Copper Alloy ZCuPb15Sn8
ZCuPb15Sn8 is a medium-leaded cast tin bronze with about 15% lead and 8% tin, corresponding to C93800, balancing bearing behaviour, free-machining chip control and moderate strength.
Reference datasheet — ZCuPb15Sn8 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 S condition
ZCuPb15Sn8 tempers and conditions
ZCuPb15Sn8 is supplied in 4 conditions, soft to hard. S 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
SDefault Sand cast | General-purpose route for large or one-off bearing shells and bushings where dimensional tolerance is loose. | 100 | 190 | 8 | 62 HB | 11 % IACS |
Permanent (metal) mould cast | Chill-cast for finer structure and higher strength on medium-volume small bushings. | 115 | 220 | 9 | 68 HB | 11 % IACS |
Centrifugal cast | Choose for large-diameter dense bushings/sleeves with minimal porosity and low lead segregation. | 120 | 235 | 8 | 68 HB | 11 % IACS |
Continuous cast bar / tube | Most economical stock form for machined bushings; uniform fine structure and best ductility. | 120 | 240 | 10 | 70 HB | 11.5 % IACS |
What is ZCuPb15Sn8?
ZCuPb15Sn8 is a medium-leaded cast tin bronze with about 15% lead and 8% tin, corresponding to C93800, balancing bearing behaviour, free-machining chip control and moderate strength. Typical forms are sand, permanent-mould, centrifugal and continuous castings for bushings, gears and fittings under moderate loads. Properties are lower than in less-leaded grades — 190 MPa tensile, 100 MPa yield, 8% elongation, 62 HB — it is not fusion weldable, and lead restricts potable-water contact. ZCuPb10Sn10 (C93700) carries higher loads; ZCuPb20Sn5 suits faster, lighter-loaded journals. ZCuPb15Sn8 has a density of 9.2 g/cm³ (0.332 lb/in³), heavier than 98% of copper alloy grades. It melts at 762°C (1,404 °F). ZCuPb15Sn8 has a yield strength of 100 MPa (14.5 ksi) and a tensile strength of 190 MPa (27.6 ksi) — weaker than 87% of copper alloy grades. Elongation at break is 8% and the elastic modulus is 76 GPa (11 Msi).
What is ZCuPb15Sn8 used for?
- bearing bushings
- gears
- hydraulic fittings
Advantages
- Easy to machine — 88/100, better than 96% of copper alloy grades
- Low embodied carbon — 3.2 kg CO₂/kg, better than 92% of copper alloy grades
Limitations
- Low stiffness — 76 GPa (11 Msi), worse than 98% of copper alloy grades
- Hard to polish — 55/100, worse than 97% of copper alloy grades
- Difficult to weld — 15/100, worse than 94% of copper alloy grades
- Limited formability — 10/100, worse than 89% of copper alloy grades
- Low strength — 100 MPa (14.5 ksi), worse than 87% of copper alloy grades
ZCuPb15Sn8 properties
Typical room-temperature values for ZCuPb15Sn8-S; bars are the position among copper alloy grades.
Physical3
ZCuPb15Sn8 has a density of 9.2 g/cm³ (0.332 lb/in³), heavier than 98% of copper alloy grades. It melts at 762°C (1,404 °F).
Mechanical13
ZCuPb15Sn8 has a yield strength of 100 MPa (14.5 ksi) and a tensile strength of 190 MPa (27.6 ksi) — weaker than 87% of copper alloy grades. Elongation at break is 8% and the elastic modulus is 76 GPa (11 Msi).
Thermal5
ZCuPb15Sn8 is rated for continuous service to 200°C (392 °F). It conducts heat at 70 W/m·K (40.4 BTU/hr·ft·°F), worse than 55% of copper alloy grades. Thermal expansion is 18.5 µm/m·K (10.3 µin/in·°F).
Electrical3
ZCuPb15Sn8 conducts electricity at 11 % IACS, worse than 68% of copper alloy grades.
Chemical & Environmental3
Corrosion resistance is good (55/100), worse than 86% of copper alloy grades.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of ZCuPb15Sn8 takes about 45 MJ of energy and emits 3.2 kg of CO₂ — less than 97% of copper alloy grades. Typical recycled content is 75%.
