H59 brass is a versatile and widely used copper alloy, recognized for its balanced combination of strength, hardness, corrosion resistance, and affordability. With this overview of H59 brass, we break down the alloy in detail, covering its chemical composition, properties, equivalents, applications, and how it compares to 360 brass.
What is H59 Brass Alloy?
H59 brass is a type of ordinary brass alloy defined by the Chinese GB (Guobiao) standard. The “H” in its name stands for brass, while “59” indicates that it contains approximately 59% copper. The remainder is primarily zinc, with small quantities of other elements like lead, iron, and phosphorus to enhance specific properties.
H59 brass is categorized as duplex brass and is one of the most economical brass grades. Despite its affordability, it demonstrates high strength and hardness, making it suitable for a wide range of industrial and decorative applications. However, due to its relatively lower plasticity compared to higher-copper brass alloys, H59 is better suited for hot processing rather than cold deformation.
Advantages of H59 Brass
- Good Mechanical Properties: High strength and hardness, with moderate toughness and ductility.
- Excellent Machinability: Suitable for turning, milling, and drilling processes.
- Corrosion Resistance: Performs well in atmospheric, freshwater, and seawater environments.
- Economical Option: Lower cost compared to brasses with higher copper content, offering better cost-performance.
- Versatile Processing: Can undergo hot rolling, extrusion, and forging with ease.
H59 Brass Chemical Composition
The chemical composition of H59 brass is as follows:
- · Copper (Cu): 57.0–60.0%
- · Zinc (Zn): Remainder
- · Lead (Pb): ≤ 0.5%
- · Iron (Fe): ≤ 0.3%
- · Phosphorus (P): ≤ 0.01%
- · Antimony (Sb): ≤ 0.01%
- · Bismuth (Bi): ≤ 0.003%
- · Total Impurities: ≤ 1.0%
It can be seen that the composition of H59 brass mainly includes 57.0-60.0% copper and the balance of zinc. In addition, the content of other impurity elements is strictly controlled within 1.0%. This composition structure gives H59 unique material properties:
Copper (Cu): The copper content of H59 is between 57.0-60.0%, which provides the alloy with excellent electrical and thermal conductivity and enhances the material’s corrosion resistance. This property enables H59 to maintain stable performance in high humidity or corrosive environments.
Zinc (Zn): Zinc is one of the main elements in H59. Its high content not only improves the strength and hardness of the material, but also reduces production costs. H59 with high zinc content has excellent cold and hot processing properties and is very suitable for manufacturing parts with complex shapes.
Other elements: Strict control of a small amount of impurity elements (≤1.0%) helps to ensure the stability of the material and avoid performance degradation under high temperature or complex working conditions, so as to adapt to a variety of demanding application requirements.
H59 Brass Material Properties
1. Physical Properties
- Density: 8.5 g/cm³
- Melting Point: ~900°C
- Thermal Conductivity: ~120 W/(m·K)
- Electrical Conductivity: ~34% IACS
H59 brass exhibits good thermal and electrical conductivity, making it ideal for heat exchangers, radiators, and electrical components like connectors and switches.
2. Mechanical Properties
- Tensile Strength (σb): ≥ 294 MPa
- Elongation (δ10): ≥ 25%
- Hardness: HRB 68–78
H59 brass offers high strength and hardness, with reasonable ductility that supports pressure processing under hot conditions.
3. Corrosion Resistance
H59 brass performs well in atmospheric conditions, fresh water, and seawater, making it suitable for plumbing, marine components, and decorative hardware. However, its corrosion resistance is limited in environments with non-oxidizing acids, such as hydrochloric and sulfuric acids.
4. Heat Treatment& Machinability
- Hot Working Temperature: 730–820°C
- Annealing Temperature: 600–670°C
H59 brass is well-suited for bending, stretching, stamping, and cutting. Its cutting performance is particularly notable, with high efficiency and low tool wear.It also offers excellent performance in casting, forging, and welding applications.
5. Medium-Temperature Brittleness
Like most brasses, H59 is prone to medium-temperature brittleness (200–700°C) during hot processing. Adding a small amount of lead can effectively eliminate this issue.As zinc content increases, the tensile strength and elongation improve for α brass. However, for (α+β) brass, excessive zinc (above ~45%) decreases strength and plasticity due to the formation of brittle r-phase (Cu5Zn8-based solid solution).
H59 Brass Equivalent
In terms of international equivalence, H59 brass is closest to the following standards:
| Standard | Equivalent Alloy | Copper Content (%) | Notes |
| UNS (USA) | C28000 | 59–63 | Often called “Muntz Metal.” |
| EN (Europe) | CW617Nor CW612N | 57–59 | Leaded brass for machining. |
| JIS (Japan) | C3771 | ~59 | Similar leaded brass for forging. |
| DIN (Germany) | CuZn39Pb3 | ~59 | Free-machining brass alloy. |
| ISO | CuZn40Pb2 | ~59 | Matches closely to H59 brass. |
H59 Brass Alloy Applications
Due to its excellent performance and relatively low cost, H59 brass alloy is widely used in various fields, including but not limited to:
1. Mechanical Manufacturing (Used for making mechanical components such as bushings, gears, screws, nuts, etc.)
H59 is highly favored in mechanical manufacturing due to its outstanding cold and hot processing properties, making it suitable for producing precision components like gears, nuts, and bolts. Its high zinc content enhances the material’s strength, allowing it to maintain stability under high-load conditions. The excellent plasticity of H59 enables multiple processing methods, such as cold stamping and deep drawing, providing flexibility for machining processes.
