Bronze & Brass Alloys and Standards
Bronze, brass and copper-alloy grades reviewed against application requirements, product form and customer specifications.
Bronze is a family of copper alloys rather than one universal material. Alloy selection should start from the operating requirement and the applicable customer standard: load, sliding speed, lubrication, corrosion environment, seawater exposure, temperature, pressure-related service, machinability and the selected manufacturing process all influence the decision.
For European cast copper-alloy work, EN 1982 is an important reference standard covering copper and copper-alloy ingots and castings, including composition, mechanical properties and conformity requirements. The current EN 1982:2024 edition should be used when it applies to the customer specification. ASTM, SAE, DIN and other designations can also appear in international drawings; equivalence should be confirmed grade by grade rather than assumed from a similar trade name.
Applicable Standards
| Product form | Standard |
|---|---|
| Castings | EN 1982:2024 |
| Rods | EN 12163:2024 |
| Bars & profiles | EN 12167:2024 |
| Forgings | EN 12420:2024 |
| Tubes | EN 12451 |
| Sheet / strip | EN 1652 / EN 1653 |
Alloy Families
Tin Bronzes
Bearings, bushings, wear components, gears and mechanical parts. Good strength, wear resistance and corrosion resistance.
Leaded Bronzes
Bearing behaviour, conformability and machinability. Lead content and regulatory acceptability must be checked per application and market.
Aluminium Bronzes
Higher mechanical strength, seawater and aggressive-environment service. Widely used in marine and heavy-duty applications.
Special Brasses
Fittings, architectural and decorative parts, and high-strength manganese or aluminium brasses for mechanical service.
Copper-Nickel
Marine piping, heat exchanger and cooling components where seawater corrosion resistance is the governing requirement.
Chemical composition and mechanical property tables for these families are published below. The grades shown are not a fixed limit on production capability — customer-specified grades and equivalent international standards can be evaluated for manufacturability.
Alloy Selection Guide
Mechanical values are given as Rm / Rp0.2 / A5 / HB for cast alloys to EN 1982:2024. RG designations are retained so that older drawings and purchasing records remain recognisable.
| Alloy | EN / UNS | Chemical composition (%) | Rm / Rp0.2 / A5 / HB | Typical applications |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Special Cast Brasses (Copper–Zinc) | ||||
| Cu55ZnMn | - | Cu 55-64 · Zn Bal. · Ni 1-3 · Fe 0.5-1.5 | 325 / 150 / 15 / 65 | Pressure fittings, armatures, pump bodies |
| CuZn35Al1 | CC765S / C86400 | Cu 56-65 · Zn Bal. · Al 0.5-2 · Mn 0.3-3 | 500 / 200 / 18 / 120 | Marine parts, bearings, nuts, propellers |
| CuZn34Al2 | CC764S / C86200 | Cu 55-66 · Zn Bal. · Al 1-3 · Mn 0.3-4 | 620 / 260 / 14 / 150 | Gears, bushes, marine parts, valves |
| CuZn25Al5 | CC762S / C86300 | Cu 60-67 · Zn Bal. · Al 3-7 · Mn 2.5-5 | 750 / 460 / 5 / 190 | Heavy-load bearings, wear bushes |
