Lead-free brass with excellent machinability
GloBrass™
ECO BRASS™
C68370
C69300 / C69310 /
C87850 / C87870
GloBrass and ECO BRASS are environmentally friendly materials, complying with RoHS directive, ELV directive and Tap water quality standards.
GloBrass is the new material whose copper content is close to general brass, the machinability and the strength are well balanced, it is possible to supply thinner bars, so it is recommended to mass-market segment which lead-containing brass are applied.
ECO BRASS is suitable substitutes for lead-containing brass as well as Austenitic stainless steel (SUS304), since ECO BRASS has a similar strength to stainless steel in addition to characteristics like superior machinability and hydrogen embrittlement resistance.
GloBrass：EN CW726R
ECO BRASS：JIS C6931 / C6932 / CAC804 EN CW724R / CB768S / CC768S
Positioning map
Main features
- GloBrass is the new material whose copper content is close to general brass, the machinability and the strength are well balanced, it is possible to supply thinner bars, so it is recommended to mass-market segment which lead-containing brass are applied.
- ECO BRASS series are ECO BRASS, SnECO and ECO-CR, SnECO is superior for erosion resistance*1, ECO-CR is outstanding for corrosion resistance*2. Each brass is applied to Automotive parts, Electrical parts and Faucet parts etc.
| Type | Corrosion resistance | Erosion resistance | Application | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Faucet parts | Automotive parts | Electrical parts | |||
| GloBrass | Average | Average | Average | Good | Good |
| ECO BRASS | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good |
| SnECO | Good | Excellent | Excellent(Fast flow) | - | - |
| ECO-CR | Excellent | Good | Excellent | - | - |
| Lead-containing brass, C3604 | Average | Average | Average | Good | Good |
Global Material
ECO BRASS is the world best-selling lead-free, free-cutting brass.
The alloy's accumulated global sales volume reached 400,000 tons in 2024.
Trend in Environmental Regulations
Use of a material containing a harmful substance such as lead, mercury, cadmium, or hexavalent
chromium for an electrical or electronic component or an automotive component is prohibited by RoHS
Directive and ELV Directive.
However, due to an exemption temporarily applied, copper alloys are still allowed to contain up to
4% Pb.
Regarding the RoHS Directive, it was decided in September 2025 to extend the exemption for lead
until June 2027.
The Consultants also indicated that the subjects to which the exemptions are applicable should be
more specific and limited in the next review.
Note: The latest information is available on OEKO's website.
Carl-Otto Gensch. Öko-Institut e.V. :"RoHS Evaluations"（https://rohs.exemptions.oeko.info/）
Chemical composition
(Weight %)
| Type | Shape | Standard number | Cu | Si | P | Sn | Pb※1 | Cd※1 | Zn | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CDA | JIS | EN | |||||||||
| ECO BRASS | Bar | C69300 | C6932 | CW724R | 75.5 | 3.0 | 0.08 | <0.1 | <0.09 | <0.0075 | Rem.※2 |
| Casting | C87850 | CAC804 | CB768S | 76.0 | 3.0 | 0.08 | <0.1 | <0.09 | <0.0075 | Rem.※2 | |
| SnECO | Bar | C69310 | C6931 | - | 76.0 | 3.0 | 0.08 | 0.5 | <0.09 | <0.0075 | Rem.※2 |
| Casting | C87870 | CAC804 | - | 76.0 | 3.0 | 0.08 | 0.5 | <0.09 | <0.0075 | Rem.※2 | |
| ECO-CR | Bar | - | - | CW724R | 76.3 | 3.2 | 0.09 | 0.2 | <0.09 | <0.0075 | Rem.※2 |
| GloBrass | Bar | C68370 | - | - | 62.5 | 1.0 | 0.07 | <0.2 | <0.1 | <0.0075 | Rem.※2 |
Technical Data
RoHS directive, ELV directive, Tap water quality standards (Drinking water quality standards)
GloBrass and ECO BRASS contain lead less than 0.09%, complying with RoHS directive, ELV
directive and Tap water quality standards.
