Copper Alloy ZCuPb17Sn4Zn4
ZCuPb17Sn4Zn4 is a high-lead cast bronze in which about 4% tin and 4% zinc replace part of the tin of richer grades, lowering cost while retaining useful bearing behaviour.
Reference datasheet — ZCuPb17Sn4Zn4 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
ZCuPb17Sn4Zn4 tempers and conditions
ZCuPb17Sn4Zn4 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 | Default and most stocked form for bearing blanks, bushings and general fittings; lowest tooling cost, largest size range. | 80 | 170 | 8 | 60 HB | 11 % IACS |
Permanent (metal) mould cast | Choose for higher-volume small bushings needing finer structure, better strength and dimensional accuracy than sand casting. | 90 | 195 | 10 | 65 HB | 11 % IACS |
Continuous cast bar/tube | Stock bar and tube for machined bushings and thrust washers; uniform fine grain and good machining stock removal. | 90 | 190 | 9 | 65 HB | 11 % IACS |
Centrifugally cast | Preferred for sleeve bushings and bimetal bearing liners — dense, gas-free wall with minimal lead segregation. | 95 | 200 | 9 | 68 HB | 11 % IACS |
What is ZCuPb17Sn4Zn4?
ZCuPb17Sn4Zn4 is a high-lead cast bronze in which about 4% tin and 4% zinc replace part of the tin of richer grades, lowering cost while retaining useful bearing behaviour. It is used for low-speed bearings, machine bushings and general fittings, cast in sand, permanent, centrifugal and continuous moulds. Mechanical properties are low — 170 MPa tensile, 80 MPa yield, 8% elongation, 60 HB — with service limited to about 200 °C; it cannot be fusion welded and the lead content restricts potable-water contact. ZCuPb10Sn10 offers higher strength and load capacity. ZCuPb17Sn4Zn4 has a density of 9.2 g/cm³ (0.332 lb/in³), heavier than 98% of copper alloy grades. It melts at 770°C (1,418 °F). ZCuPb17Sn4Zn4 has a yield strength of 80 MPa (11.6 ksi) and a tensile strength of 170 MPa (24.7 ksi) — weaker than 90% of copper alloy grades. Elongation at break is 8% and the elastic modulus is 76 GPa (11 Msi).
What is ZCuPb17Sn4Zn4 used for?
- general bearings
- machine bushings
- low-speed sleeves
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
- Difficult to weld — 10/100, worse than 98% of copper alloy grades
- Hard to polish — 55/100, worse than 97% of copper alloy grades
- Limited formability — 8/100, worse than 94% of copper alloy grades
- Low strength — 80 MPa (11.6 ksi), worse than 90% of copper alloy grades
ZCuPb17Sn4Zn4 properties
Typical room-temperature values for ZCuPb17Sn4Zn4-S; bars are the position among copper alloy grades.
Physical3
ZCuPb17Sn4Zn4 has a density of 9.2 g/cm³ (0.332 lb/in³), heavier than 98% of copper alloy grades. It melts at 770°C (1,418 °F).
Mechanical14
ZCuPb17Sn4Zn4 has a yield strength of 80 MPa (11.6 ksi) and a tensile strength of 170 MPa (24.7 ksi) — weaker than 90% of copper alloy grades. Elongation at break is 8% and the elastic modulus is 76 GPa (11 Msi).
Thermal6
ZCuPb17Sn4Zn4 is rated for continuous service to 200°C (392 °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 18.5 µm/m·K (10.3 µin/in·°F).
Electrical3
ZCuPb17Sn4Zn4 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 ZCuPb17Sn4Zn4 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%.
Manufacturability8
ZCuPb17Sn4Zn4's machinability is excellent (88/100, better than 96% of copper alloy grades); weldability not recommended (10/100); 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. ZCuPb17Sn4Zn4 is highlighted; hover a dot for its name, or open the interactive family chart.
Working with ZCuPb17Sn4Zn4
Is ZCuPb17Sn4Zn4 easy to machine?
