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Naval Brass Tubes (CuZn39Sn1)
Product Overview
Naval Brass Tubes (CuZn39Sn1) offered by R V Metal Corporation are engineered specifically for demanding marine, offshore, and heat-exchange environments where superior corrosion resistance and mechanical reliability are critical. The controlled addition of tin (Sn) in the CuZn39 alloy significantly enhances resistance to dezincification and seawater corrosion, making these tubes a proven material choice for shipbuilding, condensers, heat exchangers, desalination plants, and marine cooling systems. Manufactured under stringent quality controls, our naval brass tubes deliver consistent dimensional accuracy, excellent formability, and reliable performance under continuous exposure to saltwater, brackish water, and aggressive industrial fluids. Available in seamless form with precise wall thickness control, these tubes are suitable for both low- and high-pressure applications, ensuring long service life, reduced maintenance, and dependable operation in critical marine and industrial installations.
Technical Specifications
| Parameter | Specification / Description |
|---|---|
| Product Name | Naval Brass Tubes |
| Alloy Designation | CuZn39Sn1 |
| UNS Number | C46400 |
| Material Type | Seamless Brass Tubes |
| Manufacturing Process | Hot Extruded / Cold Drawn |
| Temper | Annealed (Soft), Half-Hard, Hard Drawn |
| Outside Diameter Range | 6 mm to 150 mm (Custom sizes available) |
| Wall Thickness Range | 0.7 mm to 10 mm (or as per customer requirement) |
| Standard Lengths | 3 m, 4 m, 5 m, 6 m or Cut-to-Length |
| Form Supplied | Straight Lengths / Coils (on request) |
| Surface Finish | Mill Finish, Bright Drawn, Polished |
| Corrosion Resistance | Excellent resistance to seawater, brackish water, and dezincification |
| Pressure Handling | Suitable for Low, Medium & High Pressure Applications (dependent on wall thickness) |
| Operating Temperature | -50°C to +300°C |
| Quality & Testing | Eddy Current Test, Hydro Test, Dimensional & Visual Inspection |
| Typical Applications | Marine Condensers, Heat Exchangers, Shipbuilding, Offshore Systems |
| Standards Compliance | ASTM B171, ASTM B111, BS 2871, EN 12451, IS 410 |
Chemical Composition
| Element | Chemical Symbol | Composition (% by Weight) | Role in Alloy |
|---|---|---|---|
| Copper | Cu | 59.0 – 61.0 | Base metal; provides corrosion resistance, strength, and thermal conductivity |
| Zinc | Zn | Balance (≈ 38.0 – 41.0) | Improves strength and machinability |
| Tin | Sn | 0.8 – 1.2 | Enhances resistance to dezincification and seawater corrosion |
| Lead | Pb | ≤ 0.20 | Improves machinability (kept low for pressure and marine service) |
| Iron | Fe | ≤ 0.10 | Grain refinement and added strength |
| Nickel | Ni | ≤ 0.50 | Improves toughness and corrosion resistance |
| Other Impurities | — | ≤ 0.20 (total) | Controlled limits as per applicable standards |
UNS Codes & Grades
| UNS Code | Common Name | EN / DIN Designation | IS / BS Equivalent | Typical Grade Description | Primary Applications |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| C46400 | Naval Brass | CuZn39Sn1 (EN 12165 / EN 12451) | IS 291 (Naval Brass), BS 2874 CZ112 | Standard Naval Brass Tube Grade | Marine condensers, heat exchangers, shipbuilding, seawater piping |
| C46200 | Naval Brass (Modified) | CuZn38Sn1 | — | Low-lead naval brass with enhanced corrosion resistance | High-pressure marine and offshore systems |
| C46300 | High-Zinc Naval Brass | CuZn40Sn1 | — | Higher zinc variant with good strength | Structural marine fittings, tube sheets |
| C48500 | Naval Brass (Special) | CuZn36Sn1 | — | Special-purpose naval brass alloy | Custom marine and seawater handling components |
Mechanical, Physical & Fabrication Properties
| Property Category | Property | Typical Values – Naval Brass Tubes (CuZn39Sn1) | Remarks / Engineering Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mechanical Properties | Tensile Strength | 360 – 500 MPa | Depends on temper (annealed or hard-drawn) |
