C83600 Red Brass Machined Parts and Castings

Price: US$ 13.40 / Kilogram (Indicative) — Material: C83600 Red Brass (85-5-5-5) | Min. Order: 1 Kilogram | Supply Ability: As per requirement. Price varies by specification, quantity and finish; contact us for a firm quote.

Overview: C83600 Red Brass Machined Parts and Castings

Brass and Copper Parts manufactures C83600 red brass castings and CNC machined components from its ISO 9001:2015 certified foundry and machine shop in Jamnagar, India. C83600, commonly known as 85-5-5-5 leaded red brass, is the most widely specified copper-base casting alloy in ASTM B584 and B62 for pressure-tight valve bodies, pump housings, plumbing fittings, and general industrial castings. With a nominal composition of 85% copper, 5% tin, 5% lead, and 5% zinc, C83600 combines good castability, pressure tightness, corrosion resistance, and machinability, making it the standard alloy for water-service and low-pressure steam components across plumbing, waterworks, marine, and general industrial markets. We supply sand-cast, gravity die-cast, and centrifugally cast C83600 components, finish-machined on CNC lathes and machining centres, to customer drawings with full material traceability for OEM, EPC, and distributor customers worldwide.

What is C83600 Red Brass?

C83600 is a copper-tin-zinc-lead casting alloy under the Copper Development Association (CDA) numbering system, standardised in ASTM B584 (sand and permanent mould castings) and ASTM B62 (composition/valve bronze). Historically termed “red brass” or “85-5-5-5” due to its distinctive reddish-gold cast colour (a result of high copper content) and its approximate 85/5/5/5 composition, C83600 is technically a leaded tin bronze rather than a true brass, though the trade name “red brass” persists across the plumbing and valve industry. The alloy solidifies with good fluidity and feeding characteristics, producing sound, pressure-tight castings free of microporosity when properly gated and risered.

C83600 Casting Characteristics

C83600 exhibits excellent castability across sand casting, permanent mould (gravity die) casting, and centrifugal casting processes, with a practical pouring temperature range of 1010-1150 Degree C. The alloy has a comparatively narrow freezing range relative to other tin bronzes, reducing hot-tearing and shrinkage porosity risk in moderately complex valve body and fitting geometries. Lead content (4.0-6.0%) improves pressure tightness by filling residual microporosity and significantly improves machinability of the as-cast part.

Machinability and Finish-Machining of C83600 Castings

As-cast C83600 components are finish-machined on CNC lathes, machining centres, and boring mills to produce sealing faces, bores, threads, and flange features to drawing tolerance. The alloy machinability index is approximately 84 relative to the C36000 free-cutting brass benchmark, giving good tool life and surface finish (Ra 1.6-3.2 micrometres as-turned) despite being a cast rather than wrought material. Typical machining tolerance on cast C83600 components is +/-0.1 mm on critical bores and faces, with +/-0.05 mm achievable on precision-bored sealing surfaces.

Pressure Tightness and Hydrostatic Performance

C83600 castings are widely specified for pressure-retaining valve bodies, pump casings, and fitting bodies rated to 200-300 PSI (1.4-2.1 MPa) working pressure in water and low-pressure steam service. Hydrostatic pressure testing at 1.5x-2x rated working pressure is standard practice for valve and fitting bodies, with acceptance criteria of zero visible leakage and no more than permitted weep per applicable valve standard (API 594, MSS SP-80, or customer specification).

Corrosion Resistance in Water and Marine Service

C83600 offers good resistance to fresh water, potable water (subject to lead-content regulations in the destination market), seawater in low-velocity service, and steam condensate. The alloy is widely used in marine hardware, waterworks fittings, and plumbing valve bodies where bronze-grade corrosion resistance is required at lower cost than tin bronze or aluminium bronze alternatives. For jurisdictions with low-lead potable water requirements (such as US Safe Drinking Water Act amendments or California AB 1953), we offer low-lead red brass alternatives such as C89833 or C87850 on request.

Casting Methods: Sand, Permanent Mould, and Centrifugal

Sand casting (green sand and no-bake resin sand) is used for low-to-medium volume and larger or complex C83600 components; permanent mould (gravity die) casting is used for medium-to-high volume production of standardised valve bodies and fittings, offering finer grain structure and improved dimensional consistency; centrifugal casting is used for cylindrical components such as bushings, sleeves, and bearing blanks, providing directional solidification and minimal porosity in the working wall thickness.

Key Features of C83600 Red Brass Machined Parts and Castings

• Excellent Castability: Good fluidity and narrow freezing range for sound, pressure-tight castings.
• Pressure Rating 200-300 PSI: Standard alloy for valve bodies, pump casings, and pressure-retaining fittings.
• Good Machinability (~84 Index): Clean finish-machining of bores, faces, and threads after casting.
• Good Corrosion Resistance: Suitable for fresh water, low-velocity seawater, and steam condensate service.
• Multiple Casting Routes: Sand, permanent mould, and centrifugal casting available per volume and geometry.
• ASTM B584/B62 Compliance: Standard specification alloy recognised across plumbing, waterworks, and valve industries.

