ASTM B591-20a

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it may not be technically possible to adequately depict all changes accurately, ASTM recommends that users consult prior editions as appropriate. In all cases only the current version
of the standard as published by ASTM is to be considered the official document.
Designation: B591 − 20 B591 − 20a
Standard Specification for
Copper-Zinc-Tin and Copper-Zinc-Tin-Iron-Nickel Alloys
Plate, Sheet, Strip, and Rolled Bar
This standard is issued under the fixed designation B591; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
This standard has been approved for use by agencies of the U.S. Department of Defense.
1. Scope*
1.1 This specification establishes the requirements for specified copper-zinc-tin alloys and copper-zinc-tin-iron-nickel alloys plate,
sheet, strip, and rolled bar. The alloys and nominal compositions are as follows:
Copper Alloy Copper, Tin, Zinc, Phos., Iron, Nickel,
UNS No. % % % % % %
C40500 95 1 4
C40810 95.5 2.0 2.2 0.03 0.1 0.15
C40850 95.5 3.0 1.3 0.1 0.1 0.1
C40860 94.8 2.0 3 0.03 0.03 0.1
C41100 91 0.5 8.5
C41300 91 1 8
C41500 91 2 7
C42200 87 1 12
C42500 88 2 10
C42520 89.8 2.0 8 0.1 0.1 0.1
C43000 85 2 13
C43400 85 0.7 14.3
1.2 Units—The values stated in inch-pound units are to be regarded as standard. The values given in parentheses are mathematical
conversions to SI units that are provided for information only and are not considered standard.
1.2.1 Exception—Average grain size in Table 3 is stated in SI units.
1.3 The following safety hazard caveat pertains only to the test method(s) described in this specification:
1.3.1 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility
of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety, health, and environmental practices and determine the applicability of
regulatory limitations prior to use.
1.4 This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization
established in the Decision on Principles for the Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued
by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
This specification is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee B05 on Copper and Copper Alloys and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee B05.01 on Plate,
Sheet, and Strip.
Current edition approved April 1, 2020Oct. 1, 2020. Published April 2020October 2020. Originally approved in 1973. Last previous edition approved in 20152020 as
B591–15.–20. DOI: 10.1520/B0591–20.10.1520/B0591-20A.
*A Summary of Changes section appears at the end of this standard
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
B591 − 20a
2. Referenced Documents
2.1 ASTM Standards:
B248 Specification for General Requirements for Wrought Copper and Copper-Alloy Plate, Sheet, Strip, and Rolled Bar
B601 Classification for Temper Designations for Copper and Copper Alloys—Wrought and Cast
B846 Terminology for Copper and Copper Alloys
E8/E8M Test Methods for Tension Testing of Metallic Materials
E18 Test Methods for Rockwell Hardness of Metallic Materials
E62 Test Methods for Chemical Analysis of Copper and Copper Alloys (Photometric Methods) (Withdrawn 2010)
E112 Test Methods for Determining Average Grain Size
E478 Test Methods for Chemical Analysis of Copper Alloys
3. General Requirements
3.1 The following sections of Specification B248 constitute a part of this specification:
3.1.1 Terminology—Definitions;
3.1.2 Workmanship, Finish, and Appearance;
3.1.3 Sampling;
3.1.4 Number of Tests and Retests;
3.1.5 Specimen Preparation;
3.1.6 Test Methods—except for chemical analysis;
3.1.7 Significance of Numerical Limits;
3.1.8 Inspection;
3.1.9 Rejection and Rehearing;
3.1.10 Certification;
3.1.11 Test Reports (Mill);
3.1.12 Packaging and Package Marking; and
3.1.13 Supplementary Requirements.
3.2 In addition, when a section with a title identical to that referenced in 3.1 appears in this specification, it contains additional
requirements, which supplement those appearing in Specification B248.
4. Terminology
4.1 For definitions of terms related to copper and copper alloys, refer to Terminology B846.
5. Ordering Information
5.1 Include the following specified choices when placing orders for product under this specification, as applicable:
5.1.1 ASTM designation and year of issue (for example, B591 – XX);
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or contact ASTM Customer Service at service@astm.org. For Annual Book of ASTM Standards
volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on the ASTM website.
