Lead Free Brass Pipes and Tubes Manufacturer

Q: What does lead-free brass mean?

Lead-free brass generally refers to a copper-zinc alloy in which lead is not intentionally added as an alloying element and the material meets the applicable lead limits for its intended application. Trace lead may still be present within the permitted chemical or regulatory limits. For plumbing products used for drinking water in the United States, the EPA lead-free definition limits lead to a weighted average of 0.25% across wetted surfaces.

Q: Which lead-free brass grade should I choose?

Choose C26000 70/30 brass when high ductility and cold-forming performance are the main requirements. C27000, C27200 and C27400 provide different copper-zinc balances and can be selected where a different combination of strength, formability and cost is required. C28000 60/40 brass is generally selected where higher strength and hot-working characteristics are important. The appropriate grade should be selected according to the required product standard, temper, dimensions and application.

Q: Is lead-free brass suitable for drinking water systems?

Lead-free brass can be used in drinking water applications when the specific pipe, tube or plumbing product meets the applicable regulatory, material and certification requirements. Being described as lead-free by alloy chemistry alone does not automatically establish potable-water compliance. In the United States, covered plumbing products must meet the EPA lead-free requirements, including the 0.25% weighted-average lead limit across wetted surfaces and applicable certification requirements.

Q: What is the difference between 70/30 and 63/37 brass?

70/30 brass such as C26000 contains a nominal 70% copper and 30% zinc, while 63/37 brass such as C27200 contains a nominal 63% copper and 37% zinc. C26000 is generally valued for its high ductility and cold-forming capability, while the higher zinc content in C27200 provides a different balance of strength, formability and cost. Actual properties depend on the product form and temper.

Lead-free brass pipes and tubes are copper zinc alloys manufactured without intentional lead additions, which gives consumers a clean material suitable for plumbing, drinking water, and general engineering applications where compliance and long service life are significant factors. The lead free brass pipes and tubes comprise a smaller family of grades, ranging from the highly ductile 70/30 alloy to the stronger 60/40 Muntz metal, where every grade sacrifices a portion of ductility in exchange for a bit more strength based on the increased quantity of zinc. Every lead-free brass pipe and tube in this family shares the same core advantage over leaded brass, a bright, consistent finish and a composition that holds up to modern drinking water standards without the trace lead that older brass formulas relied on for machining ease.

USA Piping Solution manufactures and supplies lead free brass pipes and tubes with full mill test documentation, dispatched from the United States.

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Lead Free Brass Pipe and Tube Specifications

Property	Specification
Product	Lead Free Brass Pipes & Tubes
Material	Copper Zinc Alloy
Principal Grades	C26000, C27000, C27200, C27400, C28000
Product Form	Seamless brass tube and tube products according to applicable specification
ASTM Specification	ASTM B135/B135M
Tube Shape	Round, square and rectangular where permitted by the specification
Manufacturing Condition	Drawn or annealed according to required temper
Drawn Tempers	H55, H58 and H80
Annealed Tempers	O50 and O60
Surface	Bright, smooth or as specified
Length	Straight lengths or as specified
Dimensions	Outside diameter and wall thickness according to order requirements
Testing	As required by the applicable specification and purchase order
Documentation	Material test documentation available according to order requirements

Chemical Composition of Lead Free Brass Pipes & Tubes

For the page, I would use the ASTM B135/B135M chemistry, rather than mixing chemistry from different European or commercial product standards.