Sand Casting Capability

Green sand and no-bake resin sand moulding processes produce C83600 valve bodies, pump housings, and fitting castings from prototype quantities up to medium production volumes. Pattern equipment is designed in-house with appropriate shrinkage allowance (approximately 1.5-1.6% linear) and gating/risering to minimise porosity in critical pressure-bearing sections.

Permanent Mould and Gravity Die Casting

For medium-to-high volume standardised components such as catalogue valve bodies and pipe fittings, permanent mould casting in steel dies provides finer as-cast grain structure, improved dimensional repeatability, and reduced machining stock allowance compared to sand casting, lowering finish-machining cycle time and cost per part.

Centrifugal Casting for Cylindrical Components

Bearing bushings, sleeve bushings, and cylindrical bar-equivalent blanks are produced by centrifugal casting, which produces directional solidification from the outer mould wall inward, concentrating any shrinkage porosity at the bore rather than the working wall thickness, and enabling higher pressure integrity in the finished bushing wall.

CNC Finish Machining of Cast Components

Cast C83600 blanks are finish-machined on CNC lathes and 3/4-axis machining centres to produce sealing faces, O-ring grooves, valve seats, flange bolt patterns, and threaded connections to +/-0.05-0.1 mm tolerance. Fixtures are designed to locate from as-cast datum features while machining critical functional surfaces to full drawing tolerance.

Hydrostatic and Pressure Testing

Valve bodies, pump casings, and pressure-retaining fittings undergo hydrostatic shell and seat testing at 1.5x-2x rated working pressure per API 598, MSS SP-80, or customer-specific test procedures, with test records retained and issued as part of the quality documentation package.

Corrosion and Potable Water Compliance

Standard C83600 (nominal lead 4.0-6.0%) is suitable for general industrial and non-potable water service; where potable water compliance under low-lead regulations (US Safe Drinking Water Act / AB 1953, or equivalent) is required, we offer low-lead red brass grades such as C89833 or C87850 with less than 0.25% lead as drop-in alternatives for the same casting geometry.

Technical Specifications: C83600 Red Brass (85-5-5-5)

C83600 International Grade Equivalents

C83600 Casting and Product Forms

Product Types and Variants

C83600 Valve Bodies and Valve Components

Gate, globe, check, and ball valve bodies, bonnets, and discs cast to ASTM B584 and finish-machined for water, steam, and general industrial service.

C83600 Pump Housings and Impeller Components

Centrifugal pump casings, volutes, and wear rings cast in C83600 for water pump and general fluid-handling applications requiring corrosion resistance and pressure integrity.

C83600 Plumbing and Waterworks Fittings

Meter bodies, backflow preventer housings, hydrant components, and pipe fittings cast and machined for municipal and commercial waterworks systems.

C83600 Marine and Shipboard Hardware

Through-hull fittings, seacocks, and shipboard valve components cast in C83600 for low-velocity seawater and marine plumbing service.

C83600 Bearing Bushings and Sleeves

Centrifugally cast and finish-bored bushings and sleeve bearings for general industrial machinery requiring bronze-grade bearing performance at red-brass cost.

C83600 General Industrial Castings

Custom-pattern castings for machine bases, connector bodies, and structural components requiring a machinable, corrosion-resistant copper-alloy casting.

Applications by Industry

Manufacturing Process for C83600 Castings and Machined Parts

Step 1 – Pattern and Mould Preparation: Patterns designed with shrinkage allowance (~1.5-1.6%); sand moulds or permanent steel dies prepared per component geometry and volume.

Step 2 – Melting and Alloy Control: C83600 charge melted in induction furnace; spectrometric analysis confirms Cu/Sn/Pb/Zn composition before pouring.

Step 3 – Casting: Molten metal poured at 1010-1150 Degree C into sand, permanent mould, or centrifugal casting equipment as applicable.

Step 4 – Fettling and Cleaning: Castings shaken out, gates/risers removed, shot-blasted or tumbled to remove sand and scale.

Step 5 – Radiographic/Dye Penetrant Inspection (where specified): Critical pressure-bearing castings inspected for porosity and inclusions per customer requirement.

Step 6 – CNC Finish Machining: Sealing faces, bores, threads, and flange features machined to drawing tolerance on CNC lathes and machining centres.

Step 7 – Pressure Testing: Hydrostatic shell and seat testing at 1.5x-2x rated working pressure per API 598/MSS SP-80 or customer procedure.

Step 8 – Final Inspection and Packing: Dimensional inspection, visual inspection, material certificate issuance, and export packing with Certificate of Origin.