| CuZn37Al1 | CC766S | Cu 60-64 · Zn Bal. · Al 0.3-1.8 | 450 / 170 / 25 / 105 | Gears, pressure valves, fittings |
| High-Tin Bronzes (Copper–Tin) | ||||
| CuSn14 | Former DIN / special | Cu 84-86 · Sn 13.5-15.5 | 250 / 150 / 15 / 96 | Seawater rings and shaft bearings |
| CuSn12-C | CC483K / C90800 | Cu 84-88.5 · Sn 11-13 | 280 / 140 / 8 / 90 | Worm gears, heavy-load bearings |
| CuSn12Ni2-C | CC484K / C91700 | Cu 84-87 · Sn 11-13 · Ni 1.5-2.5 | 300 / 170 / 10 / 90 | Gears, nuts, synchronizer rings |
| CuSn11Pb2-C | CC482K / C92700 | Cu 84-87 · Sn 11-13 · Pb 1-2 | 280 / 140 / 7 / 85 | Bearings, bushes, pumps, valves |
| CuSn10-C | CC480K / C90700 | Cu 88-90 · Sn 9-11 | 270 / 130 / 18 / 70 | Pumps, turbines, worm gears, bearings |
| Aluminium Bronzes (Copper–Aluminium) | ||||
| CuAl9 | - | Cu Bal. · Al 8.5-10 | 450 / 180 / 25 / 106 | Chemical/food, seawater, wear parts |
| CuAl10Fe | - | Cu min 83 · Al 8-11 · Fe 2-4 | 650 / 200 / 15 / 115 | Bearings, bushes, gears, valve seats |
| CuAl9Ni | - | Cu min 82 · Al 8.5-10 · Fe 1-3 | 600 / 250 / 20 / 120 | Marine parts, propellers, gears |
| CuAl10Ni | CC333G / C95500 | Cu min 76 · Al 8.5-11 · Ni 4-6.5 | 700 / 300 / 13 / 160 | Marine bearings, hubs, wetted parts |
| CuAl11Ni | CC334G / C95800 | Cu min 73 · Al 9-12.3 · Ni 5-7.5 | 750 / 400 / 6 / 185 | Heavy-duty marine/corrosive service |
| CuAl8Mn | - | Cu min 82 · Al 7-9 · Mn 5-6.5 | 450 / 200 / 30 / 105 | Marine and chemical machinery |
| Special Bronze Alloys | ||||
| CuSn6 | CW452K / C51900 | Cu Bal. · Sn 5.5-7 | 340 / 350 / 10 / 85 | Motors, generators, paper/textile machinery |
| CuSn4Pb4Zn4 | CW456K / C54400 | Cu Bal. · Sn/Pb/Zn 3.5-4.5 | 450 / 350 / 10 / 150 | Seawater/temperature-resistant parts |
| CuSn8 | CW453K / C52100 | Cu Bal. · Sn 7.5-8.5 | 450 / 260 / 30 / 90 | Bearings, bushes, shafts, pump/valve parts |
| CuSn8P | CW459K | Cu Bal. · Sn 7.5-8.5 | 700 / 300 / 13 / 160 | Sliding elements and high-wear parts |
| CuPb5Sn | C92710 | Cu 84-87 · Sn 9-11 · Pb 4-6 | 240 / 130 / 15 / 70 | High-speed, low-load bearings |
| CuSn10Pb10-C | CC495K / C93700 | Cu 78-82 · Sn 9-11 · Pb 8-11 | 220 / 110 / 8 / 70 | Heavy-load/high-speed bearings, pumps |
| CuSn7Pb15-C | CC496K / C93800 | Cu 75-79 · Sn 7-9 · Pb 13-17 | 220 / 110 / 8 / 65 | General bearings and pump service |
| CuSn5Pb20-C | CC497K / C94100 | Cu 69-76 · Sn 4-6 · Pb 18-23 | 160 / 50 / 6 / 50 | Low-load, high-speed bearings |
| Leaded Red Brasses (RG Group) | ||||
| RG5 / CuSn5Zn5Pb5-C | CC491K / C83600 | Cu 83-87 · Sn 4-6 · Zn 4-6 · Pb 4-6 | >=250 / >=110 / >=13 / >=65 | Fittings, pumps, flanges, small gears |
| RG7 / CuSn7Zn4Pb7-C | CC493K / C93200 | Cu 81-85 · Sn 6-8 · Zn 2-5 · Pb 5-8 | >=260 / >=120 / >=12 / >=70 | Bushes, slide strips, valves, bearings |
| RG10 / CuSn10Zn | Former DIN / C90500 | Cu 86-89 · Sn 9-11 · Zn 1-3 · Pb <=1.5 | >=270 / >=120 / >=16 / >=70 | Bearings, pumps, impellers, valves, gears |
Other bronze and brass alloys can be produced according to customer specifications, drawings and required chemical compositions.
