Copper Alloy ZCuZn38
ZCuZn38 is a plain cast 60/40-type brass at nominally Cu-38Zn with no lead addition, used for general-purpose hardware and fitting castings.
Reference datasheet — ZCuZn38 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
ZCuZn38 tempers and conditions
ZCuZn38 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 general-purpose condition for one-off and small-batch hardware castings; lowest tooling cost, coarser grain and slightly lower hardness. | 105 | 320 | 32 | 62 HB | 27 % IACS |
Permanent (metal) mould cast | Choose for series production: faster solidification gives finer grain, tighter dimensions and about 15 % higher hardness at the same guaranteed strength. | 120 | 340 | 32 | 72 HB | 27 % IACS |
Centrifugal cast | Used for bushings, sleeves and rings — centrifugal packing gives dense, porosity-free walls with properties at or above permanent-mould level. | 125 | 350 | 33 | 75 HB | 27 % IACS |
Continuous cast bar/tube | Stock bar and tube form for machined parts; directional fine structure, low porosity and the most uniform machining behaviour. | 130 | 350 | 30 | 78 HB | 28 % IACS |
What is ZCuZn38?
ZCuZn38 is a plain cast 60/40-type brass at nominally Cu-38Zn with no lead addition, used for general-purpose hardware and fitting castings. Default values are 320 MPa tensile, 105 MPa yield, 32% elongation and 62 HB, with service to 200 °C, giving the best ductility in this cast brass group. Castability is good in sand, permanent-mould, centrifugal and continuous processes. Machinability rates 50, so chips run stringier than in leaded grades, and the high zinc content makes it vulnerable to dezincification in stagnant or aggressive water; ZCuZn40Pb2 is the direct choice when screw-machine productivity governs. ZCuZn38 has a density of 8.43 g/cm³ (0.305 lb/in³), lighter than 71% of copper alloy grades. It melts at 900°C (1,652 °F). ZCuZn38 has a yield strength of 105 MPa (15.2 ksi) and a tensile strength of 320 MPa (46.4 ksi) — weaker than 85% of copper alloy grades. Elongation at break is 32% and the elastic modulus is 95 GPa (13.8 Msi).
What is ZCuZn38 used for?
- general hardware
- decorative castings
- plumbing fittings
Advantages
- Ductile — tolerates forming and impact — 32%, better than 77% of copper alloy grades
Limitations
- Needs corrosion protection — 50/100, worse than 95% of copper alloy grades
- Low stiffness — 95 GPa (13.8 Msi), worse than 93% of copper alloy grades
- Low strength — 105 MPa (15.2 ksi), worse than 85% of copper alloy grades
ZCuZn38 properties
Typical room-temperature values for ZCuZn38-S; bars are the position among copper alloy grades.
Physical3
ZCuZn38 has a density of 8.43 g/cm³ (0.305 lb/in³), lighter than 71% of copper alloy grades. It melts at 900°C (1,652 °F).
Mechanical15
ZCuZn38 has a yield strength of 105 MPa (15.2 ksi) and a tensile strength of 320 MPa (46.4 ksi) — weaker than 85% of copper alloy grades. Elongation at break is 32% and the elastic modulus is 95 GPa (13.8 Msi).
Thermal6
ZCuZn38 is rated for continuous service to 200°C (392 °F). It conducts heat at 118 W/m·K (68.2 BTU/hr·ft·°F), better than 65% of copper alloy grades. Thermal expansion is 20.8 µm/m·K (11.6 µin/in·°F).
Electrical3
ZCuZn38 conducts electricity at 27 % IACS, better than 67% of copper alloy grades.
Chemical & Environmental3
Corrosion resistance is fair (50/100), worse than 95% of copper alloy grades.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of ZCuZn38 takes about 55 MJ of energy and emits 3.6 kg of CO₂ — less than 72% of copper alloy grades. Typical recycled content is 80%.
