Lead-free brass with excellent machinability

Applicable to RoHS directive, ELV directive and Tap water quality standards
Standard No. ECO BRASS
JIS: C6931, C6932, CAC804 CDA: C69300, C69310, C87850, C87870
EN: CW724R, CB768S, CC768S

GloBrass
CDA: C68370

Inquiry

WebsiteE-mail: mb-copper@mmc.co.jp

http://www.mitsubishi-copper.com/en/

GloBrass
ECO BRASS

GloBrass and ECO BRASS are environmentally friendly

materials, complying with RoHS directive, ELV directive and Tap
water quality standards.

GloBrass is the new material whose copper content is close

High-end

to general brass, the machinability and the strength are

well balanced, it is possible to supply thinner bars, so it isECO-CR

recommended to mass-market segment which lead-containing
brass are applied.

SnECO

ECO BRASS is suitable substitutes for lead-containing brass

ECO BRASS

GloBrass

as well as Austenitic stainless steel (SUS304), since ECOBRASS has a similar strength to stainless steel in addition

Mass-market

to characteristics like superior machinability and hydrogen
embrittlement resistance.

RoHS directive, ELV directive, Tap water quality standards (Drinking water quality standards)
GloBrass and ECO BRASS contain lead less than 0.09%, complying with RoHS directive, ELV directive and Tap waterquality standards, especially NSF61 (Lead elution amount : 5ppb) of Tap water quality standard in the U.S.
Material properties of GloBrass and ECO BRASS are improved by containing Si which does not aﬀect to health while Lead
does harm to.
Enforcement

Area

April 2003

JP

April 2011

US

July 2012

USJan. 2014

USDec. 2017

EUMay 2018

EUJan. 2021

EUSep. 2022

AUFeb. 2023

USJan. 2024

US

Name of Regulation

Field

Outline of the Regulation

Ministry of Health, Labor andAllowable lead content in tap water was reduced from 0.05mg/L to
tap water
Welfare Ordinance No. 43 of 2002
0.01mg/L (about 10 ppb).
This regulation is related to dezincification corrosion resistance and stress
NSF14
tap water
corrosion cracking resistance.
Allowable amount of lead dissolved into water was reduced from 15 ppb to
NSF61
tap water
5 ppb.
The amount of lead contained in plumbing fittings is restricted (weightedS3874
tap water
average: 0.25%).
Lead may be contained at 0.1% or less (extension of the exemption
ELV Directive
automobile
allowing inclusion of up to 4.0% lead in a copper alloy has been approved).
Lead may be contained at 0.1% or less (extension of the exemption
RoHS Directiveelectronics
allowing inclusion of up to 4.0% lead in a copper alloy has been approved).
Allowable amount of lead dissolved into tap water was reduced from 10
Drinking Water Directive
tap water
ppb to 5 ppb.
The amount of lead contained in plumbing fittings is restricted (weightedNSF372
tap water
average: 0.25%). - - - Transitional period: 3 yearsAB100
Allowable amount of lead dissolved into tap water was reduced from 5 ppb
tap water(a Californian bill a.k.a. Chan Bill)
to 1ppb. - - - Provisional
Allowable amount of lead dissolved into tap water was reduced from 5 ppb
NSF61
tap water
to 1ppb. - - - Provisional03

Trend in Environmental Regulations
Use of a material containing a harmful substance such as lead, marcury, cadmium, or hexavalent chromium for an electricalor electronic component or an automotive component is prohibited by RoHS Directive and ELV Directive.
However, due to an exemption temporarily applied, copper alloys are still allowed to contain up to 4% Pb.
The Consultants of these Directives proposed extension of the exemptions until 2024 in November 2021 with respect to theELV Directive, and until July 2026 in December 2021 with respect to the RoHS Directive respectively.
The Consultants also indicated that the subjects to which the exemptions are applicable should be more specific andlimited in the next review.
Note: The latest information is available on OEKO's website. Carl-Otto Gensch. Öko-Institut e.V. :"RoHS Evaluations" (https://rohs.exemptions.oeko.info/).

Global Material
ECO BRASS® is the world best-selling lead-free, free-cutting brass.
The alloy's accumulated global sales volume reached 300,000 tons in 2019.

