C46500 Naval Brass

C46500 Naval Brass

Cu 59.0-62.0%
NOMINAL COMPOSITION
ASTM B21
SPECIFICATION
8.4 g/cm3
DENSITY
C46500 Arsenical Naval Brass is a tin- and arsenic-bearing copper-zinc alloy engineered for seawater service, with arsenic added for dezincification resistance in shafts, valves, pumps, and marine hardware. Supplied to ASTM B21.
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Product Overview

C46500 Arsenical Naval Brass is a wrought copper-zinc-tin alloy (about 60% copper, balance zinc, 0.5-1.0% tin) carrying 0.02-0.06% arsenic. The tin and arsenic work together to slow dezincification, giving reliable corrosion resistance in seawater, brackish water, and non-oxidizing acid service where standard brass would degrade.

Supplied mainly as rod, bar, and shapes to ASTM B21, C46500 offers tensile strength from about 400 MPa (soft annealed) to 550 MPa (half-hard) with elongation falling from roughly 45% to 20% as temper hardens. It has excellent hot formability and forgeability (about 90%), fair cold workability, and a machinability rating near 30% of free-cutting brass. Electrical conductivity is about 26% IACS, with density near 8.4 g/cm3 and modulus around 100 GPa.

When your project needs arsenical naval brass in non-stock diameters, hollow bar, or cut-to-length sections, Linsy Copper supports low-MOQ custom production with typical lead times of 10-60 days based on grade, size, and processing. Our Shenzhen factory provides in-house CNC machining and surface finishing, and issues an MTR/MTC for every order, with optional SGS testing available on request to document dezincification resistance for marine specifications.

Key Features

Arsenical tin brass (Cu 59-62%, Zn remainder, 0.5-1.0% Sn, 0.02-0.06% As) for dezincification resistance
Supplied to ASTM B21 (rod/bar/shapes) for marine and subsea service
Tensile strength from ~400 MPa (annealed) to 550 MPa (half-hard)
Excellent hot formability and forgeability (~90%) for shafts and forged parts
Good soldering and brazing response; machinability ~30% of free-cutting brass
Seawater and brackish-water corrosion resistance with ~26% IACS conductivity

Available Sizes

Copper Shape Thickness (mm) Width/Diameter (mm) Length (m)
Bar - Φ5-200 1-6
Wire - Φ0.05-10 Customize
Sheet 0.25-6 500-2500 1-6
Plate 6-200 200-3000 1-6
Strip 0.15-6 8-610 Customize
Tube OD: φ2-600; WT:φ0.2-100mm - 1-6
Coil 0.15-6 3-1250 1-6
Foil < 0.15 10-1350 Customize
Profile Customized Customize Customize

* Custom sizes available upon request. Contact our sales team for special requirements.

Technical Specifications

Precision data for engineering decisions. All values tested per ASTM standards.

01 Chemical Composition

Element Min % Max %
Cu 59.0 62.0
Sn 0.50 1.00
As 0.02 0.06
Pb 0.20
Fe 0.10
Zn Remainder

02 Mechanical Properties (ASTM B21 Rod)

Temper Tensile Strength (MPa) Yield Strength (MPa) Elongation %
Soft Annealed (O60) ≈400 ≈172 ≈47
1/4 Hard (H01) ≈483 ≈331 25
1/2 Hard (H02) ≈551 ≈393 20

Applications & Use Cases

Proven solutions across diverse industries. From aerospace to marine environments.

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about C46500 arsenical naval brass, dezincification resistance, and how it compares with C46200.

Both follow ASTM B21 and share the tin-bearing brass base, but C46500 adds 0.02-0.06% arsenic. The arsenic specifically inhibits dezincification, so C46500 is preferred for prolonged seawater or brackish-water exposure where standard C46200 may lose zinc over time. C46500 also carries slightly lower copper (59-62% vs 62-65%).
No. C46500 is arsenical, not leaded. Its lead limit is 0.20% max (a residual), with arsenic as the intentional additive for corrosion resistance. The leaded naval brasses are separate grades such as C48200 and C48500. Do not confuse the two families.
Rod, bar, and shapes are covered by ASTM B21. It is the arsenical member of the naval brass family alongside C46200, C46400, and others.
The arsenic addition slows dezincification, the selective leaching of zinc that weakens brass in seawater and acidic service. This lets C46500 hold strength and integrity far longer than non-arsenical brass in marine and brackish environments.
Yes. It machines at about 30% of free-cutting brass, welds and brazes well, and has excellent hot formability (forgeability ~90%), making it suitable for forged marine components and CNC-machined valve or pump parts.
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