Manufacturability8
ZCuZn38's machinability is fair (50/100, better than 69% of copper alloy grades); weldability fair (45/100); formability fair (35/100).
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. ZCuZn38 is highlighted; hover a dot for its name, or open the interactive family chart.
Working with ZCuZn38
Is ZCuZn38 easy to machine?
Machines like unleaded 60/40 brass — sharp positive-rake tools, high speed, light feed; chips are stringier than HPb59-1, so add a chipbreaker or switch to a leaded grade for screw-machine work.
Can ZCuZn38 be welded?
Brazing and soldering are easy; fusion welding (TIG with Cu-Si or brass filler) causes zinc fuming, porosity and colour mismatch — preheat lightly, use fume extraction.
Can ZCuZn38 be formed, bent or molded?
Excellent fluidity and short freezing range: pour ~1000–1050 °C with a cover flux, use adequate risers on heavy sections and control melt temperature to limit zinc loss.
ZCuZn38 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 |
|---|---|---|
| CuGB/T 1176-2013 | 60 – 63 | 61.5 |
| Feimpurity limit | ≤ 0.8 | |
| Alimpurity limit | ≤ 0.5 | |
| Sbimpurity limit | ≤ 0.1 | |
| Siimpurity limit | ≤ 0.1 | |
| Other (total impurities)total impurities ≤ 1.5% | ≤ 1.5 | |
| Znbalance, about 37-40% | balance |
What surface finishes work on ZCuZn38?
Not anodisable; buffs to a bright yellow finish and accepts Ni/Cr or lacquer coatings — protect against dezincification in wet service.
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 ZCuZn38 cost?
ZCuZn38 is a premium-cost copper alloy ($$$), cheaper than about 51% 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.
ZCuZn38 — frequently asked
What is ZCuZn38 used for?
ZCuZn38 is typically used for general hardware, decorative castings and plumbing fittings. In short: most ductile cast brass; unleaded general-purpose grade; good sand-casting fluidity.
What is the yield strength of ZCuZn38?
ZCuZn38 has a typical yield strength of 105 MPa (15.2 ksi) and a tensile strength of 320 MPa (46.4 ksi) — weaker than 85% of copper alloy grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 4 listed tempers.
Is ZCuZn38 easy to machine?
Reasonably — machinability is rated fair (50/100, better than 69% of copper alloy grades). Machines like unleaded 60/40 brass — sharp positive-rake tools, high speed, light feed; chips are stringier than HPb59-1, so add a chipbreaker or switch to a leaded grade for screw-machine work.
Can ZCuZn38 be welded?
With care — weldability is rated fair (45/100). Brazing and soldering are easy; fusion welding (TIG with Cu-Si or brass filler) causes zinc fuming, porosity and colour mismatch — preheat lightly, use fume extraction.
What surface finishes work on ZCuZn38?
Not anodisable; buffs to a bright yellow finish and accepts Ni/Cr or lacquer coatings — protect against dezincification in wet service.
Can ZCuZn38 be formed, bent or molded?
Excellent fluidity and short freezing range: pour ~1000–1050 °C with a cover flux, use adequate risers on heavy sections and control melt temperature to limit zinc loss.
What is the maximum service temperature of ZCuZn38?
ZCuZn38 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 ZCuZn38-S and ZCuZn38-La?
S is the default condition — default general-purpose condition for one-off and small-batch hardware castings; lowest tooling cost, coarser grain and slightly lower hardness. La: stock bar and tube form for machined parts; directional fine structure, low porosity and the most uniform machining behaviour. Yield strength is 105 MPa in S versus 130 MPa in La.
How much does ZCuZn38 cost?
ZCuZn38 is a premium-cost copper alloy ($$$), cheaper than about 51% 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)
- ASM Handbook Vol.13B: Corrosion — Materials — ASM International (2005)
- Copper Alloy Datasheets (C28000 / cast brass family) — 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.