| Yield Strength (0.2%) | 150 – 250 MPa | Higher in hard-drawn condition | |
| Elongation | 20 – 35 % | Excellent ductility for tube expansion and forming | |
| Hardness | 80 – 120 HB | Annealed: lower range, Drawn: higher range | |
| Impact Resistance | Good | Suitable for vibration-prone marine systems | |
| Physical Properties | Density | ≈ 8.45 g/cm³ | Higher than pure copper due to zinc and tin content |
| Melting Range | 900 – 940 °C | Allows stable brazing and soldering operations | |
| Thermal Conductivity | ≈ 120 W/m·K | Lower than pure copper, adequate for heat exchangers | |
| Electrical Conductivity | ≈ 20 – 28 % IACS | Not intended for electrical conduction | |
| Corrosion Resistance | Excellent in seawater | Tin addition prevents dezincification | |
| Fabrication Properties | Cold Workability | Very Good | Supports bending, flaring, and expansion |
| Hot Workability | Good | Recommended temperature range: 650 – 750 °C | |
| Brazing / Soldering | Excellent | Compatible with silver and copper-based brazing alloys | |
| Machinability | Fair | Better than pure copper, lower than free-machining brass | |
| Weldability | Limited | Brazing preferred over fusion welding | |
| Tube Expansion & Rolling | Excellent | Ideal for condenser and heat exchanger tube sheets |
Common Names & International Identifiers
| Region / Standard Body | Common Name | Grade / Designation | Identifier / Code | Remarks / Usage Context |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| International / Generic | Naval Brass | CuZn39Sn1 | EN CW712R | Most widely used naval brass grade for marine tubes |
| USA (UNS) | Naval Brass | Naval Brass Alloy | C46400 | Standard UNS grade for seawater and condenser tubes |
| Europe (EN) | Naval Brass | CW712R | EN 12451 / EN 12452 | Used for seamless tubes and pipes |
| Germany (DIN) | Naval Brass | CuZn39Sn1 | DIN 17660 | High resistance to dezincification |
| United Kingdom (BS) | Naval Brass | NA15 | BS 2871 / BS 2874 | Marine, condenser, and heat exchanger applications |
| India (IS) | Naval Brass | CuZn39Sn1 | IS 407 / IS 6913 | Approved for marine and industrial cooling systems |
| Japan (JIS) | Naval Brass | C4622 / C4621 | JIS H3300 | Used in shipbuilding and offshore equipment |
| ISO | Naval Brass | CuZn39Sn1 | ISO 1634 | International equivalence for copper alloy tubes |
| Commercial Trade Name | Admiralty-Type Naval Brass | Naval Grade Brass Tube | — | Common trade reference in marine HVAC & condensers |
Standards & International Equivalents
| Country / Region | Standard Organization | Standard Number | Grade / Designation | Product Form Covered | Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| International | ISO | ISO 1634 | CuZn39Sn1 | Seamless tubes & pipes | Global reference for copper alloy condenser and marine tubes |
| United States | ASTM | ASTM B111 / B111M | C46400 | Condenser & heat exchanger tubes | Widely used in seawater and offshore systems |
| United States | UNS | UNS C46400 | Naval Brass | Tubes, pipes, rods | Primary UNS designation for naval brass |
| Europe | EN | EN 12451 / EN 12452 | CW712R | Seamless tubes & pipes | Standard European specification for CuZn39Sn1 |
| Germany | DIN | DIN 17660 | CuZn39Sn1 | Tubes & industrial sections | High resistance to dezincification & corrosion |
| United Kingdom | BS | BS 2871 / BS 2874 | NA15 | Tubes for condensers & marine use | Traditional British naval brass specification |
| India | BIS (IS) | IS 407 / IS 6913 | CuZn39Sn1 | Condenser & heat exchanger tubes | Approved for marine and industrial cooling systems |
| Japan | JIS | JIS H3300 | C4622 / C4621 | Seamless copper alloy tubes | Used in shipbuilding and offshore equipment |
| China | GB | GB/T 8890 | HSn62-1 | Marine brass tubes | Equivalent Chinese designation for naval brass |
Applications
| Industry / Sector | Application Area | Usage Description | Key Performance Requirement | Why Naval Brass (CuZn39Sn1) is Used |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Marine & Shipbuilding | Seawater Condenser Tubes | Heat exchange between steam and seawater in ships | High corrosion resistance in saline environments | Excellent resistance to seawater corrosion and dezincification |
