Copper Alloy
Copper Alloy ZCuSn10Pb1
Properties, tempers, machining, finishes and uses — values shown for the S condition.
ZCuSn10Pb1 is a cast tin bronze with about 10% tin and roughly 1% lead added for chip control, listed as ZQSn10-1 and close to C90700.
Reference datasheet — ZCuSn10Pb1 is not in the instant-quote catalog. Upload your part and an engineer will quote it in this grade or suggest the closest stocked equivalent.
What is ZCuSn10Pb1?
ZCuSn10Pb1 is a cast tin bronze with about 10% tin and roughly 1% lead added for chip control, listed as ZQSn10-1 and close to C90700. Engineers pick it for gear and worm-gear duty where its 260 MPa tensile strength, 140 MPa yield, 85 HB hardness and hard delta-phase wear resistance are needed; it is supplied as sand, permanent-mould, continuous and centrifugal castings. Elongation is only 8%, service is limited to about 250 °C, and the lead makes fusion welding unreliable. Where higher ductility and seawater resistance are required, ZCuSn10Zn2 (C90300) is the usual alternative. ZCuSn10Pb1 has a density of 8.8 g/cm³ (0.318 lb/in³), heavier than 58% of copper alloy grades. It melts at 830°C (1,526 °F). ZCuSn10Pb1 has a yield strength of 140 MPa (20.3 ksi) and a tensile strength of 260 MPa (37.7 ksi) — weaker than 73% of copper alloy grades. Elongation at break is 8% and the elastic modulus is 103 GPa (14.9 Msi).
What is ZCuSn10Pb1 used for?
- gears
- worm wheels
- bushings
- high-pressure valve bodies
Limitations
- Limited formability — 12/100, worse than 87% of copper alloy grades
- Limited ductility — 8%, worse than 83% of copper alloy grades
- High embodied carbon — 4.6 kg CO₂/kg, worse than 82% of copper alloy grades
- Difficult to weld — 25/100, worse than 78% of copper alloy grades
ZCuSn10Pb1 properties
Typical room-temperature values for ZCuSn10Pb1-S (default form for one-off and low-volume worm wheels, bearing shells and pump bodies; lowest strength but easiest to cast in complex shapes), compiled from standards, handbooks and producer data. Each bar shows where the value sits among the copper alloy grades in FabDigit's library — further right is higher. Other conditions have their own pages: see tempers.
Physical3
ZCuSn10Pb1 has a density of 8.8 g/cm³ (0.318 lb/in³), heavier than 58% of copper alloy grades. It melts at 830°C (1,526 °F).
Mechanical11
ZCuSn10Pb1 has a yield strength of 140 MPa (20.3 ksi) and a tensile strength of 260 MPa (37.7 ksi) — weaker than 73% of copper alloy grades. Elongation at break is 8% and the elastic modulus is 103 GPa (14.9 Msi).
Thermal6
ZCuSn10Pb1 is rated for continuous service to 250°C (482 °F). It conducts heat at 71 W/m·K (41 BTU/hr·ft·°F), worse than 55% of copper alloy grades. Thermal expansion is 18.4 µm/m·K (10.2 µin/in·°F).
Electrical3
ZCuSn10Pb1 conducts electricity at 11 % IACS, worse than 69% of copper alloy grades.
Chemical & Environmental3
Corrosion resistance is very good (70/100), better than 76% of copper alloy grades.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of ZCuSn10Pb1 takes about 68 MJ of energy and emits 4.6 kg of CO₂ — more than 83% of copper alloy grades. Typical recycled content is 45%.
Manufacturability7
ZCuSn10Pb1's machinability is fair (50/100, better than 69% of copper alloy grades); weldability poor (25/100); formability not recommended (12/100).
Common Calculations5
Values are nominal handbook figures for design screening. Certified mill or lot data ships with every FabDigit order on request.
ZCuSn10Pb1 tempers and conditions
ZCuSn10Pb1 is supplied in 4 conditions, each with its own property set. Open one for its full datasheet. S is what FabDigit quotes unless the drawing says otherwise.
- SDefaultDefault form for one-off and low-volume worm wheels, bearing shells and pump bodies; lowest strength but easiest to cast in complex shapes.140 MPa yield · 85 HB
- JChoose for repeat production of small bushings and gear rims where finer grain gives ~25% higher strength and hardness than sand casting.180 MPa yield · 95 HB
2 further conditions are listed below with a summary only.
| Condition | Best for | Yield MPa | Tensile MPa | Elong. % | Hardness | Conductivity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
SDefault sand cast (as-cast) | Default form for one-off and low-volume worm wheels, bearing shells and pump bodies; lowest strength but easiest to cast in complex shapes. | 140 | 260 | 8 | 85 HB | — |
permanent (metal) mould cast | Choose for repeat production of small bushings and gear rims where finer grain gives ~25% higher strength and hardness than sand casting. | 180 | 330 | 5 | 95 HB | — |
centrifugally cast | Best for large-diameter bushings, sleeves and worm-wheel rims: dense, inclusion-free wall with high strength and good wear life. | 190 | 350 | 7 | 100 HB | — |
continuously cast bar/tube | Stock form for machined bushings, nuts and slide plates — highest and most uniform properties, sold as solid bar and hollow tube. | 195 | 370 | 8 | 100 HB | — |
Working with ZCuSn10Pb1
Is ZCuSn10Pb1 easy to machine?