Excellent free-cutting behaviour — use sharp positive-rake carbide or HSS, high speed, light feed and 0° to slightly negative rake for boring; chips break naturally, coolant mainly for size control.
Can ZCuPb17Sn4Zn4 be welded?
Essentially unweldable by fusion methods; high lead causes hot tearing and porosity — repair by re-casting or mechanical/adhesive joining instead.
Can ZCuPb17Sn4Zn4 be formed, bent or molded?
Cast only (sand, permanent mould, centrifugal, continuous); wide freezing range needs directional solidification and adequate feeding to avoid lead sweat and micro-shrinkage; not cold-formable.
ZCuPb17Sn4Zn4 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 | 3.5 – 5 | 4.2 |
| Pb | 14 – 20 | 17 |
| Zn | 2 – 6 | 4 |
| Niimpurity limit (counted in Cu) | ≤ 2.5 | |
| Sbimpurity limit | ≤ 0.75 | |
| Feimpurity limit | ≤ 0.5 | |
| Pimpurity limit | ≤ 0.1 | |
| Alimpurity limit | ≤ 0.01 | |
| Siimpurity limit | ≤ 0.01 | |
| Cu | ≥ 74 (balance) |
What surface finishes work on ZCuPb17Sn4Zn4?
Machined bores are burnished or diamond-bored for bearing surfaces; can be tin- or nickel-plated for corrosion protection; anodising is not applicable and fine polishing is limited by lead smear.
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 ZCuPb17Sn4Zn4 cost?
ZCuPb17Sn4Zn4 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.
ZCuPb17Sn4Zn4 — frequently asked
What is ZCuPb17Sn4Zn4 used for?
ZCuPb17Sn4Zn4 is typically used for general bearings, machine bushings and low-speed sleeves. In short: lowest-cost leaded bronze; low-speed bearing grade; 200 °C service limit.
What is the yield strength of ZCuPb17Sn4Zn4?
ZCuPb17Sn4Zn4 has a typical yield strength of 80 MPa (11.6 ksi) and a tensile strength of 170 MPa (24.7 ksi) — weaker than 90% of copper alloy grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 4 listed tempers.
Is ZCuPb17Sn4Zn4 easy to machine?
Yes — machinability is rated excellent (88/100, better than 96% of copper alloy grades). Excellent free-cutting behaviour — use sharp positive-rake carbide or HSS, high speed, light feed and 0° to slightly negative rake for boring; chips break naturally, coolant mainly for size control.
Can ZCuPb17Sn4Zn4 be welded?
Not readily — weldability is rated not recommended (10/100). Essentially unweldable by fusion methods; high lead causes hot tearing and porosity — repair by re-casting or mechanical/adhesive joining instead.
What surface finishes work on ZCuPb17Sn4Zn4?
Machined bores are burnished or diamond-bored for bearing surfaces; can be tin- or nickel-plated for corrosion protection; anodising is not applicable and fine polishing is limited by lead smear.
Can ZCuPb17Sn4Zn4 be formed, bent or molded?
Cast only (sand, permanent mould, centrifugal, continuous); wide freezing range needs directional solidification and adequate feeding to avoid lead sweat and micro-shrinkage; not cold-formable.
What is the maximum service temperature of ZCuPb17Sn4Zn4?
ZCuPb17Sn4Zn4 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 ZCuPb17Sn4Zn4-S and ZCuPb17Sn4Zn4-Li?
S is the default condition — default and most stocked form for bearing blanks, bushings and general fittings; lowest tooling cost, largest size range. Li: preferred for sleeve bushings and bimetal bearing liners — dense, gas-free wall with minimal lead segregation. Yield strength is 80 MPa in S versus 95 MPa in Li.
How much does ZCuPb17Sn4Zn4 cost?
ZCuPb17Sn4Zn4 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
- ASM Handbook Vol.2 — Properties and Selection: Nonferrous Alloys — ASM International (1990)
- CDA alloy datasheet C93800 / C93900 high-leaded tin bronze — Copper Development Association (2023)
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.