Material properties of GloBrass and ECO BRASS are improved by containing Si which does not
affect to health while Lead does harm to.
| Effective date |
Region | Regulation / Standard | Sector | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apr. 2003 | Japan | Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare Ordinance No. 43 of 2002 | tap water | Allowable lead content in tap water was reduced from 0.05mg/L to 0.01mg/L (about 10 ppb). |
| Apr. 2011 | U.S. | NSF/ANSI 14 | tap water | This regulation is related to dezincification corrosion resistance and stress corrosion cracking resistance. |
| Jan. 2014 | U.S. | S3874 | tap water | The amount of lead contained in plumbing fittings is restricted (weighted average: 0.25%). |
| Apr. 2016 | EU | REACH Annex XVII (amendment) | Additional restrictions on the use of lead introduced. | |
| Sep. 2020 | U.S. | Lead Free Rule | tap water | Lead content restriction for plumbing fittings (weighted average: 0.25%). |
| Jan. 2021 | EU | Drinking Water Directive | tap water | The allowable lead leaching limit was reduced from 10 ppb to 5 ppb. |
| Mar. 2023 | EU | ELV Directive | automobile | Review of exemptions for copper alloys scheduled for 2025. |
| Apr. 2023 | EU | REACH Annex XIV (revision) | Recommendation to add lead to the Authorisation List. | |
| Jan. 2024 | U.S. | NSF/ANSI 61 | tap water | The allowable lead leaching limit was reduced from 5 ppb to 1 ppb. |
| Apr. 2024 | EU | Revised 4MS | tap water | Harmonisation/standardisation of certification methods for tapware/plumbing products across Europe by end of 2026. |
| Sep. 2025 | EU | RoHS Directive | electronics | Extension recommended until 30 Jun 2027. |
Features
Each Characteristic of GloBrass and ECO BRASS is as follows.
Various Characteristics of GloBrass are superior to Lead-containing brass, the electrical
conductivity of GloBrass is higher than Phosphor bronze,
it is applicable for terminals which transfer electric signals.
ECO BRASS series has well balanced performance and similar strength to Austenitic stainless
steel (SUS304).
| Type | Tensile strength |
Wear resistance |
Corrosion resistance |
Machinability | Forgeability | Castability | Electrical conductivity (%IACS) (%IACS) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GloBrass | Good | Good | Average | Good | Excellent | Good | 16 |
| ECO BRASS | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | 8 |
| SnECO | Good | Good | Excellent | Good | Good | Good | 8 |
| ECO-CR | Good | Good | Excellent | Good | Good | Good | 8 |
| Lead-containing brass, C3604 | Average | Average | Average | Good | - | - | 26 |
| Lead-containing brass, C3771 | Average | Average | Average | Good | Good | - | 27 |
| Austenitic stainless steel （SUS304） |
Good | Excellent | Good | Average | Average | - | 2 |
Physical properties
Physical properties are as follows.
Typical values
| Property | GloBrass | ECO BRASS | Lead-containing brass C3604 |
Bronze-casting CAC406 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Specific Gravity g/cm3 |
8.3 | 8.3 | 8.5 | 8.8 |
| Thermal Conductivity W/m・K |
73 | 35 | 114 | 70 |
| Electrical Conductivity %IACS |
16 | 8 | 26 | 15 |
| Coefficient of Thermal Expansion ×10-6/℃ |
19 | 20 | 21 | 18 |
| Liquidus temperature ℃ |
880 | 890 | 900 | 1010 |
| Solidus temperature ℃ |
865 | 855 | 885 | 860 |
Mechanical properties (Sampling direction : L.D.)
Mechanical properties are as follows.
| Property | GloBrass | ECO BRASS | Lead-containing brass C3604 |
Stainless steel SUS304 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tensile Strength MPa |
625 | 650 | 435 | 660 |
| 0.2% Yield Strength MPa |
470 | 420 | 295 | 310 |
| Elongation % |
20 | 20 | 25 | 55 |
| Hardness HV |
(185) | (200) | (140) | (160) |
| Property | ECO BRASS | Bronze-casting CAC406 |
|---|---|---|
| Tensile Strength MPa |
400 | 220 |
| 0.2% Yield Strength MPa |
170 | - |
| Elongation ％ |
20 | 15 |
Machinability of GloBrass, ECO BRASS
The chips of C3604 are cut off because of stress concentration on Pb particles which are soft
and low melting temperature.
On the other hand, the chips of GloBrass are cut off due to stress concentration on β phase. The
chips of ECO BRASS are cut off because of stress concentration on κ･γ phases which are hard.
