Structural Lead-Free — Cartridge Brass

CuZn37

CW508L — EN 12167 · Cartridge Brass · 70/30 Family

The premier cold-working and deep-drawing brass. 63% Cu, 37% Zn, no lead — its single-phase alpha structure delivers extraordinary ductility, with up to 65% cold reduction between anneals. The definitive choice for stampings, drawn shells and formed components. US equivalent: C27200/C26000 family.

🔧 Best Deep Drawing
🌿 Lead-Free — RoHS
📋 EN 12167
⚙️ ~50% Machinability
🌍 ≡ C26000 family · CZ108
≥45%
Elongation annealed — exceptional ductility
63%
Copper content
~50%
Machinability vs benchmark
RoHS ✓
No exemption required
Chemical Composition

CuZn37 (CW508L) — EN 12167 Limits

Weight %. Single-phase alpha at 37% Zn — maximum cold formability in the common brass family.

ElementSymbolMin %Max %Typical %
CopperCu62.064.063.0
ZincZnBalance~37
Lead (max) ✓Pb0.10≤0.05
IronFe0.100.03
Copper (Cu)
~63%
Zinc (Zn)
~37%
Lead ✓
≤0.05%
Mechanical Properties

Typical (annealed → hard)

PropertyConditionValueUnit
Tensile Strength (Rm)annealed300–380MPa
Tensile Strength (Rm)hard540–620MPa
Proof Stress (Rp0.2)annealed≥100MPa
Elongation (A)annealed≥45%
Hardnessannealed65–80HB
Machinabilityvs C36000 = 100~50%
Density8.44g/cm³
Electrical Conductivity~27% IACS
Melting Rangesolidus–liquidus905–940°C
Typical Applications
  • Deep-drawn stampings, shells and cups
  • Automotive radiator tanks and heat-exchanger strip parts
  • Springs, contacts and transformer laminations
  • Cold-headed and formed components
  • Decorative and architectural formed parts
Why choose CuZn37?

The brass you shape, not just cut

  • All-alpha structure — up to 65% cold reduction between anneals; the deep-drawing standard
  • Lead-free by composition — RoHS compliant with no exemption
  • ~27% IACS — useful conductivity for stamped electrical parts
  • ~50% machinability — for predominantly turned parts pick a leaded grade instead
  • US equivalent: C26000 family — 'cartridge brass' on both sides of the Atlantic
RoHS & Compliance

Compliance Status

RoHS
✓ Fully Compliant
Lead-free by composition — no exemption needed.
Forming
Excellent — Cold Work Champion
Anneal between heavy draw stages; avoid ammonia environments under residual stress (season cracking).
Hot-working cousin
CuZn40 — duplex 60/40, prefers hot work
International Equivalents

CuZn37 Cross-Reference

StandardDesignation
EN (Europe)CuZn37 / CW508L
ASTM (USA)C27200 / C26000 (Cartridge Brass)
BS (UK legacy)CZ108
DIN (Germany)CuZn37
JIS (Japan)C2600 (close)
For strip and sheet forming, temper matters more than designation — specify the EN temper (R/H condition) and grain size your tooling needs.
Duplex cousin →
CuZn40
Muntz metal — hot working over cold
Forging cousin →
CW510L
CuZn42 — lead-free hot forging
↑ All alloys
Materials Library
Frequently Asked Questions

CuZn37 — common questions

What is CuZn37 cartridge brass best at?

CuZn37 (CW508L) — 63% copper, 37% zinc — is the classic cold-working brass. Its single-phase alpha structure gives the best deep-drawing and cold-heading behaviour of the common brasses, which is why it is the standard for deep-drawn stampings, radiator parts, cartridge cases and formed automotive components.

Is CuZn37 RoHS compliant?

Yes — CuZn37 is effectively lead-free by composition, so it is RoHS compliant without needing Exemption 6(c). That makes it a safe specification for RoHS-critical formed parts.

How does CuZn37 machine?

At around 50% machinability it produces longer, more ductile chips than free-machining grades. For predominantly turned parts, CW614N or CW612N are better choices; specify CuZn37 when forming, bending or drawing dominates the process chain.

What standards and equivalents apply to CuZn37?

Rod and profiles are specified in EN 12167 (designation CW508L); the US equivalent is C27200/C26800 family cartridge brass and the former UK designation CZ108. Brassland supplies EN 10204 Type 3.1 mill certificates with every lot.

CuZn37 parts made in Jamnagar

Formed, drawn and machined to your drawing. ISO 9001:2015. Quote within 24 hours.

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Sources & References

Verify this datasheet against the primary source

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.

Copper Development Association
CDA alloy database — composition & properties
ASTM International
US specifications for copper-alloy rod, bar and forgings
MatWeb
Independent material property database — C36000 by temper
European Copper Institute
Copper Alliance EU — EN alloy designation system
SteelNumber.com
EN material designation cross-reference (CW603N/CW614N)
CEN / CENELEC
EN 12164, EN 12165, EN 12167 — EN brass rod standards
EU RoHS Directive 2011/65
Annex III Exemption 6(c) — valid to 30 Jun 2027
ECHA REACH SVHC List
Lead is on the candidate list (Article 33)
NSF/ANSI/CAN 61
Drinking water system components (US/CA)
Brassland — Standards Guide
Plain-English explainer for every standard above

Last reviewed: June 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.