Grade	Copper, Cu %	Iron, Fe % Max	Lead, Pb % Max	Zinc, Zn %
C26000	68.5 to 71.5	0.05	0.07	Remainder
C27000	63.0 to 68.5	0.07	0.09	Remainder
C27200	62.0 to 65.0	0.07	0.07	Remainder
C27400	61.0 to 64.0	0.05	0.09	Remainder

Equivalent Grades of Lead Free Brass Pipes & Tubes

UNS Grade	Common Name	EN / European	BS	JIS	DIN / Material No.	ISO / EN Chemical Designation
C26000	70/30 Cartridge Brass	CuZn30 / CW505L	CZ106	C2600	2.0265	CuZn30
C27000	65/35 Yellow Brass	CuZn36 / CW507L	CZ107	C2700	2.0335	CuZn35 / CuZn36*
C27200	63/37 Yellow Brass	CuZn37 / CW508L	CZ108	C2720	2.0321	CuZn37
C27400	62.5/37.5 Yellow Brass	CuZn37 / CW508L	CZ108	C2720	2.0321	CuZn37

C27200 and C27400 can both appear under CuZn37 in cross reference databases, but they are separate UNS grades with different specified copper ranges. The designations should therefore be verified against the applicable product standard rather than treated as interchangeable materials. The C27200 to CuZn37, CW508L, CZ108 and C2720 relationship is supported by current technical data.

Lead Free Brass Pipes and Tubes Grade Comparison

The table below lists the main grades covered under lead free brass pipes and tubes, one row per grade, so a buyer can identify the right material before requesting a quote.

Grade	Common Name	Zinc Content	Main Advantage
C26000	70/30 Brass, Cartridge Brass	Nominal 30 percent	Highest ductility in the family, best for deep drawing and cold forming
C27000	65/35 Brass	Nominal 35 percent	Hot forms more readily than C26000 and offers higher strength
C27200 / C27400	63/37 Brass	Nominal 37 percent	Widely used cold forming grade, favorable balance of cost and formability

Full chemistry, physical properties, mechanical properties and dimensions for the seventy thirty grade are covered in detail on ourC26000 70/30 Lead Free Brass Pipe page.

Lead Free Brass Pipes and Tubes Applications

Lead-free brass pipes and tubes are specified across a wide range of industries thanks to their clean chemistry and dependable forming behaviour. Typical uses include:

Sugar industry condenser and heat exchanger tubes
Plumbing and potable water systems
Hand pump liner material and general engineering

Buyers who need a leaded grade for faster machining rather than a lead-free chemistry can review ourleaded brass hollow rods range, and buyers who need a naval brass for marine hardware can review ourCW719R naval brass pipe page.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does lead-free brass mean?

Lead-free brass pipes and tubes are produced from a copper-zinc alloy with no deliberate lead addition, unlike leaded brass grades where lead is added on purpose to speed up machining. Any trace lead present in a lead-free brass pipe or tube reflects impurity limits, not an intentional alloying element.

Which lead-free brass grade should I choose?

Choose C26000 70/30 lead-free brass pipe when maximum ductility and cold forming performance matter most. Choose C27000, C27200, or C27400 63/37 lead-free brass pipe when a stronger, still formable grade is needed, and choose C28000 60/40 Muntz metal when the highest strength and best hot working behaviour are the priority.

Is lead-free brass suitable for drinking water systems?

Yes. The absence of a deliberate lead addition is exactly why lead free brass pipes and tubes are specified for plumbing and potable water systems, since the chemistry avoids the trace lead content associated with older leaded brass formulas.

What is the difference between 70/30 and 63/37 brass?

70/30 lead free brass pipe carries a higher copper content and offers the best ductility in the family, while 63/37 lead free brass pipe carries more zinc, which trades a little formability for a more favorable balance of cost and strength in general engineering use.

Request a Quote for Lead Free Brass Pipes and Tubes

USA Piping Solution is ready to quote your next order of lead free brass pipes and tubes, in the grade and length your project requires. Visit our contact page to request a quote, or browse our full product range to see the other copper, brass and bronze alloys we stock alongside lead free brass pipes and tubes.

Other Products

CW719R naval brass pipe, leaded brass hollow rods, copper nickel pipes and tubes, and manganese bronze tube

Lead Free Brass Pipes and Tubes Manufacturer, Supplier and Exporter