RoHS compliance, conductivity hierarchy, and alloy selection for connectors, busbars, terminals, and EMI shielding.
In electrical applications, electrical conductivity (% IACS) is the primary material selection criterion. Brass is far less conductive than copper — use brass only where conductivity is not the limiting constraint.
All components in electrical and electronic equipment (EEE) sold in the EU must comply with RoHS 2 (2011/65/EU). For brass components:
All leaded brass components in EEE require REACH Article 33 SVHC communication (lead >0.10% w/w). Brassland provides declarations of conformance with all shipments of leaded alloys.
| Alloy | Conductivity | RoHS | Machinability | Cold Forming | Best Application |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| C11000 | ≥ 100% IACS | ✓ Free | ~20% | Excellent | Busbars, motor terminals, transformer windings, grounding |
| C14500 | ~93% IACS | ✓ Free | 85% | Good | Machined connectors, terminals, contact pins, welding-torch parts — copper conductivity with screw-machine productivity |
| CuZn37 | ~27% IACS | ✓ Free | 50% | Excellent (α-phase) | Stamped connectors, spring contacts, EMI shielding, transformer laminations |
| CW724R | ~16% IACS | ✓ Free | 80% | Moderate | CNC connector housings, RoHS-free screw-machined parts, terminal blocks |
| C27450 | ~24% IACS | ✓ Free | 55% | Good | RoHS-critical turned parts, switch components, moderate conductivity needed |
| CW617N | ~15.5% IACS | Ex 6(c) | 100% | Moderate | High-volume CNC connectors/housings where RoHS Ex 6(c) accepted |
For current-carrying conductors — busbars, motor terminals, transformer windings, battery connections — C11000 (Cu-ETP) is the only viable copper alloy. No brass comes close to its ≥100% IACS conductivity.
For stamped, drawn, or deep-formed electrical contacts — socket contacts, spring clips, shielding cans — CuZn37 is the standard. Its all-alpha microstructure gives exceptional cold formability (elongation ≥45%) with zero lead.
For machined connector housings, terminal blocks, and insert bodies, the choice depends on RoHS requirements. CW724R for full RoHS compliance (no exemption needed). CW617N for maximum machinability where Exemption 6(c) is acceptable.
We supply RoHS declarations, EN 10204 3.1 certificates, and REACH Article 33 notifications as standard with all EEE-grade orders.
Request a Quote RoHS GuideThis guide covers alloy selection. To have components machined to your drawing, see the matching manufacturing pages:
Composition ranges, mechanical properties, machinability ratings and regulatory data on this page are cross-referenced against the publishers below. Tolerances and minimum values are taken from the relevant published standard at the time of writing — for procurement specification, always reference the current published edition.
Last reviewed: May 2026. EN/ISO/ASTM standards are updated periodically. This datasheet reflects the editions listed; for safety-critical or contract-critical applications, always verify against the current published edition of the standard. For project-specific deviations or supplier-specific composition windows, request a Type 3.1 mill certificate (EN 10204) with your order.