Copper Alloy CC497K
EN CC497K
A very high-lead tin bronze prized as a heavy-duty bearing alloy where the extensive soft lead phase provides outstanding conformability, seizure resistance, and dry-running tolerance at the cost of lower strength.
Reference datasheet — CC497K 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 GC condition
CC497K tempers and conditions
CC497K is supplied in 4 conditions, soft to hard. GC 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Sand cast | Choose for large, thick-wall or one-off bearing shells and pump bushes where section size rules out chill or continuous casting. | 70 | 165 | 8 | 47 HB | 10.5 % IACS |
GCDefault Continuously cast bar/tube | Default stocked form: continuously cast solid bar and hollow bar for machined bushings, thrust washers and slide plates. | 85 | 195 | 9 | 52 HB | 11.5 % IACS |
Permanent-mould (chill) cast | Choose for medium-volume bushings needing a finer, denser structure and slightly higher strength than sand casting. | 85 | 190 | 8 | 52 HB | 11 % IACS |
Centrifugally cast | Choose for large-diameter, thin-wall bearing sleeves and bimetal liners where a dense, porosity-free bore is essential. | 85 | 190 | 8 | 52 HB | 11 % IACS |
What is CC497K?
A very high-lead tin bronze prized as a heavy-duty bearing alloy where the extensive soft lead phase provides outstanding conformability, seizure resistance, and dry-running tolerance at the cost of lower strength. CC497K has a density of 9.3 g/cm³ (0.336 lb/in³), heavier than 99% of copper alloy grades. It melts at 762°C (1,404 °F). CC497K has a yield strength of 85 MPa (12.3 ksi) and a tensile strength of 195 MPa (28.3 ksi) — weaker than 89% of copper alloy grades. Elongation at break is 9% and the elastic modulus is 72 GPa (10.4 Msi).
What is CC497K used for?
- Heavily loaded plain bearings
- Crankshaft/connecting-rod bushings
- Marine stern-tube bearings
- Rolling-mill bushings
- Anti-friction bearing shells
Advantages
- Easy to machine — 92/100, better than 99% of copper alloy grades
- Low embodied carbon — 3.2 kg CO₂/kg, better than 92% of copper alloy grades
Limitations
- Low stiffness — 72 GPa (10.4 Msi), worse than 100% of copper alloy grades
- Hard to polish — 50/100, worse than 99% of copper alloy grades
- Difficult to weld — 10/100, worse than 98% of copper alloy grades
- Low strength — 85 MPa (12.3 ksi), worse than 89% of copper alloy grades
- Limited formability — 10/100, worse than 89% of copper alloy grades
CC497K properties
Typical room-temperature values for CC497K-GC; bars are the position among copper alloy grades.
Physical3
CC497K has a density of 9.3 g/cm³ (0.336 lb/in³), heavier than 99% of copper alloy grades. It melts at 762°C (1,404 °F).
Mechanical14
CC497K has a yield strength of 85 MPa (12.3 ksi) and a tensile strength of 195 MPa (28.3 ksi) — weaker than 89% of copper alloy grades. Elongation at break is 9% and the elastic modulus is 72 GPa (10.4 Msi).
Thermal6
CC497K is rated for continuous service to 200°C (392 °F). It conducts heat at 51 W/m·K (29.5 BTU/hr·ft·°F), worse than 65% of copper alloy grades. Thermal expansion is 18.5 µm/m·K (10.3 µin/in·°F).
Electrical3
CC497K conducts electricity at 11.5 % IACS, worse than 65% of copper alloy grades.
Chemical & Environmental3
Corrosion resistance is good (62/100), worse than 57% of copper alloy grades.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of CC497K takes about 45 MJ of energy and emits 3.2 kg of CO₂ — less than 97% of copper alloy grades. Typical recycled content is 60%.
Manufacturability7
CC497K's machinability is excellent (92/100, better than 99% of copper alloy grades); weldability not recommended (10/100); formability not recommended (10/100).
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. CC497K is highlighted; hover a dot for its name, or open the interactive family chart.