The last approved version of this historical standard is referenced on www.astm.org.
B591 − 20a
5.1.2 Copper [Alloy] UNS No. Designation (for example, C42500);
5.1.3 Temper (see Section 8);
5.1.4 Dimensions, that is, thickness, width, length, and so forth (see Section 12);
5.1.5 Form: plate, sheet, strip, or rolled bar;
5.1.6 How furnished: coils, specific or stock lengths, with or without ends;
5.1.7 Quantity: total weight each form, temper, and size; and
5.1.8 Intended application.
5.2 The following options are available but may not be included unless specified at the time of placing of the order when required:
5.2.1 Type of edge: slit, sheared, sawed, square corners, round corners, rounded edges, or full rounded edges;
5.2.2 Width and straightness tolerances (see Section 12);
5.2.3 Heat Identification or traceability details (see 6.1.2);
5.2.4 Certification; and
5.2.5 Mill Test Report.
5.2.6 If product is purchased for agencies of the U.S. Government,government, see Section 11 of this specification and the
Supplementary Requirements section of Specification B248 for additional requirements, if specified.
6. Materials and Manufacture
6.1 Material:
6.1.1 The material of manufacture shall be a form (cast bar, cake, or slab) of Copper Alloy UNS No. C40500, C40810, C40850,
C40860, C41100, C41300, C41500, C42200, C42500, C42520, C43000, or C43400 of such purity and soundness as to be suitable
for processing into products prescribed herein.
6.1.2 When specified in the contract or purchase order that heat identification or traceability is required, the purchaser shall specify
the details desired.
NOTE 1—Due to the discontinuous nature of the processing of castings into wrought products, it is not always practical to identify a specific casting
analysis with a specific quantity of finished material.
6.2 Manufacture:
6.2.1 The product shall be manufactured by such hot working, cold working, and annealing processes as to produce a uniform
wrought structure in the finished product.
6.2.2 The product shall be hot or cold worked to the finished size and subsequently annealed, when required, to meet the temper
properties specified.
6.2.3 Edges—Slit edges shall be furnished unless otherwise specified in the contract or purchase order.
7. Chemical Composition
7.1 The material shall conform to the chemical compositional requirements specified in Table 1 for the copper alloy UNS No.
designation specified in the ordering information.
B591 − 20a
TABLE 1 Chemical Requirements
Composition, % max (Unless Shown as a Range)
Copper Alloy
UNS No.
Copper Tin Lead Iron Phosphorus Nickel Zinc
C40500 94.0-96.0 0.7-1.3 0.05 0.05 . . . . . . remainder
C40810 94.5-96.5 1.8-2.2 0.05 0.08-0.12 0.028-0.04 0.11-0.20 remainder
C40850 94.5-96.5 2.6-4.0 0.05 0.05-0.20 0.01-0.20 0.05-0.20 remainder
C40860 94.0-96.0 1.7-2.3 0.05 0.01-0.05 0.02-0.04 0.05-0.20 remainder
C41100 89.0-92.0 0.30-0.7 0.09 0.05 . . . . . . remainder
C41300 89.0-93.0 0.7-1.3 0.09 0.05 . . . . . . remainder
C41500 89.0-93.0 1.5-2.2 0.09 0.05 . . . . . . remainder
C42200 86.0-89.0 0.8-1.4 0.05 0.05 0.35 . . . remainder
C42500 87.0-90.0 1.5-3.0 0.05 0.05 0.35 . . . remainder
C42520 88.0-91.0 1.5-3.0 0.05 0.05-0.20 0.01-0.20 0.05-0.20 remainder
C43000 84.0-87.0 1.7-2.7 0.09 0.05 . . . . . . remainder
C43400 84.0-87.0 0.40-1.0 0.05 0.05 . . . . . . remainder
7.1.1 These composition limits do not preclude the presence of other elements. By agreement between the manufacturer and
purchaser, limits may be established and analysis required for unnamed elements.
7.2 For alloys in which zinc is listed as “remainder,” either copper or zinc may be taken as the difference between the sum of the
results for all elements determined and 100 %. When all elements in Table 1 are determined, the sum of the results shall be 99.7 %
min.
