Copper Alloy C52400 · supply condition · default condition
Copper Alloy C52400-H04
Properties of the H04 condition, compared with the other C52400 tempers.
Default stock condition: high strength with usable ductility for bushings, wear plates, formed springs and fasteners.
What is C52400-H04?
C52400-H04 is C52400 supplied in the H04 condition — default stock condition: high strength with usable ductility for bushings, wear plates, formed springs and fasteners. C52400-H04 has a yield strength of 585 MPa (84.8 ksi) and a tensile strength of 690 MPa (100 ksi) — stronger than 93% of copper alloy grades. Elongation at break is 15% and the elastic modulus is 110 GPa (16 Msi). C52400-H04 has a density of 8.78 g/cm³ (0.317 lb/in³), heavier than 52% of copper alloy grades. It melts at 843°C (1,549 °F).
Advantages
- High strength — 585 MPa (84.8 ksi), better than 93% of copper alloy grades
- Good corrosion resistance — 72/100, better than 84% of copper alloy grades
Limitations
- Difficult to machine — 22/100, worse than 94% of copper alloy grades
- High embodied carbon — 5.5 kg CO₂/kg, worse than 89% of copper alloy grades
C52400-H04 properties
Typical room-temperature values for C52400-H04 — 12 properties are specific to this condition; the rest are grade-level values shared by every C52400 temper. Each bar shows where the value sits among the copper alloy grades in FabDigit's library — further right is higher.
Physical3
C52400-H04 has a density of 8.78 g/cm³ (0.317 lb/in³), heavier than 52% of copper alloy grades. It melts at 843°C (1,549 °F).
Mechanical12
C52400-H04 has a yield strength of 585 MPa (84.8 ksi) and a tensile strength of 690 MPa (100 ksi) — stronger than 93% of copper alloy grades. Elongation at break is 15% and the elastic modulus is 110 GPa (16 Msi).
Thermal6
C52400-H04 is rated for continuous service to 200°C (392 °F). It conducts heat at 50 W/m·K (28.9 BTU/hr·ft·°F), worse than 66% of copper alloy grades. Thermal expansion is 18.4 µm/m·K (10.2 µin/in·°F).
Electrical3
C52400-H04 conducts electricity at 11 % IACS, worse than 69% of copper alloy grades.
Chemical & Environmental3
Corrosion resistance is very good (72/100), better than 84% of copper alloy grades.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of C52400-H04 takes about 72 MJ of energy and emits 5.5 kg of CO₂ — more than 86% of copper alloy grades. Typical recycled content is 35%.
Manufacturability7
C52400-H04's machinability is poor (22/100, worse than 94% of copper alloy grades); weldability fair (35/100); formability fair (45/100).
Common Calculations5
Values are nominal handbook figures for design screening. Certified mill or lot data ships with every FabDigit order on request.
Other C52400 tempers and conditions
C52400 is also supplied in 9 other conditions. The full side-by-side table is on the C52400 overview.
- H04DefaultDefault stock condition: high strength with usable ductility for bushings, wear plates, formed springs and fasteners.585 MPa yield · 180 HB
- H08Standard choice for phosphor-bronze springs, diaphragms and clips requiring high fatigue life.725 MPa yield · 96 HRB
- H02Balanced strength/formability for bushings, washers and formed contacts.450 MPa yield · 145 HB
- O60Choose for deep forming, severe bending or coining before final age/work hardening.200 MPa yield · 90 HB
- M20C52400 (10% tin phosphor bronze, CuSn12-type) in the as-hot-rolled mill condition — essentially unworked, giving moderate strength with high ductility and good bearing/wear behaviour.185 MPa yield · 90 HB
Working with C52400-H04
Is C52400 easy to machine?
Rating ~20% of free-cutting brass: gummy, stringy chips — use sharp positive-rake tools, high speed, light feeds and generous flood coolant; hard tempers machine more cleanly than annealed.
Can C52400 be welded?
Fusion welding is poor (hot cracking from high Sn); prefer resistance spot/seam welding, silver brazing or soft soldering, all of which are excellent.