Quality Standards and Certifications

• ISO 9001:2015 certified quality management system
• Casting alloy certified to ASTM B584/B62; DIN 1705, EN 1982, and IS 306 cross-reference on request
• Material test certificate with spectrometric composition and mechanical property data
• Hydrostatic pressure testing per API 598 / MSS SP-80
• Radiographic and dye penetrant inspection available for critical castings
• Dimensional inspection per ISO 8062 casting tolerance grades
• Low-lead red brass alternatives (C89833, C87850) available for potable water compliance

Why Choose Brass and Copper Parts for C83600 Castings and Machined Parts

• Integrated Foundry and Machine Shop: Casting and CNC finish-machining under one roof, eliminating multi-vendor coordination and datum transfer errors.
• Multiple Casting Routes: Sand, permanent mould, and centrifugal casting matched to component volume and geometry for cost optimisation.
• Pressure-Critical Component Experience: Established hydrostatic testing protocols for valve bodies, pump housings, and pressure fittings.
• Low-Lead Alternatives Available: C89833/C87850 low-lead red brass offered as drop-in substitutes for potable water compliance markets.
• Export-Ready Documentation: Material certificates, pressure test reports, and Certificate of Origin issued as standard.
• Competitive Landed Cost: Direct foundry-to-machining integration in Jamnagar, India, at 25-40% cost saving versus imported castings.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is C83600 the same as red brass?

Yes. C83600 is the ASTM/CDA designation for the alloy commonly called red brass or 85-5-5-5, referring to its nominal 85% copper, 5% tin, 5% lead, and 5% zinc composition.

Is C83600 a brass or a bronze?

Technically C83600 is a leaded tin bronze (a copper-tin alloy with zinc and lead additions), not a true zinc-brass. The trade name “red brass” is a historical convention in the plumbing and valve industry and remains in common use despite the metallurgical classification as bronze.

What pressure rating can C83600 valve bodies achieve?

C83600 valve bodies and fittings are typically rated 200-300 PSI (1.4-2.1 MPa) for water and low-pressure steam service, verified by hydrostatic shell and seat testing at 1.5x-2x rated working pressure.

Is C83600 suitable for potable water applications?

Standard C83600 contains 4.0-6.0% lead and may not meet low-lead potable water regulations in some jurisdictions (US Safe Drinking Water Act amendments, California AB 1953). We offer low-lead alternatives such as C89833 or C87850 for these markets.

What is the difference between C83600 and C84400?

C83600 (85-5-5-5) contains higher copper and lower zinc than C84400 (81-3-7-9, approximately 81% Cu, 3% Sn, 7% Pb, 9% Zn). C84400 has slightly lower cost and different mechanical properties; both are used for similar valve and fitting applications, with selection often based on specification, cost, and foundry availability.

What casting process is best for my C83600 component?

Sand casting suits prototype and low-volume or large/complex geometries; permanent mould casting suits medium-to-high volume standardised parts with tighter dimensional consistency; centrifugal casting suits cylindrical bushings and sleeves requiring minimal bore porosity.

What machining tolerances can be achieved on C83600 castings?

Standard finish-machining tolerance is +/-0.1 mm on critical bores and sealing faces; +/-0.05 mm is achievable on precision-bored sealing surfaces with appropriate fixturing.

Do you provide hydrostatic test certificates?

Yes. Hydrostatic shell and seat test reports per API 598, MSS SP-80, or customer-specific procedure are issued for valve bodies, pump housings, and pressure-retaining fittings.

What is the minimum order quantity for C83600 castings?

Prototype and pattern-proving castings from 10-50 pieces depending on component size; production sand or permanent mould castings from 100-500 pieces; centrifugally cast bushings from 500 pieces.

Can you machine customer-supplied C83600 castings?

Yes. We provide finish-machining services on customer-supplied C83600 (or equivalent red brass) castings, including CNC turning, boring, milling, and pressure testing, in addition to full casting-to-finished-part production.

Equivalent Terms in Other Languages

Related Products and Linked Terms

• C84400 Red Brass Machined Components from Castings
• Brass Forging
• Brass CZ 121 Machined Components, Brass CZ 121 Turned Parts
• Copper Bronze and Brass Casting Category
• Brass Components Category

Request a Quote for C83600 Red Brass Castings and Machined Parts

Submit your engineering drawings (DXF, STEP, PDF) specifying C83600 or equivalent red brass grade, casting process preference, pressure rating, and machining requirements. Our technical team responds with a material and process-specific quotation within 24-48 hours.

Email: sales@brass-copper-parts.com | Phone/WhatsApp: +91-22-43449300

Brass and Copper Parts (India) – Plot 10-B, GIDC Industrial Estate, Shankar Tekri, Jamnagar 361004, Gujarat, India.