1,571 °F).
Mechanical15
C91600 has a yield strength of 172 MPa (24.9 ksi) and a tensile strength of 310 MPa (45 ksi) — weaker than 60% of copper alloy grades. Elongation at break is 10% and the elastic modulus is 110 GPa (16 Msi).
Thermal6
C91600 is rated for continuous service to 250°C (482 °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 µm/m·K (10 µin/in·°F).
Electrical3
C91600 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 C91600 takes about 55 MJ of energy and emits 4 kg of CO₂ — less than 72% of copper alloy grades. Typical recycled content is 40%.
Manufacturability7
C91600's machinability is fair (35/100, better than 51% of copper alloy grades); weldability poor (20/100); formability not recommended (8/100).
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. C91600 is highlighted; hover a dot for its name, or open the interactive family chart.
Working with C91600
Is C91600 easy to machine?
Machines to fine finish with sharp positive-rake carbide and light feeds, but the hard delta phase gives gummy-to-abrasive behaviour — rating only ~20–30 % of free-cutting brass; use plenty of coolant and rigid setups.
Can C91600 be welded?
Essentially not weldable by arc/gas methods (hot-short, tin oxide/segregation); repair by brazing or soft solder, and prefer mechanical joining or press fits.
Can C91600 be formed, bent or molded?
Cast-only alloy with negligible cold formability; long freezing range demands generous risering, chills and directional solidification to avoid tin sweat and interdendritic porosity.
C91600 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 |
|---|---|---|
| CuCu + named elements ≥ 99.4 % | 86 – 89 | 87.5 |
| Sn | 9.7 – 10.8 | 10.3 |
| Nigrain refiner / strengthener; includes Co | 1.2 – 2 | 1.6 |
| Pdeoxidizer | ≤ 0.3 | 0.15 |
| Pb | ≤ 0.25 | |
| Zn | ≤ 0.25 | |
| Fe | ≤ 0.2 | |
| Sb | ≤ 0.2 | |
| S | ≤ 0.05 | |
| Al | ≤ 0.01 | |
| Si | ≤ 0.01 |
What surface finishes work on C91600?
Takes a good mechanical polish and can be tin- or nickel-plated; not anodizable — natural bronze patina or lacquer for appearance parts.
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 C91600 cost?
C91600 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.
C91600 — frequently asked
What is C91600 used for?
C91600 is typically used for worm gears, gear wheels and wear parts. In short: nickel-refined gear bronze; tougher than C91100; slow to machine.
What is the yield strength of C91600?
C91600 has a typical yield strength of 172 MPa (24.9 ksi) and a tensile strength of 310 MPa (45 ksi) — weaker than 60% of copper alloy grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 4 listed tempers.
Is C91600 easy to machine?
Not especially — machinability is rated fair (35/100, better than 51% of copper alloy grades). Machines to fine finish with sharp positive-rake carbide and light feeds, but the hard delta phase gives gummy-to-abrasive behaviour — rating only ~20–30 % of free-cutting brass; use plenty of coolant and rigid setups.
Can C91600 be welded?
Not readily — weldability is rated poor (20/100). Essentially not weldable by arc/gas methods (hot-short, tin oxide/segregation); repair by brazing or soft solder, and prefer mechanical joining or press fits.
What surface finishes work on C91600?
Takes a good mechanical polish and can be tin- or nickel-plated; not anodizable — natural bronze patina or lacquer for appearance parts.
Can C91600 be formed, bent or molded?
Cast-only alloy with negligible cold formability; long freezing range demands generous risering, chills and directional solidification to avoid tin sweat and interdendritic porosity.
What is the maximum service temperature of C91600?
C91600 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 C91600-M07 and C91600-M01?
M07 is the default condition — standard stock form: continuous-cast bar, tube and hollow for gear blanks, worm gears and heavy-duty bearings; densest and most uniform structure. M01: pick for large or one-off gear/worm-wheel castings and complex shapes; slightly lower hardness and strength than continuous cast, higher ductility. Yield strength is 172 MPa in M07 versus 152 MPa in M01.
How much does C91600 cost?
C91600 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 B427 — Gear Bronze Alloy Castings — ASTM International (2020)
- ASTM B505/B505M — Continuous Cast Copper Alloy Castings — ASTM International (2018)
- Copper Alloy C91600 alloy datasheet — Copper Development Association (copper.org) (2024)
- ASM Handbook Vol. 2 — Properties of Nonferrous Alloys (Cast Copper Alloys) — ASM International (1990)
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.