Copper Alloy Grades
Fifteen common copper alloy grades, each with the nearest UNS equivalent to its Chinese GB designation, composition range, typical applications and scrap classification. The two naming systems share no logic — bridging them is what this table is for.
Pure copper3
Above 99.9% copper. Split by how oxygen is handled — ETP, phosphorus-deoxidised and oxygen-free — which is what drives the conductivity difference.
| GB grade | Nearest intl. | Composition | Typical use | Scrap grade |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| T2Electrolytic tough pitch copper (ETP) | C11000JIS C1100 | Cu ≥ 99.90% | Wire, bus bar, conductors | Bare Bright / #1 Copper≈99% of spot |
| TP2Phosphorus-deoxidised copper (DHP) | C12200JIS C1220 | Cu ≥ 99.90%, P 0.015–0.040% | AC and refrigeration tube, plumbing | #1 Copper (Berry/Candy)≈98% of spot |
| TU1Oxygen-free copper (OF) | C10200JIS C1020 | Cu ≥ 99.95%, O ≤ 0.001% | Vacuum devices, audio cable, semiconductor leads | Bare Bright≈99% of spot |
Brass5
Copper-zinc alloys. China names them by copper content (H62 = 62% Cu) while the international system uses UNS C2xxxx — the mismatch is the single most common source of confusion in enquiries.
| GB grade | Nearest intl. | Composition | Typical use | Scrap grade |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| H62Yellow brass | C27400JIS C2700 | Cu 60.5–63.5%, Zn bal. | Nuts, washers, pipe fittings | Yellow Brass (Honey)≈68% of spot |
| H65Brass 65/35 | C26800JIS C2680 | Cu 63.5–68.0%, Zn bal. | Plumbing fittings, springs, fins | Yellow Brass≈72% of spot |
| H68Cartridge brass 70/30 | C26000JIS C2600 | Cu 67.0–70.0%, Zn bal. | Cartridge cases, deep-drawn parts | Yellow Brass≈74% of spot |
| H90Commercial bronze 90/10 (gilding metal) | C22000JIS C2200 | Cu 88.0–91.0%, Zn bal. | Decorative trim, badges, zips | Red Brass≈88% of spot |
| HPb59-1Free-cutting leaded brass | C37700JIS C3771 | Cu 57–60%, Pb 0.8–1.9%, Zn bal. | Machined parts, valves, water meter bodies | Leaded Brass (declare Pb)≈66% of spot |
Bronze4
Copper alloyed with tin, aluminium or beryllium. Tin bronze for spring elements, aluminium bronze for seawater service, beryllium copper for the highest strength — its scrap dust is toxic and needs specialist handling.
| GB grade | Nearest intl. | Composition | Typical use | Scrap grade |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| QSn6.5-0.1Phosphor bronze | C51900 | Cu bal., Sn 6.0–7.0%, P 0.10–0.25% | Instrument springs, connector contacts | Phosphor Bronze≈85% of spot |
| QSn4-3Tin bronze | C42500 | Cu bal., Sn 3.5–4.5%, Zn 2.7–3.3% | Spring elements, bushings | Tin Bronze≈84% of spot |
| QAl9-4Aluminium bronze | C63000 | Cu bal., Al 8.0–10.0%, Fe 2.0–4.0% | Marine components, worm gears | Aluminium Bronze≈78% of spot |
| QBe2Beryllium copper | C17200 | Cu bal., Be 1.80–2.10%, Ni + Co ≥ 0.20% | Precision springs, non-sparking tools, aerospace | Be-Cu — toxic dust, specialist handling≈90% of spot |
Cupronickel3
Copper-nickel alloys for seawater corrosion resistance. Nickel content drives the scrap price — the premium on 70/30 over 90/10 is nickel, not copper.
| GB grade | Nearest intl. | Composition | Typical use | Scrap grade |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| B10Cupronickel 90/10 | C70600JIS C7060 | Cu bal., Ni 9.0–11.0%, Fe 1.0–1.8% | Heat exchangers, marine seawater piping | Cupronickel≈82% of spot |
| B30Cupronickel 70/30 | C71500JIS C7150 | Cu bal., Ni 29.0–33.0% | Seawater condensers, coin blanks | Cupronickel≈80% of spot |
| BZn15-20Nickel silver 65-18 | C75200 | Cu bal., Ni 13.5–16.5%, Zn 18–22% | Musical instruments, cutlery, precision springs | Nickel Silver≈70% of spot |
Why the two numbering systems don’t line up
Chinese GB designations describe the alloy: H62 is brass with 62% copper, QSn6.5-0.1 is a tin bronze with 6.5% tin and 0.1% phosphorus, B30 is cupronickel with 30% nickel. Read the name and you know roughly what is in it.
UNS numbers carry no such meaning — C26000 tells you only that it sits in the brass block. The number is an index, not a description.
So the two systems cannot be mapped by arithmetic, and the composition ranges rarely coincide exactly. H62 runs 60.5–63.5% Cu while C27400 runs 61–64% — overlapping, not identical. Everything in the second column above is the nearest equivalent, suitable for finding your way to the right material. It is not a statement that the two are interchangeable: substitution has to be judged against the actual requirement for the part.
How these grades are sorted as scrap
The scrap column uses the trade names the recycling industry actually quotes in — Bare Bright, Honey, Taint/Tabor, Zorba. They are sorting categories, not alloy specs: a yard buying Yellow Brass is not asking whether the material is H62 or H68, because both land in the same bin. The percentage next to each is an indicative share of the pure-metal spot price, useful for a rough valuation and nothing more — actual settlement turns on assay, contamination and the terms of your own contract.
Other metals
Composition ranges follow the Chinese national standards (GB/T). Cross-references are the nearest equivalent grade, not a certification of interchangeability — verify against the governing specification before you substitute a material.