C85400 Leaded Yellow Brass

C85400 Leaded Yellow Brass

65–70% Cu
COPPER
1.5–3.8% Pb
LEAD
Machinability 80
MACHINABILITY
C85400 leaded yellow brass is a general-purpose casting alloy with 65–70% Cu and 1.5–3.8% Pb for free machining. Used for decorative hardware, valves, fittings, and ornamental castings.
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Product Overview

C85400 leaded yellow brass is a low-cost, general-purpose casting alloy in the yellow-brass family, produced to ASTM B584 (sand cast), ASTM B271 (centrifugal cast), and ASTM B30 (ingot). With 65–70% copper and 24–32% zinc, it delivers an attractive golden-yellow finish and good fluidity for non-pressure decorative and commercial castings.

The 1.5–3.8% lead content gives a machinability rating near 80 (C36000 = 100) and helps produce pressure-tight castings, but it also means the alloy is not suitable for potable-water contact under modern lead-free regulations. Soldering and brazing are excellent; oxyacetylene welding is fair, while arc welding is poor. It does not respond to heat treatment and is typically supplied as cast.

For buyers needing cast brass hardware, Linsy Copper supplies copper bar and block that can be machined or finished to applicable ASTM standards, with low-MOQ custom production for non-stock geometries and in-house CNC machining, polishing, and plating support. Every order ships with an MTR/MTC, and SGS composition or RoHS + REACH reports are available on request. Typical custom lead time is 10–60 days, with quotations returned within about one hour.

Key Features

65–70% copper with 1.5–3.8% lead for free machining (rating ~80)
Attractive golden-yellow finish for decorative and architectural parts
Castable by sand, centrifugal, permanent-mold, and plaster methods
Excellent solderability and brazing for straightforward joining
Low-cost general-purpose alloy for non-pressure applications
Cu plus named elements ≥98.9% for consistent casting composition

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 % Notes
Cu 65.0 70.0 Ni counted in Cu
Pb 1.5 3.8 Machinability
Sn 0.50 1.5 Tightness
Zn 24.0 32.0 Balance
Fe 0.70 Impurity
Ni 1.0 Incl. Co
Al 0.35 Impurity
Si 0.05 Impurity

02 Mechanical Properties (Sand Cast, M01)

Property Value Unit Condition
Tensile Strength 207 MPa Min (30 ksi)
Yield Strength (0.5% ext.) 76 MPa Min (11 ksi)
Elongation 20 % Min
Brinell Hardness 50 HB Typical

Applications & Use Cases

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

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about C85400 leaded yellow brass specifications, lead content, and supply.

C85400 is covered by ASTM B584 for sand castings, ASTM B271 for centrifugal castings, and ASTM B30 for ingot. It was formerly listed as ASTM B146 Alloy 6B, a designation now discouraged.
No. It contains 1.5–3.8% lead, so it does not meet modern lead-free plumbing rules such as the US Safe Drinking Water Act. Use it for decorative, architectural, marine, and general hardware — not for potable-water contact.
Machinability is rated about 80 on the C36000 = 100 scale. The lead phase breaks chips cleanly, making it well suited to CNC turning, drilling, and threading of cast blanks.
Standard stock copper bar or block ships within a few business days. Custom casting or machined geometries typically require 10–60 days depending on grade, dimensions, and processing complexity.
Yes. The alloy solders and brazes excellently, and castings take polishing and plating well. Linsy Copper offers bright polishing, brushed finish, tin or silver plating, and passivation on request, with an MTR/MTC provided for every order.
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