ASTM B103/B103M-23

This document is not an ASTM standard and is intended only to provide the user of an ASTM standard an indication of what changes have been made to the previous version. Because
it may not be technically possible to adequately depict all changes accurately, ASTM recommends that users consult prior editions as appropriate. In all cases only the current version
of the standard as published by ASTM is to be considered the official document.
Designation: B103/B103M − 19 B103/B103M − 23
Standard Specification for
Phosphor Bronze Plate, Sheet, Strip, and Rolled Bar
This standard is issued under the fixed designation B103/B103M; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year
of original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval.
A superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
This standard has been approved for use by agencies of the U.S. Department of Defense.
1. Scope*
1.1 This specification establishescovers the requirements for copper-tin alloy (phosphor bronze), copper-tin-lead alloy (leaded
phosphor bronze), and copper-tin-lead-zinc alloy (bearing bronze), plate, sheet, strip, and rolled bar. bar for general application
produced from Copper Alloy UNS Nos. C51000, C51100, C51180, C51900, C52100, C52180, C52400, C53400, and C54400. The
phosphor bronzes commonly are used for deep drawing into bellows and stamping and forming into spring devices and into
terminals and connectors for electrical apparatus because they combine high strength with high elongation. The leaded phosphor
bronzes are used where strength, corrosion resistance, and machinability are required. The bearing bronze is used in bushings,
bearings, and load-bearing thrust washers. The following alloys are covered:
Copper Alloy Nominal Composition, % Previously Used
UNS No. Copper Tin Zinc Lead Designation
C51000 95 5 . . . . . . A1
C51100 96 4 . . . . . . A
C51180 96 4 . . . . . . . . .
C51900 94 6 . . . . . .
A
C52100 92 8 . . . . . . C
C52180 92 8 . . . . . . . . .
C52400 90 10 . . . . . . D
C53400 94 5 . . . 1 B1
C54400 88 4 3 4 B2
A
SAE Specification CA 521 conforms to the requirements of UNS No. C52100.
NOTE 1—All of the above alloys contain small amounts of phosphorus, used as a deoxidant in melting, and to enhance the mechanical properties.
1.2 Units—The values stated in either inch-pound units or SI units are to be regarded separately as standard. Within the text, SI
units are shown in brackets. The values stated in each system are not necessarily exact equivalents; therefore, to ensure
conformance with the standard, each system shall be used independently of the other, andother. Combining values from the two
systems shall not be combined.may result in non-conformance with the standard.
1.3 The following safety hazard caveat pertains only to the test method(s) described in this specification.
This specification is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee B05 on Copper and Copper Alloys and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee B05.01 on Plate,
Sheet, and Strip.
Current edition approved Oct. 1, 2019Oct. 1, 2023. Published October 2019October 2023. Originally approved in 1936. Last previous edition approved in 20152019 as
B103/B103MB103/B103M – 19.–15. DOI: 10.1520/B0103_B0103M–19.10.1520/B0103_B0103M-23.
*A Summary of Changes section appears at the end of this standard
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
B103/B103M − 23
1.3.1 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility
of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety, health, and environmental practices and determine the applicability of
regulatory limitations prior to use.
1.3 The following safety hazard caveat pertains only to the test method(s) described in this specification. This standard does
not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard
to establish appropriate safety, health, and environmental practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior
to use.
1.4 This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization
established in the Decision on Principles for the Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued
by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
2. Referenced Documents
2.1 ASTM Standards:
B248 Specification for General Requirements for Wrought Copper and Copper-Alloy Plate, Sheet, Strip, and Rolled Bar
B248M Specification for General Requirements for Wrought Copper and Copper-Alloy Plate, Sheet, Strip, and Rolled Bar
(Metric)
B601 Classification for Temper Designations for Copper and Copper Alloys—Wrought and Cast
B846 Terminology for Copper and Copper Alloys
B950 Guide for Editorial Procedures and Form of Product Specifications for Copper and Copper Alloys
E8/E8M Test Methods for Tension Testing of Metallic Materials
E62 Test Methods for Chemical Analysis of Copper and Copper Alloys (Photometric Methods) (Withdrawn 2010)
E75 Test Methods for Chemical Analysis of Copper-Nickel and Copper-Nickel-Zinc Alloys (Withdrawn 2010)
E255 Practice for Sampling Copper and Copper Alloys for the Determination of Chemical Composition
E478 Test Methods for Chemical Analysis of Copper Alloys
E527 Practice for Numbering Metals and Alloys in the Unified Numbering System (UNS)
3. General Requirements
3.1 The following sections of Specifications B248 and B248M constitute a part of this specification:
3.1.1 Terminology;Terminology
3.1.2 Materials and Manufacturing;Manufacture
3.1.3 Workmanship, Finish, and Appearance;Appearance
3.1.4 Sampling, Except for Chemical Analysis;Analysis
3.1.5 Number of Tests and Retests;Retests
3.1.6 Specimen Preparation;Preparation
3.1.7 Test Methods, Except for Chemical Analysis;Analysis
3.1.8 Significance of Numerical Limits;Limits
3.1.9 Inspection;Inspection
3.1.10 Rejection and Rehearing;Rehearing
3.1.11 Certification;Certification
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or contact ASTM Customer Service at service@astm.org. For Annual Book of ASTM Standards
volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on the ASTM website.