8. Temper
8.1 The standard tempers for products described in this specification are given in Table 2 and Table 3.
8.1.1 Hot Rolled Temper (M20).
8.1.2 Cold Rolled Tempers H01 to H10—Special tempers not listed in this specification are subject to agreement between the
manufacturer and the purchaser.
8.1.3 Annealed Tempers OS015 to OS035—Special tempers not listed in this specification are subject to agreement between the
manufacturer and the purchaser.
8.1.4 Temper designations are defined in Classification B601.
9. Grain Size for Annealed Tempers
9.1 Grain size shall be the standard requirement for all products in the annealed tempers.
9.2 Acceptance or rejection based upon grain size shall depend only on the average grain size of test specimen taken from each
of two sampling portions and each specimen shall be within the limits prescribed in Table 3 when determined in accordance with
Test Methods E112.
9.3 Grain size shall be determined on a plane parallel to the flat surfaces of the product.
10. Mechanical Property Requirements
10.1 Tensile Strength Requirements of Rolled Tempers:
10.1.1 Product furnished under this specification shall conform to the tensile requirements prescribed in Table 2 for the temper
and UNS Alloy Number specified in the ordering information when tested in accordance with Test Methods E8/E8M.
10.1.2 Test specimens shall be taken so that the longitudinal axis is parallel to the direction of rolling.
10.1.3 Acceptance or rejection based upon mechanical properties shall depend only on tensile strength.
B591 − 20a
TABLE 2 Tensile Strength Requirements and Approximate Rockwell Hardness Values for Rolled Tempers
NOTE 1—Plate is generally available in only the as hot-rolled (M20) temper. Required properties for other tempers shall be agreed upon between the
manufacturer and the purchaser at the time of placing the order.
Approximate Rockwell Hardness
Tensile Strength,
Temper Designation
A B
ksi (MPa)
B-Scale Superficial 30T
0.020 in. to 0.036 in. Over 0.036 in. 0.012 in. to 0.028 in. Over 0.028 in.
C
Code Name Min Max
(0.51 mm to 0.91 mm), incl (0.91 mm) (0.30 mm to 0.71 mm), incl (0.711 mm)
Copper Alloy UNS No. C40500
M20 As hot-rolled 35 (240) 50 (345) . . . . . . . . . . . .
H01 Quarter hard 41 (280) 53 (365) 30-54 34-62 36-56 38-58
H02 Half hard 46 (315) 58 (400) 50-66 52-69 49-60 51-62
H03 Three-quarter hard 52 (360) 64 (440) 60-72 62-74 56-66 58-68
H04 Hard 58 (400) 70 (485) 66-76 68-78 60-68 62-70
H06 Extra hard 63 (435) 75 (515) 71-78 72-80 65-71 66-73
H08 Spring 68 (470) 80 (550) 75-81 76-83 67-72 68-74
H10 Extra spring 73 (505) 84 (580) 78-83 79-85 69-73 70-75
Copper Alloy UNS No. C40810
H02 Half hard 57 (395) 73 (505) 65-80 66-81 60-70 62-72
H04 Hard 76 (525) 88 (605) 78-89 80-90 67-74 69-75
H06 Extra hard 90 (620) 100 (690) 82-90 83-92 69-75 70-76
H08 Spring 94 (650) 102 (705) 85-92 86-94 71-77 72-78
Copper Alloy UNS No. C40850
H02 Half hard 57 (395) 73 (505) 65-80 67-81 60-69 62-72
H04 Hard 76 (525) 89 (615) 78-88 80-90 67-74 69-75
H06 Extra hard 90 (620) 100 (690) 82-91 83-93 69-75 70-76
H08 Spring 94 (650) 106 (730) 85-92 87-94 72-77 73-78
Copper Alloy UNS No. C40860
H02 Half hard 56 (385) 72 (495) 64-80 65-80 60-70 61-72
H04 Hard 74 (510) 87 (600) 77-89 79-90 66-74 68-75
H06 Extra hard 88 (605) 98 (675) 81-90 82-91 68-75 69-76
H08 Spring 92 (635) 105 (725) 84-92 85-94 70-77 71-78
Copper Alloy UNS No. C41100
M20 As hot-rolled 34 (235) 50 (345) . . . . . . . . . . . .
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