Application, Positioning
GloBrass is the new material whose copper content is close to general brass, the machinability and the strength are well balanced, it ispossible to supply thinner bars, so it is recommended to mass-market segment which lead-containing brass are applied.
ECO BRASS series are ECO BRASS, SnECO and ECO-CR, SnECO is superior for erosion resistance*1, ECO-CR is outstanding for corrosion
resistance*2. Each brass is applied to Automotive parts, Electrical parts and Faucet parts etc.
● Proposal for application
Faucet parts etc. : Water meter case, Faucet fittings, Sprinkler head
Automotive parts : Solenoid valves, Turbocharger bearings, Brake parts, Relief valve, Temperature sensor, Insert nuts, Tire valves
Electrical parts: 2-3 way valves / Flare nuts / Terminals for Air conditioners
Watch parts: Watch crowns, Case

Application

Corrosion
resistance

Erosionresistance

Faucet parts

Automotive parts

Electrical parts

GloBrass

Average

Average

AverageGoodGood

ECO BRASSGoodGood

Good

Good

Good

SnECO

Good

Excellent

Excellent--ECO-CR(Fast flow)

Excellent

Good

Excellent--Lead-containing brass, C3604

Average

Average

Average

GoodGoodType*1 Erosion resistance : Resistance to erosion due to physical action of high-speed fluid*2 Corrosion resistance : Resistance to chemical corrosion

Features
Each Characteristic of GloBrass and ECO BRASS is as follows. Various Characteristics of GloBrass are superior to Lead-containing brass,the electrical conductivity of GloBrass is higher than Phosphor bronze, it is applicable for terminals which transfer electric signals.
ECO BRASS series has well balanced performance and similar strength to Austenitic stainless steel (SUS304).
TensilestrengthWear
resistanceCorrosion
resistance

Machinability

Forgeability

Castability

Electricalconductivity (%IACS)

GloBrass

Good

Good

AverageGood

Excellent

Good

16

ECO BRASS

Good

Good

Good

Good

Good

Good

8

SnECO

Good

Good

Excellent

Good

Good

Good

8

ECO-CR

Good

Good

Excellent

Good

Good

Good

8

Lead-containing brass, C3604

Average

Average

Average

Good--

26

Lead-containing brass, C3771

Average

Average

Average

GoodGood-27

Austenitic stainless steel（SUS304）

Good

Excellent

Good

Average

Average-2

Type

Chemical composition, Standard number of ECO BRASS series
Chemical compositions and Registered Standard number are as follows.
TypeShapeStandard numberCDA
JISEN（Weight％）

CuSi

P

Sn

Pb*1

Cd*1

Zn

Bar

C69300

C6932

CW724R

75.5

3.0

0.08

<0.1

<0.09

<0.0075

Rem.*2

Casting

C87850

CAC804

CB768S

76.0

3.00.08

<0.1

<0.09

<0.0075

Rem.*2Bar

C69310

C6931

-

76.0

3.00.08

0.5

<0.09

<0.0075

Rem.*2

Casting

C87870

CAC804-76.0

3.00.08

0.5

<0.09

<0.0075Rem.*2

ECO-CRBar--

CW724R

76.3

3.2

0.09

0.2

<0.09

<0.0075

Rem.*2GloBrass

BarC68370--

62.5

1.00.07

<0.2

<0.1

<0.0075

Rem.*2ECO BRASS
SnECO*1 RoHS・ELV directive value Pb ≦ 0.1 Cd ≦ 0.01
*2 Including inevitable impurities and trace additive elements

ShapeGloBrass and ECO BRASS are supplied as following shapes.

Bar, RodForged products

Ingot for casting

GloBrass

Continuous
casting rod

Continuous
casting tube

Available

Available

Available--

ECO BRASS

Available

Available

AvailableAvailable

Available

SnECO

Available

Available

Available

Available

Available

ECO-CR

Available

Available

Available--

Physical properties
Physical properties are as follows.

Specific Gravity

Typical value

Property

GloBrass

ECO BRASS

Lead-containing
brass C3604

Bronze-casting
CAC406

g/cm3

8.3

8.3

8.5

8.8

Thermal Conductivity

W/m・K

73

35114

70

Electrical Conductivity%IACS

16826

15

Coefficient of Thermal Expansion X10-6/℃

1920

2118

Liquidus Temperature ℃

880

890

900

1010

Solidus Temperature ℃

865

855

885

860

Mechanical properties (Sampling direction : L.D.)
Mechanical properties are as follows.
● Bar, Rod

Typical value for Φ20mm

GloBrass

ECO BRASS

Lead-containing
brass C3604

Tensile Strength MPa

625

650

435

660

0.2%Yield Strength MPa

470420295

310

Elongation %20202555

Hardness HV

(185)

(200)

(140)

(160)

Property● Casting

Stainless steel
SUS304

Representative values

ECO BRASS

Bronze-casting
CAC406

Tensile Strength MPa

400

220

0.2%Yield Strength MPa

170-

Elongation %2015

PropertyMachinability of GloBrass, ECO BRASSThe chips of C3604 are cut oﬀ because of stress concentration on
Pb particles which are soft and low melting temperature.
On the other hand, the chips of GloBrass are cut oﬀ due to stressconcentration on β phase. The chips of ECO BRASS are cut oﬀ
because of stress concentration on β・γ phases which are hard.

