Designation: B 21 96

AMERICAN SOCIETY FOR TESTING AND MATERIALS

100 Barr Harbor Dr., West Conshohocken, PA 19428
Reprinted from the Annual Book of ASTM Standards. Copyright ASTM

Standard Specification for

Naval Brass Rod, Bar, and Shapes1

This standard is issued under the fixed designation B 21; 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 (e) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
This standard has been approved for use by agencies of the Department of Defense.

3.1.3 Temper (Section 5),

3.1.4 Form: cross-section such as round, hexagonal, square,
etc.,
3.1.5 Diameter or distance between parallel surfaces (Section 10.2),
3.1.6 Length (Section 10.4),
3.1.7 Edge contours (Section 10.6),
3.1.8 Number of pieces or total weight, for each size and
form, and
3.1.9 When product is specified for agencies of the U.S.
Government (Section 9).
3.2 The following are options available under this specification and are to be specified in the contract or purchase order
when required:
3.2.1 Mercurous Nitrate Test (Section 7),
3.2.2 Piston finish rod or shafting (Section 8),
3.2.3 Certification (Specification B 249), and
3.2.4 Mill test report (Specification B 249).

1. Scope *
1.1 This specification establishes the requirements for naval
brass rod, bar, and shapes produced from Copper Alloys UNS
No. C46200, C46400, C47940, C48200, or C48500.
1.1.1 For piston-finish rod or shafting refer to Section 9.
1.2 This specification is the companion to SI Specification
B 21M; therefore no SI equivalents are shown.
1.3 WarningMercury is a definite health hazard in use
and disposal (see 7.1).
NOTE 1For hot forging material, refer to Specification B 124.

2. Referenced Documents
2.1 ASTM Standards:
B 124 Specification for Copper and Copper-Alloy Forging
Rod, Bar, and Shapes2
B 154 Test Method for Mercurous Nitrate Test for Copper
and Copper Alloys2
B 249 Specification for General Requirements for Wrought
Copper and Copper-Alloy Rod, Bar, and Shapes2
B 601 Practice for Temper Designations for Copper and
Copper AlloysWrought and Cast2
E 8 Test Methods for Tension Testing of Metallic Materials3
E 18 Test Methods for Rockwell Hardness and Rockwell
Superficial Hardness of Metallic Materials3
E 478 Test Methods for Chemical Analysis of Copper
Alloys4

4. Chemical Composition
4.1 The product shall conform to the chemical composition
requirements specified in Table 1 for the Copper Alloy UNS
No. designation specified in the ordering information.
4.2 These composition limits do not preclude the presence
of other elements. Limits may be established and analysis
required for unnamed elements by agreement between the
manufacturer or supplier, and purchaser.
4.3 For copper alloys in which zinc is specified as the
remainder, either copper or zinc is permitted to be taken as the
difference between the sum of results determined for all
elements analyzed and 100 %. When copper is so determined,
that difference value shall conform to the requirements given in
Table 1.
4.4 When all elements listed in Table 1 for the Copper Alloy
UNS No. specified in the ordering information are analyzed,
the sum of results shall be 99.6 % minimum.

3. Ordering Information
3.1 Orders for product under this specification are to include
the following information:
3.1.1 ASTM designation and year of issue,
3.1.2 Copper Alloy UNS No. designation (Section 1.1),
1
This specification is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee B-5 on Copper
and Copper Alloys and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee B05.02 on Rod,
Bar, Wire, Shapes and Forgings.
Current edition approved April 10, 1996. Published June 1996. Originally
published as B 21 18T. Last previous edition B 21 90e1.
2
Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 02.01.
3
Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 03.01.
4
Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 03.05.

5. Temper
5.1 Tempers, as defined in Practice B 601, available under
this specification are shown in Table 2.

*A Summary of Changes section appears at the end of this standard.

B 21
TABLE 1 Chemical Requirements
Element,
%
Copper
Tin
Lead
Zinc
Iron
Nickel

Copper Alloy UNS No.

C46200
62.065.0
0.501.0
0.20 max
remainder
0.10 max
...

C46400

C47940

59.062.0
0.501.0
0.20 max
remainder
0.10 max
...

63.066.0
1.22.0
1.02.0
remainder
0.101.0
0.100.50

C48200

C48500

59.062.0
0.501.0
0.401.0
remainder
0.10 max
...

59.062.0
0.501.0
1.32.2
remainder
0.10 max
...

TABLE 2 Tensile Requirements

Temper Designation
Standard

Former

Diameter or Distance Between

Parallel
Surfaces, in.