Can C52400 be formed, bent or molded?
Excellent cold formability in O60/H02 but work-hardens fast — plan intermediate anneals at 480–620 °C; hot working is not recommended, and cold-worked parts should be stress-relieved ~190–230 °C to avoid ammonia SCC.
What surface finishes work on C52400?
Not anodizable; takes bright polishing, tin/nickel/silver/gold plating for contacts, or chemical patina and lacquer for decorative work.
C52400 chemical composition (wt %)
Limits by weight percent from the governing specification, written the way the spec states them — a single maximum for impurities, a range for alloying elements, and the base element as balance. Nominal is the typical mid-range value.
| Element | Spec limit (wt %) | Nominal |
|---|---|---|
| SnEuropean CuSn12/CW454K runs 11–13% Sn | 9 – 11 | 10 |
| Pdeoxidizer, raises strength | 0.03 – 0.35 | 0.2 |
| Pb | ≤ 0.05 | — |
| Zn | ≤ 0.2 | — |
| Fe | ≤ 0.1 | — |
| Curemainder, ~88–91% | balance | — |
C52400-H04 — frequently asked
What is C52400-H04 used for?
C52400-H04 is typically used for bearings, worm gears and bushings. In short: max-tin wear phosphor bronze.
What is the yield strength of C52400-H04?
C52400-H04 has a typical yield strength of 585 MPa (84.8 ksi) and a tensile strength of 690 MPa (100 ksi) — stronger than 93% of copper alloy grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 10 listed tempers.
Is C52400-H04 easy to machine?
Not especially — machinability is rated poor (22/100, worse than 94% of copper alloy grades). Rating ~20% of free-cutting brass: gummy, stringy chips — use sharp positive-rake tools, high speed, light feeds and generous flood coolant; hard tempers machine more cleanly than annealed.
Can C52400-H04 be welded?
With care — weldability is rated fair (35/100). Fusion welding is poor (hot cracking from high Sn); prefer resistance spot/seam welding, silver brazing or soft soldering, all of which are excellent.
What surface finishes work on C52400-H04?
Not anodizable; takes bright polishing, tin/nickel/silver/gold plating for contacts, or chemical patina and lacquer for decorative work.
Can C52400-H04 be formed, bent or molded?
Excellent cold formability in O60/H02 but work-hardens fast — plan intermediate anneals at 480–620 °C; hot working is not recommended, and cold-worked parts should be stress-relieved ~190–230 °C to avoid ammonia SCC.
What is the maximum service temperature of C52400-H04?
C52400-H04 is rated for continuous use to about 200°C (392 °F). Strength falls off well before that limit — check the elevated-temperature data for load-bearing parts.
What is the difference between C52400-H04 and C52400-M20?
H04 is the default condition — default stock condition: high strength with usable ductility for bushings, wear plates, formed springs and fasteners. M20: c52400 (10% tin phosphor bronze, CuSn12-type) in the as-hot-rolled mill condition — essentially unworked, giving moderate strength with high ductility and good bearing/wear behaviour. Yield strength is 585 MPa in H04 versus 185 MPa in M20.
Can FabDigit make parts in C52400-H04?
Yes — C52400-H04 is available for CNC machining and sheet metal with instant online pricing. Upload a STEP file to get a price and a DFM check.
Sources
- ASTM B103/B103M — Phosphor Bronze Plate, Sheet, Strip and Rolled Bar — ASTM (2019)
- ASTM B139/B139M — Phosphor Bronze Rod, Bar and Shapes — ASTM (2017)
- EN 1654 / EN 12163 — CuSn12 (CW454K) — CEN (2016)
- GB/T 2059 / GB/T 2040 — QSn10-1 — SAC (2017)
- Copper Alloy C52400 datasheet — Copper Development Association (copper.org) (2023)
- ASM Handbook Vol. 2 — Properties of Nonferrous Alloys — ASM International (1990)
Property data is compiled from published supplier and standards handbooks and normalised for comparison. Nothing on this page is a certification — request mill certs, CoC or material test reports with your order.