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.