Tensile Strength,
min, ksi

Yield Strength at
Elongation in 4 3 Diameter
0.5 % Extension
of Thickness of Specimen,
Under Load, min, ksi
min, %A

Copper Alloy UNS No. C46200

M30
O60
O50

H60
H02

H04

as-hot extruded
soft anneal
light anneal

cold heading, forming

half-hard

hard

all forms, all sizes

rods and bars, all sizes
rods and bars:
0.500 and under
over 0.500 to 1.000, incl
over 1.000 to 2.000, incl
over 2.000 to 3.000, incl
over 3.000 to 4.000, incl
over 4.000
rods, all sizes
rods and bars:
0.500 and under
over 0.500 to 1.000, incl
over 1.000 to 2.000, incl
over 2.000 to 3.000, incl
over 3.000 to 4.000, incl
over 4.000
rods and bars:
0.500 and under
over 0.500 to 1.000, incl
over 1.000 to 2.000, incl

50
48

20
16

30
30

58
56
54
52
50
50
48

27
27
26
25
22
20
18

22
25
25
27
30
30
22

58
56
54
52
50
50

27
27
26
25
22
20

22
25
25
27
30
30

64
62
58

40
38
34

13
13
18

52

20

30

54
52
50
52

20
20
20
20

30
30
30
30

60
60
58
54
54
54
58

27
27
26
25
22
22
25

22
25
25
25
27
30
20

60
60
58
54
54
54

27
27
26
25
22
22

22
25
25
25
27
30

67
62

45
37

13
18

50
48

20
20

30
30

58
56
54
50
56

30
30
25
25
25

18
20
22
25
20

Copper Alloy UNS No. C46400

M30
O60

O50

H50B
H02

H04

as-hot extruded
soft anneal

light anneal

extruded and drawnB

half-hard

hard

all forms, all sizes

rods and bars:
1.000 and under
over 1.000 to 2.000,
over 2.000
shapes, all sizes
rods and bars:
0.500 and under
over 0.500 to 1.000,
over 1.000 to 2.000,
over 2.000 to 3.000,
over 3.000 to 4.000,
over 4.000
shapes, all sizes
rods and bars:
0.500 and under
over 0.500 to 1.000,
over 1.000 to 2.000,
over 2.000 to 3.000,
over 3.000 to 4.000,
over 4.000
rods and bars:
1.000 and under
over 1.000 to 2.000,

incl

incl
incl
incl
incl

incl
incl
incl
incl

incl

Copper Alloy UNS No. C47940

M30
O60
O50

H50B
H02

as-hot extruded
soft anneal
light anneal

extruded and drawnB

half-hard

all forms, all sizes

rods and bars, all sizes
rods and bars:
0.500 and under
over 0.500 to 1.000, incl
over 1.000 to 2.000, incl
over 2.000
shapes, all sizes
rods and bars:

B 21
TABLE 2 Continued
Temper Designation
Standard

H04

Former

hard

Diameter or Distance Between

Parallel
Surfaces, in.
0.500 and under
over 0.500 to 1.000,
over 1.000 to 2.000,
over 2.000
rods and bars:
0.500 and under
over 0.500 to 1.000,
over 1.000 to 2.000,

Tensile Strength,
min, ksi

incl
incl

incl
incl

Yield Strength at
Elongation in 4 3 Diameter
0.5 % Extension
of Thickness of Specimen,
Under Load, min, ksi
min, %A

58
56
54
50

30
30
25
25

18
20
22
25

70
65
62

55
52
45

10
13
15

52

20

25

54
52
50
52

20
20
20
20

25
25
25
25

60
58
54
54
54
58

27
26
25
22
22
25

18
20
20
20
25
15

60
58
54
54
54

27
26
25
22
22

18
20
20
20
25

67
62

45
37

11
15

52

20

20

54
52
50
52

20
20
20
20

20
20
20
20

60
58
54
54
54
58

27
26
25
22
22
25

12
20
20
20
20
15

60
58
54
54
54

27
26
25
22
22

12
20
20
20
20

67
62

45
37

10
13

Copper Alloy UNS No. C48200

M30
O60

O50

H50B
H02

H04

as-hot extruded
soft anneal

light anneal

extruded and drawnB

half-hard

hard

all forms, all sizes

rods and bars:
1.000 and under
over 1.000 to 2.000,
over 2.000
shapes, all sizes
rods and bars:
1.000 and under
over 1.000 to 2.000,
over 2.000 to 3.000,
over 3.000 to 4.000,
over 4.000
shapes, all sizes
rods and bars:
1.000 and under
over 1.000 to 2.000,
over 2.000 to 3.000,
over 3.000 to 4.000,
over 4.000
rods and bars:
1.000 and under
over 1.000 to 2.000,