GloBrass and ECO BRASS are applicable for dry cutting, because it's Lead-free. If the chips are
not cut off under the same cutting conditions of C3604, we suggest that higher feed rate and
lower cutting speed could be effective.
Furthermore, if breakage of cutting edge occurs, cutting edge with honing (small radius) could
be one of the solution, such as recommended tools for stainless steel.
|
GloBrass
|
ECO BRASS
|
Lead-containing brass C3604
|
|
|---|---|---|---|
| Metal structure |
 |
 |
 |
| Chips |
 |
 |
 |
Example of Turning, Drilling, Tapping, Threading and Cutting-off
One of the test results is as follows, it was possible to machine GloBrass, ECO BRASS under the
same cutting conditions as Lead-containing brass C3604.
The cycle time of GloBrass and ECO BRASS was shorter than that of Austenitic stainless steel
(SUS303) because of the higher cutting speed and feed rate.
The video is as follows.（https://youtu.be/X2Ie3rsLKu0）
Part after machining Φ20mm Bar (GloBrass)
| Process | Cutting tools※ | GloBrass、ECO BRASS C3604 Dry cutting |
SUS303 （Wet cutting） |
||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Holder | Insert | Rev. (min-1) |
Cutting speed (m/min) |
Feed rate (mm/rev) |
Rev. (min-1) |
Cutting speed (m/min) |
Feed rate (mm/rev) |
||
| 1 | Facing | SDJCR1212M11 | DCMT11T304-LM (VP15TF) |
2122 | 120 | 0.1 | 1768 | 100 | 0.1 |
| 2 | Leading-drill | DLE1000S100P090 | - | 2785 | 70 | 0.07 | 1194 | 30 | 0.05 |
| 3 | Drilling | MVS0800X05S080 | - | 3183 | 80 | 0.1 | 2387 | 60 | 0.1 |
| 4 | Turning | SDJCR1212M11 | DCMT11T304-LM (VP15TF) |
1989 | 100 | 0.1 | 1592 | 80 | 0.1 |
| 5 | Threading | MMTER1212H16-C | MMT16ERG60-S (VP15TF) |
700 | - | 2 | 700 | - | 2 |
| 6 | Turning | SDJCR1212M11 | DCMT11T304-LM (VP15TF) |
1768 | 100 | 0.1 | 1415 | 80 | 0.1 |
| 7 | Cutting-off | GYSR1212JX00-D13 | GY2M0200D020N-GS (VP20RT) |
2000 | - | 0.1 | 2000 | - | 0.1 |
Hot Forging of GloBrass, ECO BRASS
The deformation resistance of GloBrass is lower than Lead-containing brass C3771, so any cracks
did not occurred.
GloBrass has well forgeability, the proper temperature is 580～650℃. However, C3771 cracked below
620℃ and at 820℃.
On the other hand, suitable temperature of ECO BRASS is 700～760℃, in which the deformation
resistance is low.
Wear resistance of GloBrass, ECO BRASS
Wear amount of GloBrass or ECO BRASS is smaller than C3604 during the Amsler wear test with the lubrication.
Lubrication conditions :Silicon oil,
Dripping and oil bath
Dezincification corrosion resistance of ECO BRASS
ECO BRASS shows excellence in Dezincification corrosion resistance, because ECO BRASS contains little Zn, and no low β phase in terms of electrochemical in the matrix.
Stress corrosion cracking resistance of ECO BRASS
ECO BRASS has superiority in stress cracking resistance, since its composition of low Zn and 3% Si improves effectively for the performance.
Erosion Corrosion resistance of SnECO
Wear amount of SnECO is lower than C3604, and similar to CAC406(Bronze), because addition of Sn is effective for the corrosion resistance.
Corrosion resistance of ECO-CR
ECO-CR has the best corrosion resistance in ECO BRASS series, ECO-CR is recommended for localized corrosion of normal ECO BRASS.
C3604
ECO-CR
ISO6509 Dezincification corrosion test
Delivery shape
Shape
GloBrass and ECO BRASS are supplied as following shapes.
 Bar,
Rod
|
 Forged
products
|
 Ingot
for
casting
|
|
|---|---|---|---|
| GloBrass | Available | Available | Available |
| ECO BRASS | Available | Available | Available |
| SnECO | Available | Available | Available |
| ECO-CR | Available | Available | Available |