Guides/Comparisons
Brass vs bronze
brass-vs-bronzeFree-cutting brass C36000 and Aluminium bronze C95400 at a glance
This page compares Free-cutting brass C36000 and Aluminium bronze C95400 using only values that carry a source, a test condition and an evidence level. Ranges run across temper, heat treatment and product form, measured at room temperature where the source says so.
- Yield strength: the ranges overlap (brass C360 at least 130 MPa; bronze C954 at least 205 MPa).
- Tensile strength: bronze C954 is higher (brass C360 at least 330 MPa; bronze C954 at least 515 MPa), about 1.4 times the midpoint of brass C360.
- Density: brass C360 is higher (brass C360 8.5 g/cm³; bronze C954 7.45 g/cm³), about 1.1 times the midpoint of bronze C954.
- Thermal conductivity: brass C360 is higher (brass C360 116 W/(m·K); bronze C954 58.7 W/(m·K)), about 2.0 times the midpoint of bronze C954.
- Melting point: the ranges overlap (brass C360 954 to 1,049 °C; bronze C954 1,027 to 1,038 °C).
- Thermal expansion: brass C360 is higher (brass C360 20.5 ppm/K; bronze C954 15.5 to 16.2 ppm/K), about 1.3 times the midpoint of bronze C954.
"Higher" means the whole range is higher, not just one value. Where a value is a specified minimum, the table says "at least".
Side by side
| Property | Free-cutting brass C36000 | Aluminium bronze C95400 |
|---|---|---|
| Yield strength | at least 130 MPa | at least 205 MPa |
| Tensile strength | at least 330 MPa | at least 515 MPa |
| Density | 8.5 g/cm³ | 7.45 g/cm³ |
| Young's modulus | no data | 107 GPa |
| Thermal conductivity | 116 W/(m·K) | 58.7 W/(m·K) |
| Melting point | 954 to 1,049 °C | 1,027 to 1,038 °C |
| Service temperature | no data | 399 °C |
| Thermal expansion | 20.5 ppm/K | 15.5 to 16.2 ppm/K |
Composition
| Element | Free-cutting brass C36000 | Aluminium bronze C95400 |
|---|---|---|
| Copper | not listed | 83% |
| Iron | not listed | 3 to 5% |
| Aluminium | not listed | 10 to 11.5% |
Shares are as printed in the sources, by weight.
When to use which
| Material | Best for | Weakest at |
|---|---|---|
| Free-cutting brass C36000 | High-volume machined parts such as screw-machine products, fasteners and valve components, where machinability rated 100 matters most | Corrosion in water (dezincification, about 35 % zinc) and in ammonia (season cracking), plus its 2.5 to 3.0 % lead content |
| Aluminium bronze C95400 | Heavily loaded, low-speed bearings, worm gears and valve parts, and marine hardware in seawater (Concast, Bunting, Wikipedia) | Dealuminification in seawater crevices, under deposits or with galvanic coupling, and oxyacetylene welding (not recommended by Concast) |
Where each is used
| Material | Use |
|---|---|
| Free-cutting brass C36000 | Automatic screw-machine products and fasteners |
| Free-cutting brass C36000 | Plumbing components, fittings, adaptors and fluid connectors (terrestrial use) |
| Aluminium bronze C95400 | Bearings, bushings, spur gears and heavily loaded worm gears |
| Aluminium bronze C95400 | Covers for marine hardware and ship building parts |
| Aluminium bronze C95400 | Pump parts, valve bodies, valve guides, valve seats and valves |