Machines well with sharp positive-rake carbide or HSS at high speed, low feed and generous coolant; the Pb and δ-phase give short chips but the alloy smears if tools are dull.
Can ZCuSn10Pb1 be welded?
Poor fusion weldability — lead causes hot cracking and porosity; repair by braze/solder or low-heat GTAW with Cu-Sn filler and preheat 150–250 °C.
Can ZCuSn10Pb1 be formed, bent or molded?
Casting alloy only: wide freezing range demands strong risering/directional solidification and pouring at ~1150–1200 °C to avoid tin sweat and microshrinkage.
Strength versus weight in the copper alloy family
Yield strength against density for every copper alloy grade FabDigit runs. ZCuSn10Pb1 is highlighted; hover a dot for its name, or open the interactive family chart.
ZCuSn10Pb1 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Snprimary strengthening/wear element | 9 – 11.5 | 10.5 |
| Pbmachinability and pressure-tightness addition | 0.5 – 1 | 0.8 |
| Znimpurity limit | ≤ 0.5 | — |
| Pdeoxidiser residue | ≤ 0.3 | 0.1 |
| Ni | ≤ 0.5 | — |
| Fe | ≤ 0.15 | — |
| Sb | ≤ 0.2 | — |
| S | ≤ 0.05 | — |
| Alkept very low to avoid casting defects | ≤ 0.01 | — |
| Si | ≤ 0.01 | — |
| Cubalance, ≈88–90% | balance | — |
What surface finishes work on ZCuSn10Pb1?
Takes a fine turned or polished finish and readily accepts tin, nickel or chrome plating and soft solder; use lacquer or chemical patina since it tarnishes in air.
Surface treatments FabDigit runs on copper alloy parts — pick them in the quote configurator or call them out on the drawing.
Plating
- Copper Plating
- Electroless Nickel (EN)
- Gold Plating
- Silver Plating
Equivalent designations
Standards and trade names that resolve to Copper Alloy ZCuSn10Pb1 in FabDigit's catalog. Equivalence is nominal — check the exact specification when certification matters.
- UNS
- C90700
- GB (China)
- ZQSn10-1
- Also called
- ZCuSn10Pb1
How much does ZCuSn10Pb1 cost?
ZCuSn10Pb1 is a high-cost copper alloy ($$$$), pricier than about 78% of the materials FabDigit quotes. Part price depends far more on geometry, tolerance and quantity than on the raw stock — upload a CAD file for a live quote.
ZCuSn10Pb1 — frequently asked
What is ZCuSn10Pb1 used for?
ZCuSn10Pb1 is typically used for gears, worm wheels, bushings and high-pressure valve bodies. In short: highest-strength grade in family; wear-resistant gear bronze; 250 °C service capability.
What is the yield strength of ZCuSn10Pb1?
ZCuSn10Pb1 has a typical yield strength of 140 MPa (20.3 ksi) and a tensile strength of 260 MPa (37.7 ksi) — weaker than 73% of copper alloy grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 4 listed tempers.
Is ZCuSn10Pb1 easy to machine?
Reasonably — machinability is rated fair (50/100, better than 69% of copper alloy grades). Machines well with sharp positive-rake carbide or HSS at high speed, low feed and generous coolant; the Pb and δ-phase give short chips but the alloy smears if tools are dull.
Can ZCuSn10Pb1 be welded?
Not readily — weldability is rated poor (25/100). Poor fusion weldability — lead causes hot cracking and porosity; repair by braze/solder or low-heat GTAW with Cu-Sn filler and preheat 150–250 °C.
What surface finishes work on ZCuSn10Pb1?
Takes a fine turned or polished finish and readily accepts tin, nickel or chrome plating and soft solder; use lacquer or chemical patina since it tarnishes in air.
Can ZCuSn10Pb1 be formed, bent or molded?
Casting alloy only: wide freezing range demands strong risering/directional solidification and pouring at ~1150–1200 °C to avoid tin sweat and microshrinkage.
What is the maximum service temperature of ZCuSn10Pb1?
ZCuSn10Pb1 is rated for continuous use to about 250°C (482 °F). Strength falls off well before that limit — check the elevated-temperature data for load-bearing parts.
What is the difference between ZCuSn10Pb1-S and ZCuSn10Pb1-La?
S is the default condition — default form for one-off and low-volume worm wheels, bearing shells and pump bodies; lowest strength but easiest to cast in complex shapes. La: stock form for machined bushings, nuts and slide plates — highest and most uniform properties, sold as solid bar and hollow tube. Yield strength is 140 MPa in S versus 195 MPa in La.
How much does ZCuSn10Pb1 cost?
ZCuSn10Pb1 is a high-cost copper alloy ($$$$), pricier than about 78% of the materials FabDigit quotes. Part price depends far more on geometry, tolerance and quantity than on the raw stock — upload a CAD file for a live quote.
Sources
- ASTM B505/B505M Copper Alloy Continuous Castings (C90700) — ASTM (2018)
- CDA Alloy Datasheet C90700 — Copper Development Association (2023)
- ASM Handbook Vol.2 — Properties of Copper and Copper Alloys — ASM International (1990)
- ASM Handbook Vol.13 — Corrosion of Copper Alloys — ASM International (2005)
Property data is compiled from published supplier and standards handbooks and normalised for comparison; hardness values on non-Brinell scales are converted approximately for charting only. Manufacturability limits are FabDigit quote-engine defaults and may be relaxed by engineering review. Nothing on this page is a certification — request mill certs, CoC or material test reports with your order.