GloBrass and ECO BRASS are applicable for dry cutting, because
it's Lead-free. If the chips are not cut oﬀ under the same cutting
conditions of C3604, we suggest that higher feed rate and lower
cutting speed could be eﬀective.
Furthermore, if breakage of cutting edge occurs, cutting edge
with honing (small radius) could be one of the solution, such asrecommended tools for stainless steel.

● Mechanism of the machinability

GloBrass

ECO BRASS

Lead-containing brass
C3604

Metal structure

Chips

Cutting conditions : Dry cutting, Cutting speed 40m/min, Depth of cut 1.0mm, Feed rate 0.1mm/rev, Corner radius 0.4mm

Example of Turning, Drilling, Tapping, Threading and Cutting-off
One of the test results is as follows, it was possible to machine
GloBrass, ECO BRASS under the same cutting conditions as Leadcontaining brass C3604.
The cycle time of GloBrass and ECO BRASS was shorter than that ofAustenitic stainless steel (SUS303) because of the higher cutting speed
and feed rate. The video is as follows. ( https://youtu.be/X2Ie3rsLKu0 )Part after machining Φ20mm Bar（GloBrass）● Cutting conditions
Process1

GloBrass, ECO BRASS, C3604（Dry cutting）

Cutting tools*
HolderInsert

Austenitic stainless steel
SUS303（Wet cutting）

Rev.
Rev.
Cutting speed Feed rate
Cutting speed Feed rate（min-1） （m/min） (mm/rev) （min-1） （m/min） (mm/rev)

FacingSDJCR1212M11

DCMT11T304-LM（VP15TF）

22122

1200.1

1768

1000.1

Leading-drill

DLE1000S100P090-

2785

700.07

1194

30

0.05

3Drilling

MVS0800X05S080-

3183

80

0.1

2387

60

0.1

4

Turning

SDJCR1212M11

DCMT11T304-LM（VP15TF）

1989

1000.1

1592

80

0.1

5Threading

MMTER1212H16-C

MMT16ERG60-S（VP15TF）

700-

2700-

26

Turning

SDJCR1212M11

DCMT11T304-LM（VP15TF）

1768

1000.1

1415

800.1

7

Cutting-oﬀ

GYSR1212JX00-D13

GY2M0200D020N-GS（VP20RT）

2000

-0.1

2000

-0.1

* MITSUBISHI MATERIALS supplies Cutting tools.（http://www.mitsubishicarbide.com/en/）

Hot Forging of GloBrass, ECO BRASS
The deformation resistance of GloBrass is● The samples after hot forging
lower than Lead-containing brass C3771, soGloBrassECO BRASS
any cracks did not occurred. GloBrass has
well forgeability, the proper temperature is 580〜650℃. However, C3771 cracked below 620℃
and at 820℃. On the other hand, suitabletemperature of ECO BRASS is 700〜760℃, inwhich the deformation resistance is low.

C3771

Wear resistance of GloBrass, ECO BRASS

Dezinciﬁcation corrosion resistance of ECO BRASS

Wear amount of GloBrass and ECO BRASS is smaller than C3604
during the Amsler wear test with the lubrication.

ECO BRASS shows excellence in Dezincification corrosion
resistance, because ECO BRASS contains little Zn, and nolow β phase in terms of electrochemical in the matrix.

● Amsler wear test

● ISO6509 : Dezinciﬁcation corrosion test

ECO BRASS

Stress corrosion cracking resistance of ECO BRASSECO BRASS has superiority in stress cracking resistance,since its composition of low Zn and 3% Si improveseﬀectively for the performance.

Wear amount of SnECO is lower than C3604, and similar toCAC406 (Bronze), because addition of Sn is eﬀective for the corrosion
resistance.
● Jet stream test
Liquid : 1% CuCl2
Time : 7 hours
Liquid speed : 9.2m/sec

Wear amount /ghour

torque:150N

C3604

C3604

Erosion Corrosion resistance of SnECO● Stress corrosion cracking resistanceECO BRASSUR

Dezinciﬁcation brass

C3604

C3771

ECO BRASSSnECO

CAC406

Corrosion resistance of ECO-CR
ECO-CR has the best corrosion resistance in ECO BRASS series, ECO-CR
is recommended for localized corrosion of normal ECO BRASS.
● ISO6509 : Dezinciﬁcation corrosion test

Max. corrosion depth● EN15664: Max. corrosion depth after 1 year ﬂow test

C3771

ECO BRASSECO-CR

http://www.mitsubishi-copper.com/en/

C3604

ECO-CR

Environment Product Sales Dept., Extruded Product & Wire Rod Div.,
Copper & Copper Alloy Business Unit, Advanced Products Company
Address:OAP Tower 28F 1-8-30, Tenmabashi, Kita-ku, Osaka-shi,
Osaka 530-6070
E-mail: mb-copper@mmc.co.jp
3/2023