The last approved version of this historical standard is referenced on www.astm.org.
B103/B103M − 23
3.1.12 Test Reports;Reports
3.1.13 Packaging and Package Marking; andMarking
3.1.14 Supplementary Requirements.Requirements
3.2 In addition, when a section with a title identical to that referenced in 5.13.1, above, appears in this specification, it contains
additional requirements, which supplement those appearing in Specifications B248 and B248M
4. Terminology
4.1 Definitions—For definitions of terms used in this specification, related to copper and copper alloys, refer to Terminology B846.
5. Ordering Information
5.1 Include the following specified choices when placing orders for product under this specification, as applicable:
5.1.1 ASTM designation and year of issue (for example, issue,B103/B103M – 04);
5.1.2 Copper [Alloy] UNS No. designation (for example, C51000);designation,
5.1.3 Temper;Temper,
5.1.4 Dimensions: thickness, width, length, and so forth;edges, and length, if applicable,
5.1.5 Form: plate, sheet, strip, or rolled bar;bar,
5.1.6 How furnished: coils, specific length or stock lengths, with or without ends;ends, and
5.1.7 Quantity: total weight each form, temper, and size; and,size.
5.1.8 When material is purchased for agencies of the U.S. Government.
5.2 The following options are available but may not be included unless and, when required, shall be specified at the time of placing
of the order when required:the order:
5.2.1 Type of edge: slit, sheared, sawed, square corners, round corners, rounded edges, or full rounded edges;edges,
5.2.2 Width and straightness tolerances;tolerances,
5.2.3 Heat identification or traceability details;details,
5.2.4 Certification,
5.2.5 Certification; Test Report, and
5.2.6 Test Report.If product is purchased for agencies of the U.S. Government see the Supplementary Requirements section of
Specifications B248 and B248M for additional requirements, if specified.
6. Materials and Manufacture
6.1 Materials:
6.1.1 The material of manufacture shall be a cast form (cast bar, cake, slab, et cetera) of Copper Alloy UNS No. C51000, C51100,
C51180, C51900, C52100, C52180, C52400, C53400, or C54400 of such purity and soundness as to be suitable for processing into
the products prescribed herein.
B103/B103M − 23
6.1.2 When specified in the contract or purchase order that heat identification or traceability is required, the purchaser shall specify
the details desired.
NOTE 2—Due to the discontinuous nature of the processing of castings into wrought products, it is not always practical to identify a specific casting
analysis with a specific quantity of finished material.
6.2 Manufacture:
6.2.1 The product shall be manufactured by such hot working, cold working, and annealing processes as to produce a uniform
wrought structure in the finished product.
6.2.2 The product shall be hot or cold worked to the finished size and subsequently annealed, when required, to meet the temper
properties specified.
6.2.3 Edges—Slit edges shall be furnished unless otherwise specified in the contract or purchase order.
6.3 Edges:
6.3.1 Slit edges shall be furnished unless otherwise specified in the contract or purchase order.
7. Chemical Composition
7.1 The materialsmaterial shall conform to the chemical composition requirements specified in Table 1 for the copper alloyCopper
Alloy UNS No. designation specified in the ordering information.
7.2 These composition limits do not preclude the presence of other elements. By agreement between the manufacturer and
purchaser, limits may be established and analysis required for unnamed elements.
7.3 Copper, specified as the “remainder,” may be taken as For alloys in which copper is listed as “remainder,” copper is the
difference between the sum of results of all the elements determined and 100 %. When all the elements in Table 1 are determined,
the sum of results for each alloy shall be 99.5 % min.
8. Temper
8.1 The standard tempers for products described in this specification are given in Table 2.
8.1.1 M20 (as Hot-Rolled Material)—The standard temper of sheet and plate produced by hot rolling is designated in Hot rolled
temper M20.Table 2.
8.1.2 H (Rolled Material)—The standard tempers of rolled material are as designated in Cold rolled tempers H02 to H10.Table
2 with prefix “H.” Former designations and the standard designations as defined in Classification B601 are shown.
NOTE 3—The properties of special and nonstandard tempers are subject to agreement between the manufacturer and purchaser.
TABLE 1 Chemical Requirements
Composition, %
Element Copper Alloy UNS No.
A A
C51000 C51100 C51180 C51900 C52100 C52180 C52400 C53400 C54400
Tin 4.2–5.8 3.5–4.9 3.5–4.9 5.0–7.0 7.0–9.0 7.0–9.0 9.0–11.0 3.5–5.8 3.5–4.5
Phosphorus 0.03–0.35 0.03–0.35 0.01–0.35 0.03–0.35 0.03–0.35 0.01–0.35 0.03–0.35 0.03–0.35 0.01–0.50
Iron, max 0.10 0.10 0.05–0.20 0.10 0.10 0.05–0.20 0.10 0.10 0.10
Lead 0.05 max 0.05 max 0.05 max 0.05 max 0.05 max 0.05 max 0.05 max 0.8–1.2 3.0–4.0
Zinc 0.30 max 0.30 max 0.30 max 0.30 max 0.20 max 0.30 max 0.20 max 0.30 max 1.5–4.5
Nickel . . . . . . 0.05–0.20 . . . . . . 0.05–0.20 . . . . . . . . .
