Brass alloy selection for heating, ventilation, air conditioning and refrigeration systems — refrigerant compatibility, thermal performance, and pressure ratings.
Brass dominates HVAC/R fittings and valve bodies for three reasons: it machines exceptionally well (critical for high-volume valve body production), it has excellent corrosion resistance to refrigerants and refrigerant oils, and it maintains mechanical integrity across the wide temperature range of HVAC systems (-40°C to +150°C).
Newer low-GWP refrigerants (R-1234yf, R-1234ze, R-454B) are generally compatible with brass. Verify with refrigerant supplier's compatibility data — some HFO blends have slightly different oil chemistry. Standard brass alloys (CW617N, CW625N) are broadly compatible.
| Component | Recommended Alloy | Key Requirement | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ball valve body (refrigerant) | CW617N | Machinability, refrigerant compat. | Standard grade for refrigerant ball valves |
| Expansion valve body | CW617N | Precision machining, dimensional accuracy | High-tolerance CNC; R360 or R430 temper |
| Manifold gauge body | CW617N | Pressure rating, machinability | Typically hot-forged then CNC-finished |
| Compression fittings (water side) | CW602N | DZR for hard water circuits | Chiller and cooling tower water-side |
| Flare fittings | CW625N | Formability for flare deformation | Higher Cu (59–62%) → better cold-work |
| Tube (heat exchanger) | C11000 | Thermal conductivity 390 W/(m·K) | Standard for condenser/evaporator tube |
| Condenser fins | C11000 | Conductivity + formability | Aluminium fins more common; Cu used in premium |
| Service valve body | CW617N | Schrader valve compatibility | Schrader cores in brass are standard |
For heat exchanger tube, C11000 copper tube is far superior to brass — thermal conductivity 390 W/(m·K) vs ~123 W/(m·K) for CW617N. Brass tube is used only where structural requirements outweigh thermal needs.
Chiller and cooling tower water-side components (water-cooled condensers, cooling coils) are exposed to potentially aggressive water. DZR brass is required for pressure-bearing fittings on the water side.
R-32 and R-410A operate at higher pressures than older refrigerants. Valve bodies and fittings must be rated accordingly. Specify temper R430 (Rm ≥ 430 MPa) or consider CW724R (Rm 450–600 MPa) for higher-pressure applications.
Hot-forged and CNC-machined HVAC/R brass components from Jamnagar — refrigerant-grade alloys, pressure-tested, export-ready.
Get a Quote CW617N DatasheetThis guide covers alloy selection. To have components machined to your drawing, see the matching manufacturing page:
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.
Brassland manufactures brass turned parts and CNC machined components to your drawing in Jamnagar, India, including precision turned brass components on 28+ Swiss-type lathes, with an EN 10204 3.1 certificate on every shipment.