Working with CC497K
Is CC497K easy to machine?
Free-cutting: sharp positive-rake tools, high speed, light feed and copious coolant give short chips and a fine bore finish; avoid burnishing the lead phase with dull tools.
Can CC497K be welded?
Effectively unweldable by fusion processes because of the ~20 % lead phase (hot cracking, porosity); repair by mechanical means or soft solder only.
Can CC497K be formed, bent or molded?
Cast-only alloy — no cold or hot forming; melt clean and pour with controlled cooling/stirring to prevent lead gravity segregation, ideally continuous or centrifugal casting.
CC497K 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Sn | 4 – 6 | 5 |
| Pbsoft dispersed phase giving the bearing behaviour | 18 – 23 | 20 |
| Zn | ≤ 2 | |
| Ni | ≤ 2 | |
| Sb | ≤ 0.75 | |
| Fe | ≤ 0.3 | |
| P | ≤ 0.1 | |
| S | ≤ 0.1 | |
| Mn | ≤ 0.2 | |
| Al | ≤ 0.01 | |
| Si | ≤ 0.01 | |
| Cu | ≥ 68 (balance) |
What surface finishes work on CC497K?
Machine-finish or diamond-bore for bearing surfaces; can be tin- or lead-tin plated for run-in; polishing is limited by lead smearing and it is not anodizable.
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 CC497K in FabDigit's catalog. Equivalence is nominal — check the exact specification when certification matters.
- EN / DIN / Werkstoff-Nr.
- CuSn5Pb20-C2.1108
- Similar grades
- ZCuPb20Sn5CAC603
How much does CC497K cost?
CC497K 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.
CC497K — frequently asked
What is CC497K used for?
CC497K is typically used for heavily loaded plain bearings, crankshaft/connecting-rod bushings, marine stern-tube bearings, rolling-mill bushings and anti-friction bearing shells. In short: highest-lead bearing bronze; best dry-running tolerance; low strength, cast only.
What is the yield strength of CC497K?
CC497K has a typical yield strength of 85 MPa (12.3 ksi) and a tensile strength of 195 MPa (28.3 ksi) — weaker than 89% of copper alloy grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 4 listed tempers.
Is CC497K easy to machine?
Yes — machinability is rated excellent (92/100, better than 99% of copper alloy grades). Free-cutting: sharp positive-rake tools, high speed, light feed and copious coolant give short chips and a fine bore finish; avoid burnishing the lead phase with dull tools.
Can CC497K be welded?
Not readily — weldability is rated not recommended (10/100). Effectively unweldable by fusion processes because of the ~20 % lead phase (hot cracking, porosity); repair by mechanical means or soft solder only.
What surface finishes work on CC497K?
Machine-finish or diamond-bore for bearing surfaces; can be tin- or lead-tin plated for run-in; polishing is limited by lead smearing and it is not anodizable.
Can CC497K be formed, bent or molded?
Cast-only alloy — no cold or hot forming; melt clean and pour with controlled cooling/stirring to prevent lead gravity segregation, ideally continuous or centrifugal casting.
What is the maximum service temperature of CC497K?
CC497K 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 CC497K-GC and CC497K-GS?
GC is the default condition — default stocked form: continuously cast solid bar and hollow bar for machined bushings, thrust washers and slide plates. GS: choose for large, thick-wall or one-off bearing shells and pump bushes where section size rules out chill or continuous casting. Yield strength is 85 MPa in GC versus 70 MPa in GS.
How much does CC497K cost?
CC497K 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
- EN 1982 Copper and copper alloys — Ingots and castings — CEN (2017)
- GB/T 1176 (ZCuPb20Sn5) — SAC (2013)
- JIS H5120 Copper and copper alloy castings (CAC603) — JSA (2016)
- CDA alloy datasheet C94100 high-leaded tin bronze — Copper Development Association (2023)
- ASM Handbook Vol. 2 — Properties of Copper and Copper Alloys — ASM International (1990)
- Deutsches Kupferinstitut CuSn5Pb20-C Werkstoffdatenblatt — DKI (2020)
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.