| Offshore & Oil Rigs | Cooling Water Lines | Circulation of cooling seawater on offshore platforms | Long service life under continuous salt exposure | Tin content improves strength and marine durability |
| Power Generation | Surface Condensers | Condensing exhaust steam in thermal and nuclear plants | Thermal efficiency and erosion resistance | Stable heat transfer with resistance to erosion–corrosion |
| Desalination Plants | Evaporator & Condenser Tubes | Heat transfer during saltwater desalination | Resistance to chloride-induced attack | Superior performance in high-chloride brine environments |
| Marine HVAC Systems | Chilled Water Heat Exchangers | Cooling systems onboard ships and offshore vessels | Leak-free operation and corrosion control | Reliable tubing with good formability and corrosion resistance |
| Ship Repair & Retrofit | Replacement Condenser Tubes | Retrofit of existing marine heat exchangers | Dimensional compatibility and longevity | Standardized sizes matching legacy naval specifications |
| Industrial Cooling | Cooling Towers & Heat Exchangers | Industrial process cooling using aggressive water | Resistance to fouling and corrosion | Naval brass withstands polluted and brackish water |
| Defense & Naval Equipment | Warship Condensers | Critical cooling systems in naval defense vessels | High reliability and compliance with naval standards | Proven alloy for mission-critical marine applications |
Standard Naval Brass Tubes Dimensional Chart
| Naval Brass Tubes (CuZn39Sn1) – Dimensional & Theoretical Weight Chart | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nominal OD (inch) |
Outside Diameter (mm) |
Wall Thickness (mm) |
Inside Diameter (mm) |
Cross-Sectional Area (mm²) |
Theoretical Weight (kg/m) |
Typical Form |
| 3/8" | 9.53 | 0.89 | 7.75 | 25.2 | 0.22 | Straight / Annealed |
| 1/2" | 12.70 | 1.24 | 10.22 | 44.7 | 0.39 | Straight / Annealed |
| 5/8" | 15.88 | 1.24 | 13.40 | 54.8 | 0.48 | Straight / Annealed |
| 3/4" | 19.05 | 1.65 | 15.75 | 89.5 | 0.78 | Straight / Annealed |
| 1" | 25.40 | 2.11 | 21.18 | 147.4 | 1.29 | Straight / Annealed |
| 1-1/4" | 31.75 | 2.41 | 26.93 | 214.8 | 1.88 | Straight / Annealed |
| 1-1/2" | 38.10 | 2.77 | 32.56 | 298.5 | 2.61 | Straight / Annealed |
| 2" | 50.80 | 3.18 | 44.44 | 470.6 | 4.12 | Straight / Annealed |
| 2-1/2" | 63.50 | 3.56 | 56.38 | 631.9 | 5.53 | Straight / Annealed |
| 3" | 76.20 | 4.19 | 67.82 | 955.2 | 8.36 | Straight / Annealed |
| Naval Brass vs Admiralty Brass – Technical Comparison | ||
|---|---|---|
| Parameter | Naval Brass | Admiralty Brass |
| Typical Composition | Cu ~60%, Zn ~39%, Sn ~1% | Cu ~70%, Zn ~29%, Sn ~1% |
| UNS Designation | C46400 | C44300 / C44400 |
| Common EN Grade | CuZn39Sn1 | CuZn28Sn1 |
| Primary Alloying Advantage | Higher zinc + tin → superior seawater strength | Higher copper → improved corrosion resistance |
| Corrosion Resistance | Very good (marine & brackish water) | Excellent (especially clean seawater) |
| Resistance to Dezincification | Good | Very good |
| Resistance to Erosion Corrosion | Excellent (higher flow velocities) | Good (moderate flow velocities) |
| Mechanical Strength | Higher than Admiralty Brass | Lower than Naval Brass |
| Typical Tensile Strength | 380 – 480 MPa | 320 – 420 MPa |
| Operating Pressure Capability | Higher pressure systems | Moderate pressure systems |
| Thermal Conductivity | Lower than Admiralty Brass | Higher than Naval Brass |
| Heat Transfer Efficiency | Good | Very good |
| Typical Applications | Marine condensers, shipbuilding, offshore systems, desalination | Power plant condensers, heat exchangers, cooling water systems |
| Flow Velocity Tolerance | High | Medium |
| Cost (Relative) | Higher | Lower |
| Preferred When | High velocity, mechanical stress, harsh marine duty | Maximum corrosion resistance & heat transfer |
