UNS C33500 (CW604N) Leaded Brass
C33500 brass is a brass formulated for primary forming into wrought products. CW604N is the EN numeric designation for this material. C33500 is the UNS number. Additionally, the EN chemical designation is CuZn37Pb0,5.
The properties of C33500 brass include seven common variations. This page shows summary ranges across all of them. For more specific values, follow the links immediately below. The graph bars on the material properties cards further below compare C33500 brass to: wrought brasses (top), all copper alloys (middle), and the entire database (bottom). A full bar means this is the highest value in the relevant set. A half-full bar means it's 50% of the highest, and so on.
Mechanical Properties
Elastic (Young's, Tensile) Modulus
100 GPa 15 x 106 psi
Elongation at Break
3.0 to 28 %
Poisson's Ratio
0.31
Rockwell B Hardness
53 to 91
Rockwell Superficial 30T Hardness
52 to 78
Shear Modulus
40 GPa 5.8 x 106 psi
Shear Strength
220 to 360 MPa 32 to 52 x 103 psi
Tensile Strength: Ultimate (UTS)
340 to 650 MPa 49 to 95 x 103 psi
Tensile Strength: Yield (Proof)
120 to 420 MPa 17 to 62 x 103 psi
Thermal Properties
Latent Heat of Fusion
170 J/g
Maximum Temperature: Mechanical
120 °C 260 °F
Melting Completion (Liquidus)
930 °C 1700 °F
Melting Onset (Solidus)
900 °C 1650 °F
Specific Heat Capacity
390 J/kg-K 0.092 BTU/lb-°F
Thermal Conductivity
120 W/m-K 67 BTU/h-ft-°F
Thermal Expansion
20 µm/m-K
Electrical Properties
Electrical Conductivity: Equal Volume
26 % IACS
Electrical Conductivity: Equal Weight (Specific)
29 % IACS
Otherwise Unclassified Properties
Base Metal Price
24 % relative
Density
8.1 g/cm3 510 lb/ft3
Embodied Carbon
2.7 kg CO2/kg material
Embodied Energy
45 MJ/kg 19 x 103 BTU/lb
Embodied Water
320 L/kg 38 gal/lb
Common Calculations
Resilience: Ultimate (Unit Rupture Work)
8.0 to 160 MJ/m3
Resilience: Unit (Modulus of Resilience)
69 to 860 kJ/m3
Stiffness to Weight: Axial
7.2 points
Stiffness to Weight: Bending
19 points
Strength to Weight: Axial
12 to 22 points
Strength to Weight: Bending
13 to 21 points
Thermal Diffusivity
37 mm2/s
Thermal Shock Resistance
11 to 22 points
Alloy Composition
Among wrought copper alloys, the composition of C33500 brass is notable for containing comparatively high amounts of lead (Pb) and iron (Fe). Lead is used to improve machinability and bearing properties, at the cost of toxicity. Iron is used to increase strength inexpensively.
| Cu | 62 to 65 | |
| Zn | 33.8 to 37.8 | |
| Pb | 0.25 to 0.7 | |
| Fe | 0 to 0.1 | |
| res. | 0 to 0.4 |
All values are % weight. Ranges represent what is permitted under applicable standards.
Followup Questions
Similar Alloys
Further Reading
ASTM B453: Standard Specification for Copper-Zinc-Lead Alloy (Leaded-Brass) Rod, Bar, and Shapes
ASTM B121: Standard Specification for Leaded Brass Plate, Sheet, Strip, and Rolled Bar
ASM Specialty Handbook: Copper and Copper Alloys, J. R. Davis (editor), 2001