Copper remainder remainder remainder remainder remainder remainder remainder remainder remainder
A
When specified for bearings, the phosphorus content shall be maintained from 0.010.01 % to 0.15 %.
B103/B103M − 23
TABLE 2 Tensile Strength Requirements and Approximate Rockwell Hardness Values
NOTE 1—Plate is generally available in only the as hot-rolled (M20) temper. Required properties for other tempers shall be agreed upon between the
manufacturer and purchaser at the time of placing the order.
Tensile Strength,
A
Temper Designation Approximate Rockwell Hardness
B
ksi [MPa]
Thickness, in. [mm]
Code Name Min Max B Scale Superficial 30–T
Copper Alloy UNS No. C51000
M20 as hot-rolled Over 0.188 [4.775] 40 [275] 60 [415] . . . . . .
O60 soft Over 0.039 [0.991] 43 [295] 58 [400] 16-64 . . .
Over 0.029 [0.737] . . . 32-59
Over 0.020 [0.508] to 0.039 [0.991] incl 12-60 . . .
Over 0.010 [0.254] to 0.029 [0.737] incl . . . 24-53
0.003 [0.076] to 0.010 [0.254] incl
H02 half-hard Over 0.039 [0.991] 58 [400] 73 [505] 64-85 . . .
Over 0.029 [0.737] . . . 59-73
Over 0.02 [0.508] to 0.039 [0.991] incl 60-82 . . .
Over 0.010 [0.254] to 0.029 [0.737] incl . . . 53-69
0.003 [0.076] to 0.010 [0.254] incl
H04 hard Over 0.039 [0.991] 76 [525] 91 [625] 86-93 . . .
Over 0.029 [0.737] . . . 73-78
Over 0.020 [0.508] to 0.039 [0.991] incl 84-91 . . .
Over 0.010 [0.254] to 0.029 [0.737] incl . . . 71-75
0.003 [0.076] to 0.010 [0.254] incl
H06 extra-hard Over 0.039 [0.991] 88 [605] 103 [710] 92-96 . . .
Over 0.029 [0.737] . . . 77-81
Over 0.020 [0.508] to 0.039 [0.991] incl 89-95 . . .
Over 0.010 [0.254] to 0.029 [0.737] incl . . . 74-78
0.003 [0.076] to 0.010 [0.254] incl
H08 spring Over 0.039 [0.991] 95 [655] 110 [760] 94-98 . . .
Over 0.029 [0.737] . . . 79-82
Over 0.020 [0.508] to 0.039 [0.991] incl 92-97 . . .
Over 0.010 [0.254] to 0.029 [0.737] incl . . . 76-80
0.003 [0.076] to 0.010 [0.254] incl
H10 extra-spring Over 0.039 [0.991] 100 [690] 114 [785] 96-99 . . .
Over 0.029 [0.737] . . . 80-83
Over 0.020 [0.508] to 0.039 [0.991] incl 94-98 . . .
Over 0.010 [0.254] to 0.029 [0.737] incl . . . 77-81
0.003 [0.076] to 0.010 [0.254] incl
Copper Alloy UNS Nos. C51100, C53400, and C54400
M20 as hot-rolled Over 0.188 [4.775] 40 [275] 58 [400] . . . . . .
O60 soft Over 0.039 [0.991] 40 [275] 55 [380] 7-50 . . .
Over 0.029 [0.737] . . . 24-50
Over 0.020 [0.508] to 0.039 [0.991] incl 0-45 . . .
Over 0.010 [0.254] to 0.029 [0.737] incl . . . 16-46
H02 half-hard Over 0.039 [0.991] 55 [380] 70 [485] 60-81 . . .
Over 0.029 [0.737] . . . 57-73
Over 0.020 [0.508] to 0.039 [0.991] incl 53-78 . . .
Over 0.010 [0.254] to 0.029 [0.737] incl . . . 52-71
H04 hard Over 0.039 [0.991] 72 [495] 87 [600] 82-90 . . .
Over 0.029 [0.737] . . . 71-77
Over 0.020 [0.506] to 0.039 [0.991] incl 80-86 . . .
Over 0.010 [0.254] to 0.029 [0.737] incl . . . 69-75
H06 extra-hard Over 0.039 [0.991] 84 [580] 99 [685] 88-94 . . .
Over 0.029 [0.737] . . . 75-80
Over 0.020 [0.506] to 0.039 [0.991] incl 86-92 . . .
Over 0.010 [0.254] to 0.029 [0.737] incl . . . 73-78
H08 spring Over 0.039 [0.991] 91 [625] 106 [730] 90-98 . . .
Over 0.029 [0.737] . . . 77-81
Over 0.020 [0.508] to 0.039 [0.991] incl 86-94 . . .
Over 0.0
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