Brass is an alloy of copper and zinc, but "brass" is not one material. Small changes in composition decide how easily a part machines, how well it forges and how it behaves in water. Four grades cover most of the components we export from Jamnagar.
CW614N (CuZn39Pb3) — free-cutting brass
The workhorse for turned parts. A small lead addition breaks the chip during machining, allowing high cutting speeds and a bright surface finish. Typical uses are terminals, fasteners, inserts and instrument components. The closest US equivalent is C36000, which is comparable but not identical.
CW617N (CuZn40Pb2) — forging brass
Designed for hot forging and stamping. It flows well when hot, fills the die cleanly and gives a dense grain structure, and it still machines well to final size. It is the usual choice for valve bodies, fittings and couplings. C37700 is the common ASTM counterpart.
CW602N (CuZn36Pb2As) — DZR brass
A small arsenic addition gives resistance to dezincification, a form of corrosion in which zinc leaches out and leaves weak, porous copper. It is specified for water-line fittings, particularly where the water is aggressive.
CW724R (CuZn21Si3P) — lead-free silicon brass
Silicon replaces lead as the machining aid. It is used where drinking-water regulations restrict lead content — faucet bodies and potable-water valves, for example. It needs different tooling settings from leaded brass.
How to choose
- Machined from bar: CW614N
- Hot forged: CW617N
- Water service with dezincification risk: CW602N
- Lead-restricted drinking-water products: CW724R
Always state the grade and the standard (for example EN 12164 or EN 12165) on your drawing, and ask for the mill test certificate with each lot. For a deeper comparison, read DZR vs lead-free brass.
Have a drawing or specification in mind? Send it to our export desk and we will respond with a clear quotation.