Mass %, Copper Development Association. Copper plus the named elements must total at least 99.5 %, so all other elements together are limited to 0.5 %. The composition is specified as limits; the mill certificate gives the analysis of each heat.
| Element | Symbol | Min % | Max % |
|---|---|---|---|
| Copper | Cu | 55.0 | 59.0 |
| Lead | Pb | 2.5 | 3.5 |
| Iron | Fe | — | 0.35 |
| Zinc | Zn | Balance | |
| Property | Condition | Value | Unit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tensile Strength | as hot extruded (M30), 1 in (25 mm) — typical | ~414 | MPa |
| 0.2 % Proof Stress | as hot extruded (M30) — typical | ~138 | MPa |
| Elongation | as hot extruded (M30) — typical | ~30 | % |
| Hardness | as hot extruded (M30) — typical | ~65 | HRB |
| Density | at 20 °C | 8.47 | g/cm³ |
| Electrical Conductivity | at 20 °C | 28 | %IACS |
| Thermal Conductivity | at 20 °C | 123 | W/(m·K) |
| Thermal Expansion | CDA, 20–300 °C | 20.9 | ×10⁻⁶/K |
| Melting Range | solidus–liquidus | 877–888 | °C |
| Modulus of Elasticity | CDA | 97 | GPa |
| Machinability | CDA rating, C36000 = 100 | 90 | index |
Fabrication ratings on the CDA scale; temperatures converted from °F.
| Process | CDA rating |
|---|---|
| Machinability rating | 90 (C36000 = 100) |
| Hot forming | Excellent — hot working 621–732 °C |
| Cold working | Poor |
| Annealing | 427–593 °C |
| Soldering | Excellent |
| Brazing | Good |
| Welding | Butt welding fair; oxyacetylene, gas-shielded arc, coated metal arc, spot and seam welding not recommended |
| Common processes | Hot forging and pressing, hot forming and bending, machining |
| Standard | Designation |
|---|---|
| UNS / ASTM (USA) | C38500 — ASTM B455 (extruded rod and shapes) |
| EN — closest equivalent | CW614N / CuZn39Pb3 (Cu 57–59, Pb 2.2–3.5) — also in ASTM B455-26 |
| BS (UK legacy) | CZ121 — the old British name of CW614N |
| UNS — related | C36000 free-cutting brass, ASTM B16 (Cu 60–63, Pb 2.5–3.0) |
| UNS — lower-lead sibling | C38000 (Pb 1.5–2.5) — also in ASTM B455 |
| JIS (Japan) — overlapping | C3604 (Cu 57–61, Pb 1.8–3.7) |
C38500 is a leaded brass in the UNS system, traditionally called architectural bronze: 55.0–59.0 % copper, 2.5–3.5 % lead, iron up to 0.35 %, balance zinc. It is supplied as extruded rod and architectural shapes to ASTM B455; typical uses are handrails, trim, door and window frames, thresholds, hinges, lock parts and industrial forgings.
They are the closest equivalents, not one composition. CW614N’s copper range (57–59 %) lies inside C38500’s (55–59 %); its lead range is 2.2–3.5 % since EN 12164:2024, against 2.5–3.5 % for C38500, and CW614N’s iron limit of 0.30 % is inside C38500’s 0.35 %. C38500 also needs copper plus the named elements to reach 99.5 %, which limits tin, nickel and other residuals to 0.5 % together; a C38500 heat with less than 57 % copper or more than 0.30 % iron is not CW614N, and a CW614N heat with less than 2.5 % lead is not C38500. Since its 2026 edition, ASTM B455 lists C38000, C38500, CW614N and CW617N in one specification.
Both are free-cutting leaded brasses with at least 2.5 % lead. C36000 (ASTM B16) has more copper — 60.0–63.0 % — and 2.5–3.0 % lead; C38500 has 55.0–59.0 % copper and 2.5–3.5 % lead. On the CDA machinability scale C36000 is rated 100 and C38500 90; hot forming is rated excellent for C38500 against fair for C36000.
No. Architectural bronze is the traditional name of C38500, but the alloy is a copper-zinc-lead alloy with no tin requirement, and ASTM B455 classes it as a leaded brass. Its low-leaded sibling C38000 carries the same traditional name.
For RoHS, its 2.5–3.5 % lead is covered by Annex III exemption 6(c), which allows up to 4 % lead in copper alloys and is currently valid to 30 June 2027. For drinking-water contact it is not suitable: NSF/ANSI 372 limits the weighted lead content of wetted surfaces to 0.25 %. Lead-free options on this site include the silicon brass C69300 / CW724R and the bismuth brass C6802.
Yes — turned and milled to your drawing in Jamnagar. Whether bar certified to C38500 is available for your quantity is confirmed at quotation; if your drawing allows it, we can quote CW614N, its closest EN equivalent, and show both analyses side by side, so the heat can be checked against C38500, including its minimum of 2.5 % lead. Every shipment carries an EN 10204 3.1 mill certificate; series lead time is 3–5 weeks from the approved drawing.
C38500, ASTM B455 for extruded rod or shapes. The EN equivalent is CW614N (EN 12164); the 2026 edition of ASTM B455 lists both.Primary source: ASTM B455/B455M — Copper-zinc-lead alloy (leaded-brass) extruded shapes.
Free-cutting brass parts turned, milled and inspected in Jamnagar. ISO 9001:2015. Quote within 24 hours.
Request a QuoteComposition limits, typical values and fabrication ratings are taken from the Copper Development Association datasheet; the product scope from ASTM B455. For procurement specification, always reference the current published edition of the standard.
Last reviewed: September 2026. Composition limits, typical values and fabrication ratings are those published by the Copper Development Association; product scopes are from the ASTM editions listed above. Typical values are not specification limits. For safety-critical or contract-critical applications, 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 machines C38500 into 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.