2. Electrical Industry(Used for making electrical components such as terminals, plugs, sockets, etc.)
The copper content in H59 provides excellent electrical and thermal conductivity, making it an ideal material for electrical components like electrode copper and bus bars. In electrical applications, conductivity and durability are critical requirements. H59’s high copper content ensures low resistance and high stability, meeting the performance demands of electrical devices. Additionally, its good machinability facilitates the production of complex electrode structures.
3. Construction Sector(Used for door and window hardware, decorative parts, plumbing fittings, etc.)
The high zinc content gives H59 excellent corrosion resistance, making it perform exceptionally well in construction and decoration. H59 is widely used to manufacture architectural decorative components such as door handles, handrails, and decorative panels. These parts not only exhibit an attractive luster but also offer long-lasting weather resistance. Since these components are often exposed to external environments, H59’s corrosion resistance is crucial for extending their service life.
4. Marine Industry(Used for making propellers, bearings, valves, pipe fittings, etc.)
H59 brass is extensively used in the marine and offshore engineering industries, particularly for manufacturing water pumps, valves, and other components that frequently come into contact with saltwater. The corrosion resistance of copper combined with the durability of zinc allows H59 to exhibit stable anti-corrosion performance in seawater and humid environments. This makes it an excellent material for water treatment and marine equipment components.
5. Automotive Industry(Used for making radiators, oil coolers, fuel pipe fittings, etc.)
In the automotive manufacturing field, H59 is widely used for producing engine components, cooling system parts, and transmission system accessories. The zinc content enhances the material’s mechanical strength, enabling H59 brass to perform reliably in high-temperature and high-pressure environments. Meanwhile, the toughness of copper ensures the material’s resistance to shock and durability. Furthermore, H59’s excellent processing properties meet the automotive industry’s strict requirements for mass production and product precision.
H59 Brass Product Types & Specifications
H59 Brass Wire
H59 Brass Bars
H59 Brass Rods (e.g., H59-1 Brass Rods):Includes free-cutting brass (environmentally friendly and standard grades).Popular in machining industries for its excellent cutting performance.
Common Specifications for H59-1 Brass Rods:
Diameters: 2mm, 3mm, 5mm, up to 260mm and beyond.
H59 vs. 360 Brass: What are the Differences?
H59 brass alloy and 360 brass alloy are two common types of brass alloys. Their primary differences lie in their chemical composition, performance, and application fields. Below is a comparison of the two in several aspects:
1. Chemical Composition
H59 Brass Alloy: Contains a higher proportion of zinc with relatively low impurities.
360 Brass Alloy: Contains a higher lead content, which enhances its machinability.
Here’s a comparison table of the chemical composition of H59 and 360 brass alloys:
| Element | H59 Brass | 360 Brass |
| Copper (Cu) | 58%–60% | 60%–63% |
| Zinc (Zn) | 40%–42% | 35%–37% |
| Lead (Pb) | <0.5% (trace amount) | 2.5%–3.7% |
| Iron (Fe) | ≤0.3% (trace amount) | ≤0.35% (trace amount) |
2. Performance Comparison
H59 Brass Alloy Performance: H59 brass has high strength and hardness, combined with good ductility and corrosion resistance. It is suitable for forging and stamping processes. However, its machinability is average. H59 is mainly used in applications requiring comprehensive mechanical properties, such as mechanical parts, architectural decorations, and pipelines.
360 Brass Alloy Performance: 360 brass is renowned for its excellent machinability. Its high lead content allows for efficient and precise machining. It has moderate strength and hardness, along with good corrosion resistance. This alloy is widely used in the production of electronic components, mechanical parts, and in automatic lathe processing.
Here’s a detailed comparison table with approximate numerical data for the properties of H59 Brassand 360 Brass:
| Property | H59 Brass | 360 Brass |
| Tensile Strength | 380–630 MPa | 345–540 MPa |
| Yield Strength | ~110 MPa | ~85 MPa |
| Hardness (Brinell) | 80–150 HB | 55–100 HB |
| Elongation at Break | 25%–45% | 20%–30% |
| Density | ~8.5 g/cm³ | ~8.5 g/cm³ |
| Melting Point | ~890–920°C | ~890–905°C |
| Electrical Conductivity | ~25% IACS (~14.5 MS/m) | ~26% IACS (~15 MS/m) |
| Thermal Conductivity | ~120 W/m·K | ~110 W/m·K |
| Machinability Rating | ~30% (reference: free-cutting brass = 100%) | ~100% (excellent machinability) |
3. Application Fields
H59 Brass Alloy Applications: H59 is used to manufacture mechanical parts, architectural decorative components, pipelines, valves, etc. It is ideal for applications requiring a certain level of strength and wear resistance. It is often used for parts that require forging or stamping processes.
360 Brass Alloy Applications: 360 brass is widely used for precision-machined parts such as screws, nuts, fittings, and gears. Due to its superior machinability, it is commonly used in CNC machining and the production of automatic lathe parts. It is also frequently found in electronic components, instruments, and plumbing fittings.
4. Price Comparison
H59 Brass Alloy: With fewer impurities and simpler composition, H59 is usually less expensive than 360 brass alloy.
360 Brass Alloy: Due to its higher lead content and superior machinability, 360 brass is typically more expensive than H59.
5. Environmental and Safety Considerations
H59 Brass Alloy: With low lead content, H59 is more environmentally friendly and suitable for applications with strict requirements regarding lead content.
360 Brass Alloy: The higher lead content in 360 brass may result in lead pollution during machining. As a result, it is restricted in certain applications with stringent environmental regulations.