ASTM B453/B453M-19

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of the standard as published by ASTM is to be considered the official document.
Designation: B453/B453M − 11 (Reapproved 2017) B453/B453M − 19
Standard Specification for
Copper-Zinc-Lead Alloy (Leaded-Brass) Rod, Bar, and
Shapes
This standard is issued under the fixed designation B453/B453M; 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 establishes the requirements for copper-zinc-lead alloy (leaded-brass) rod, bar, wire, and shapes produced
from Copper Alloys UNS Nos. C33500, C34000, C34500, C35000, C35300, C35330, C35350, and C35600. These alloys have
nominal composition given in Table 1.
1.1.1 This product is suitable for applications requiring extensive machining before such cold-forming operations as swaging,
flaring, severe knurling, or thread rolling.
NOTE 1—Refer to Appendix X1 for additional applications information.
1.1.2 Typically, product made to this specification is furnished as straight lengths. Sizes ⁄2 in. [12 mm] and under may be
furnished as wire in coils or on reels when requested.
1.2 The values stated in either SI units or inch-pound units are to be regarded separately as standard. The values stated in each
system mayare not benecessarily exact equivalents; therefore, to ensure conformance with the standard, each system shall be used
independently of the other. Combiningother, and values from the two systems may result in non-conformance with the
standard.shall not be combined.
NOTE 2—Refer to Specifications B16/B16M and B140/B140M for copper-zinc-lead (leaded-brass) rod and bar for screw machine applications.
1.3 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:
B16/B16M Specification for Free-Cutting Brass Rod, Bar and Shapes for Use in Screw Machines
B140/B140M Specification for Copper-Zinc-Lead (Red Brass or Hardware Bronze) Rod, Bar, and Shapes
B249/B249M Specification for General Requirements for Wrought Copper and Copper-Alloy Rod, Bar, Shapes and Forgings
B250/B250M Specification for General Requirements for Wrought Copper Alloy Wire
B601 Classification for Temper Designations for Copper and Copper Alloys—Wrought and Cast
E8/E8M Test Methods for Tension Testing of Metallic Materials
E18 Test Methods for Rockwell Hardness of Metallic Materials
E62 Test Methods for Chemical Analysis of Copper and Copper Alloys (Photometric Methods) (Withdrawn 2010)
E478 Test Methods for Chemical Analysis of Copper Alloys
3. General Requirements
3.1 The following sections of Specifications B249/B249M and B250/B250M are a part of this specification:
3.1.1 Terminology,
This specification is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee B05 on Copper and Copper Alloys and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee B05.02 on Rod, Bar,
Wire, Shapes and Forgings.
Current edition approved Oct. 1, 2017April 1, 2019. Published October 2017April 2019. Originally approved in 1967. Last previous edition approved in 2011 as
ɛ1
B453/B453M – 11B453/B453M . –11 (2017). DOI: 10.1520/B0453_B0453M-11R17.10.1520/B0453_B0453M–19.
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.
*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
B453/B453M − 19
TABLE 1 Nominal Composition, %
Copper Alloy
Copper Zinc Lead
UNS No.
C33500 63.5 36.0 0.5
C34000 63.5 35.3 1.2
C34500 63.5 34.5 2.0
C35000 61.5 37.1 1.4
C35300 61.5 36.5 2.0
C35330 61.8 35.7 2.5
C35350 62.0 34.5 3.2
C35600 61.5 36.0 2.5
3.1.2 Materials and Manufacture,
3.1.3 Workmanship, Finish, and Appearance,
3.1.4 Sampling,
3.1.5 Number of Tests and Retests,
3.1.6 Specimen Preparation,
3.1.7 Test Methods,
3.1.8 Significance of Numerical Limits,
3.1.9 Inspection,
3.1.10 Rejection and Rehearing,
3.1.11 Certification,
3.1.12 Mill Test Report,
3.1.13 Packaging and Package Marking, and
3.1.14 Supplementary Requirements.
3.2 In addition, when a section with a title identical to one of those referenced in 3.1 appears in this specification, it contains
additional requirements which supplement those appearing in Specifications B249/B249M and B250/B250M.