Chemical Composition (%)
Composition ranges by product form: castings to EN 1982:2024, rods to EN 12163:2024, bars and profiles to EN 12167:2024, forgings to EN 12420:2024, tubes to EN 12451 and sheet or strip to EN 1652 / EN 1653.
| Alloy | EN / UNS | Cu | Sn | Pb | Zn | Al | Fe | Ni | Mn |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CuZn39Pb3 | - | 57-59 | - | 2.5-3.5 | Bal. | - | 0.35 | - | - |
| CuZn38Pb1.5 | - | 59.5-61.5 | - | 1-2 | Bal. | - | - | - | - |
| CuZn36Pb1.5 | - | 62-64 | - | 0.7-2.5 | Bal. | - | - | - | - |
| CuZn37 | - | 62-64 | - | - | Bal. | - | - | - | - |
| CuZn40 | - | 59.5-61.5 | - | - | Bal. | - | - | - | - |
| CuZn40Al2 | - | 56.5-59 | 0.3 | 0.5 | Bal. | 1.3-2.3 | 0.35 | 0.25 | 1.4-2.6 |
| CuZn40Al1 | - | 57.5-60 | - | - | Bal. | 0.4-1.3 | - | - | 0.8-1.8 |
| CuZn35Ni2 | - | 58-64 | - | - | Bal. | 0.3-1.5 | - | 2-3 | 1.5-2.5 |
| CuZn40Mn2 | - | 57-59 | - | - | Bal. | - | - | - | 1-2.5 |
| CuZn35Sn1 | - | 59-62 | 0.5-1 | 0.2 | Bal. | - | 0.1 | - | - |
| CuZn28Sn1 | - | 70-72.5 | 0.9-1.3 | - | Bal. | - | - | - | - |
| CuZn23Al6MnFe3 | - | 63-65 | - | - | Bal. | 5-7 | 2-3.5 | - | 3.5-5 |
| CuZn31Si1 | - | 66-70 | - | - | Bal. | - | - | - | - |
| CuZn35Al1 | CC765S / C86400 | 56-65 | 0.5 | 0.5 | Bal. | 0.5-2 | 0.5-2 | - | 0.3-3 |
| CuZn34Al2 | CC764S / C86200 | 55-66 | 0.2 | 0.2 | Bal. | 1-3 | 0.5-2.5 | 1 | 0.3-4 |
| CuZn25Al5 | CC762S / C86300 | 60-67 | 0.2 | 0.2 | Bal. | 3-7 | 1.5-4 | 1 | 2.5-5 |
| CuZn37Al1 | CC766S | 60-64 | - | - | Bal. | 0.3-1.8 | - | - | - |
| CuAl10Fe3Mn2 | - | Bal. | 0.6 | - | - | 8.5-11 | 2-4 | 1 | 1.3-3.5 |
| CuAl10Ni5Fe4 | - | Bal. | 0.2 | - | 0.3 | 8.5-11 | 2-5 | 4-6 | 1.5 |
| CuAl11Ni6Fe5 | - | Bal. | - | - | - | 10.5-12.5 | 4.8-7.3 | 5-7.5 | - |
| CuAl8 | - | Bal. | - | - | - | 7-9 | - | - | - |
| CuAl8Fe3 | - | Bal. | - | 0.1 | 0.2 | 6.5-8.5 | 1.5-3.5 | - | 1 |
| CuAl9Ni3Fe2 | - | Bal. | - | - | - | 8-9.5 | 1-3 | 1.5-4 | - |
| CuAl9Mn2 | - | Bal. | - | - | - | 8-10 | - | - | 1.5-3 |
| CuAl9Ni | - | Min 82 | - | - | - | 8.5-10 | 1-3 | - | 1.5-4 |
| CuAl10Ni | CC333G / C95500 | Min 76 | - | - | - | 8.5-11 | 3.5-5.5 | 4-6.5 | 1 |
| CuAl11Ni | CC334G / C95800 | Min 73 | - | - | - | 9-12.3 | 4-7 | 5-7.5 | - |
| CuAl10Fe | - | Min 83 | - | - | - | 8-11 | 2-4 | - | - |
| CuAl8Mn | - | Min 82 | - | - | - | 7-9 | - | 1-2 | 5-6.5 |
| CuNi10Fe1Mn | - | Bal. | - | 0.05 | 1 | - | 1-2 | 9-11 | 0.5-1.5 |
| CuNi30Mn1Fe | - | Bal. | - | 0.05 | - | - | 0.2-1 | 30-32 | 0.5-1.5 |
| CuSn6 | CW452K / C51900 | Bal. | 5.5-7 | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| CuSn8 | CW453K / C52100 | Bal. | 7.5-8.5 | 0.5 | 0.2 | - | 0.1 | - | - |