Manufacturability8
ZCuPb15Sn8's machinability is excellent (88/100, better than 96% of copper alloy grades); weldability poor (15/100); 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. ZCuPb15Sn8 is highlighted; hover a dot for its name, or open the interactive family chart.
Working with ZCuPb15Sn8
Is ZCuPb15Sn8 easy to machine?
Free-machining: use sharp positive-rake carbide or HSS tools, high speed, light feed and neutral coolant; lead gives short chips but can smear on very fine finishes.
Can ZCuPb15Sn8 be welded?
Essentially unweldable by fusion — lead causes hot cracking and porosity; repair by soldering/brazing at low heat or by mechanical replacement.
Can ZCuPb15Sn8 be formed, bent or molded?
Cast-only alloy; pour 1050–1150 °C with good degassing and directional solidification to avoid lead segregation and shrinkage porosity.
ZCuPb15Sn8 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 | 7 – 9 | 8 |
| Pb | 13 – 17 | 15 |
| Znimpurity limit | ≤ 2 | |
| Feimpurity limit | ≤ 0.25 | |
| Niimpurity limit | ≤ 2 | |
| Sbimpurity limit | ≤ 0.5 | |
| Pimpurity limit | ≤ 0.1 | |
| Alimpurity limit | ≤ 0.01 | |
| Siimpurity limit | ≤ 0.01 | |
| Cu≈75–79 % | balance |
What surface finishes work on ZCuPb15Sn8?
Machine-finish or burnish bearing bores; can be tin-plated or lightly polished, but no anodizing and avoid strong acid pickling that leaches lead.
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 ZCuPb15Sn8 in FabDigit's catalog. Equivalence is nominal — check the exact specification when certification matters.
- Similar grades
- C93800
How much does ZCuPb15Sn8 cost?
ZCuPb15Sn8 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.
ZCuPb15Sn8 — frequently asked
What is ZCuPb15Sn8 used for?
ZCuPb15Sn8 is typically used for bearing bushings, gears and hydraulic fittings. In short: mid-range leaded bearing bronze; free-machining casting alloy; not fusion weldable.
What is the yield strength of ZCuPb15Sn8?
ZCuPb15Sn8 has a typical yield strength of 100 MPa (14.5 ksi) and a tensile strength of 190 MPa (27.6 ksi) — weaker than 87% of copper alloy grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 4 listed tempers.
Is ZCuPb15Sn8 easy to machine?
Yes — machinability is rated excellent (88/100, better than 96% of copper alloy grades). Free-machining: use sharp positive-rake carbide or HSS tools, high speed, light feed and neutral coolant; lead gives short chips but can smear on very fine finishes.
Can ZCuPb15Sn8 be welded?
Not readily — weldability is rated poor (15/100). Essentially unweldable by fusion — lead causes hot cracking and porosity; repair by soldering/brazing at low heat or by mechanical replacement.
What surface finishes work on ZCuPb15Sn8?
Machine-finish or burnish bearing bores; can be tin-plated or lightly polished, but no anodizing and avoid strong acid pickling that leaches lead.
Can ZCuPb15Sn8 be formed, bent or molded?
Cast-only alloy; pour 1050–1150 °C with good degassing and directional solidification to avoid lead segregation and shrinkage porosity.
What is the maximum service temperature of ZCuPb15Sn8?
ZCuPb15Sn8 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 ZCuPb15Sn8-S and ZCuPb15Sn8-Li?
S is the default condition — general-purpose route for large or one-off bearing shells and bushings where dimensional tolerance is loose. Li: choose for large-diameter dense bushings/sleeves with minimal porosity and low lead segregation. Yield strength is 100 MPa in S versus 120 MPa in Li.
How much does ZCuPb15Sn8 cost?
ZCuPb15Sn8 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 / B505 (C93800) — ASTM International (2022)
- CDA Alloy Datasheet C93800 (High-Leaded Tin Bronze) — Copper Development Association (2023)
- ASM Handbook Vol.2 — Properties of Nonferrous 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.