4. Ordering Information
4.1 Include the following information in orders for product:
4.1.1 ASTM designation and year of issue (for example, B453/B453M – 05),
4.1.2 Copper Alloy UNS Number designation,
4.1.3 Product (rod, bar, wire, or shape),
4.1.4 Cross section (round, hexagonal, square, and so forth),
4.1.5 Temper (See Section 6),
4.1.6 Dimensions (diameter or distance between parallel surfaces, width, thickness),
4.1.7 How furnished: straight lengths, coils, or reels,
4.1.8 Length,
4.1.9 Total length or number of pieces of each size,
4.1.10 Weight: total for each form, and size, and
4.1.11 When product is purchased for agencies of the U.S. Government.
4.2 The following are options and should be specified in the ordering information when required:
4.2.1 Tensile test for product ⁄2 in. [12 mm] and over in diameter or distance between parallel surfaces,
4.2.2 Certification,
4.2.3 Mill test report, and
4.2.4 Automatic screw machine use (9.1.4).
5. Chemical Composition
5.1 The material shall conform to the chemical composition requirements in Table 2 for the Copper Alloy UNS No. designation
specified in the ordering information.
5.1.1 These composition limits do not preclude the presence of other elements. Limits may be established and analysis required
for unnamed elements by agreement between the manufacturer and the purchaser. For copper alloys in which zinc is listed as the
“remainder,” either copper or zinc may be taken as the difference between the sum of all elements determined and 100 %. When
copper is so determined, that difference value shall conform to the requirements given in Table 2.
5.2 When all the named elements in Table 2 for the specified alloy are determined, the sum of results shall be as follows:
Copper Alloy UNS No. Percent, min
C33500, C34000, C34500, C35000 99.6
C35300, C35330, C35350, C35600 99.5
B453/B453M − 19
TABLE 2 Chemical Requirements
Copper Alloy Composition, %
UNS No.
Copper Lead Iron Zinc
C33500 62.0–65.0 0.25–0.7 0.15 max remainder
C34000 62.0–65.0 0.8–1.5 0.15 max remainder
C34500 62.0–65.0 1.5–2.5 0.15 max remainder
C35000 61.0–63.0 0.8–2.0 0.15 max remainder
C35300 61.0–63.0 1.5–2.5 0.15 max remainder
A B
C35330 59.5–64.0 1.5–3.5 . remainder
C
C35350 61.0-63.0 2.0-4.5 0.40 remainder
C
C35350 61.0-63.0 2.0-4.5 0.4 max remainder
C35600 60.0–63.0 2.0–3.0 0.15 max remainder
A
0.02–0.25 As
B
Pb may be reduced to 1.0 % by agreement.
C
Includes nickel 0.05–0.30, phosphorus 0.05–0.20, tin 0.300.3 % max, phospho-
rus 0.05–0.2, tin 0.6 max.
5.3 In the event that heat identification or traceability is required, the purchaser shall specify the details desired.
NOTE 3—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. Temper
6.1 The standard tempers, as defined in Classification B601, for products described in this specification are given in Tables 3-6.
6.1.1 O60 (soft anneal),
6.1.2 H01 ( ⁄4 hard),
6.1.3 HR01 ( ⁄4 hard and Stress Relieved), and
6.1.4 H02 ( ⁄2 hard) (UNS Alloy No. C35350 is available only in this temper).
6.2 Other tempers, and temper for other products including shapes, shall be subject to agreement between the manufacturer and
the purchaser.
A
TABLE 3 Rockwell Hardness Requirements, Inch-Pound
NOTE 1—SI values are stated in Table 4.
Rockwell B Hardness
Rockwell Hardness
Temper Designation Determined on the
Diameter or Distance Determined on the
Cross Section Midway
Between Parallel Cross Section Midway
Between Surface and
Surfaces, in. Between Surface and
Center (All Alloys
Code Name
Center (Alloy C35350)
except C35350)
Rod and Wire
O60 soft anneal ⁄2 and over 45 max
1 1
H01 ⁄4 hard ⁄2 to 1, both incl 50–75 .
over 1 to 2, incl 40–70 .
over 2 35–65 .
1 1
HR01 ⁄4 hard and ⁄2 to 1, both incl 50–75 .
Stress Relieved over 1 to 2, incl 40–70 .
over 2 35–65 .
1 1
H02 ⁄2 hard ⁄2 to 1, both incl 60–80 68–85
over 1 to 2, incl 50–75 62–80
over 2 40–70 53–70
B
Bar
O60 soft anneal ⁄2 and over 35 max .
1 1
H01 ⁄4 hard ⁄2 to 1, both incl 45–75 .
over 1 to 2, incl 35–70 .
over 2 35–65
1 1
H02 ⁄2 hard ⁄2 to 1, both incl 45–85 68–85
over 1 to 2, incl 40–80 62–80
over 2 35–70 53–70
A 1
Rockwell hardness requirements are not established for
...