| CuSn8P | CW459K | Bal. | 7.5-8.5 | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| CuSn4Pb4Zn4 | CW456K / C54400 | Bal. | 3.5-4.5 | 3.5-4.5 | 3.5-4.5 | - | 0.1 | - | - |
| CuSn5Zn5Pb5-C (RG5) | CC491K / C83600 | 83-87 | 4-6 | 4-6 | 4-6 | - | - | <=2 | - |
| CuSn7Zn4Pb7-C (RG7) | CC493K / C93200 | 81-85 | 6-8 | 5-8 | 2-5 | - | - | <=2 | - |
| CuSn10Zn (RG10) | Former DIN / C90500 | 86-89 | 9-11 | <=1.5 | 1-3 | - | - | <=2 | - |
| CuSn10-C | CC480K / C90700 | 88-90 | 9-11 | 0.5 | 0.5 | - | 0.15 | 0.5 | - |
| CuSn12-C | CC483K / C90800 | 84-88.5 | 11-13 | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| CuSn11Pb2-C | CC482K / C92700 | 84-87 | 11-13 | 1-2 | 0.5 | - | 0.3 | - | - |
| CuSn12Ni2-C | CC484K / C91700 | 84-87 | 11-13 | 0.25 | 0.25 | - | 0.15 | 1.5-2.5 | - |
| CuPb5Sn | C92710 | 84-87 | 9-11 | 4-6 | - | - | - | - | - |
| CuSn10Pb10-C | CC495K / C93700 | 78-82 | 9-11 | 8-11 | 0.8 | - | 0.15 | 1 | - |
| CuSn7Pb15-C | CC496K / C93800 | 75-79 | 7-9 | 13-17 | 0.8 | - | 0.15 | 1 | - |
| CuSn5Pb20-C | CC497K / C94100 | 69-76 | 4-6 | 18-23 | 1 | - | 0.25 | 1 | - |
| CuSn14 | Former DIN / special | 84-86 | 13.5-15.5 | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| CuSn10Pb2 | - | 84-87 | 11-13 | 1-2 | 0.5 | - | 0.3 | - | - |
Bal. = balance. Product standard depends on product form and manufacturing route.
Selecting a Grade
Aluminium bronzes are known for higher strength and strong corrosion performance compared with many conventional bearing bronzes. Nickel aluminium bronze is particularly established in seawater service and is used internationally for marine hardware, pump and valve components, propellers and other components exposed to erosion, cavitation or aggressive marine conditions. Correct casting practice and alloy specification remain essential because marine performance depends on composition and microstructure as well as the alloy name.
In bearing applications, alloy choice must consider shaft hardness, lubrication quality, contamination and operating speed. A higher tin content does not automatically mean a better bearing — the correct grade depends on the full tribological system.
Lead content and regulatory acceptability must be considered according to application, market and customer specification. Pressure, potable-water, food-contact or environmentally restricted uses can require specific compliant materials.
If you provide the application rather than a grade, material selection can be discussed according to load, sliding conditions, corrosion exposure, seawater service, machinability and pressure requirements.
Have a Grade or a Standard on Your Drawing?
Send the specified grade or standard with your enquiry. We will review material requirements, any proposed equivalent and manufacturability before quotation.