incl

incl
incl
incl

incl
incl
incl

incl

Copper Alloy UNS No. C48500

M30
O60

O50

H50B
H02

H04

as-hot extruded
soft anneal

light anneal

extruded and drawnB

half-hard

hard

all forms, all sizes

rods and bars:
1.000 and under
over 1.000 to 2.000,
over 2.000
shapes, all sizes
rods and bars:
1.000 and under
over 1.000 to 2.000,
over 2.000 to 3.000,
over 3.000 to 4.000,
over 4.000
shapes, all sizes
rods and bars:
1.000 and under
over 1.000 to 2.000,
over 2.000 to 3.000,
over 3.000 to 4.000,
over 4.000
rods and bars:
1.000 and under
over 1.000 to 2.000,

incl

incl
incl
incl

incl
incl
incl

incl

In any case, a minimum gage length of 1 in. shall be used.

This temper does not apply to hollow shapes.

6.1.1.1 For the alloys and tempers listed in Table 3, Rockwell hardness shall be the basis of acceptance or rejection for
mechanical properties except when the tensile test is specified
in the contract or purchase order.
6.1.2 Tensile StrengthThe product shall conform with the
requirements of Table 2, when tested in accordance with Test
Methods E 8.

6. Mechanical Property Requirements

6.1 The product shall conform to the mechanical property
requirements given in Table 2 and Table 3 for the Copper Alloy
UNS No. designation specified in the ordering information.
6.1.1 Rockwell HardnessFor the alloys and tempers
listed, the product 12 in. and over in diameter or distance
between parallel surfaces shall conform with the requirements
given in Table 3, when tested in accordance with Test Methods
E 18.

7. Mercurous Nitrate Test

7.1 When specified in the contract or purchase order, the test
3

B 21
TABLE 3 Rockwell Hardness Requirements

NOTE 1Rockwell Hardnesses are not established for diameters less than 12 in.
Temper Designation

Copper Alloy
UNS No.

Standard

C46400

H02

half-hard

H04

hard

H02

half-hard

H04

hard

H02

half-hard

H04

hard

C48200

C48500

Diameter or Distance
Between Parallel Surfaces, in.

Former
over
over
over
over
over
over
over
over
over
over
over
over

0.500
1.000
0.500
1.000
0.500
1.000
0.500
1.000
0.500
1.000
0.500
1.000

to 1.000, incl
to 1.000, incl
to 1.000, incl
to 1.000, incl
to 1.000, incl
to 1.000, incl

Rockwell B Hardness Determined on the CrossSection Midway Between Surface and Center
6080
5580
7090
6590
6585
6085
7090
6590
6585
6085
7090
6590

purchaser, and shall be specified in the order.

10.4 Length of Rod, Bar, and ShapesSee 5.3, Tables 13
and Tables 14.
10.5 Straightness:
10.5.1 Rod and BarSee 5.4.1, Table 16.
10.5.2 Shafting RodSee 5.4.2, Table 17.
10.5.3 M30 (as-hot extruded) rod, bar, and shapes shall be
commercially straight.
10.6 Edge ContoursSee 5.5.

specimens, cut at least 6 in. in length, shall be totally immersed

for 30 min in the standard mercurous nitrate solution specified
in Test Method B 154. There shall be no cracks in the specimen
when examined immediately after it is removed from the
solution, rinsed and wiped.
NOTE 2Caution: Mercury is a definite health hazard, and therefore
equipment for the detection and removal of mercury vapor produced in
volatilization is recommended. The use of rubber gloves in testing is
advisable.
NOTE 3Bars that have been properly straightened or sprung will have
internal stresses so broken up as not to be in danger of splitting or
cracking. The mercurous nitrate test is designed to determine whether the
internal stresses have been properly broken up and rendered safe.

11. General Requirements

11.1 The following sections of Specification B 249 constitute a part of this specification:
11.1.1 Terminology,
11.1.2 Materials and Manufacture,
11.1.3 Workmanship, Finish, and Appearance,
11.1.4 Sampling,
11.1.5 Number of Tests and Retests,
11.1.6 Specimen Preparation,
11.1.7 Test Methods,
11.1.8 Significance of Numerical Limits,
11.1.9 Inspection,
11.1.10 Rejection and Rehearing,
11.1.11 Certification,
11.1.12 Mill Test Report,
11.1.13 Packaging and Product Marking, and
11.1.14 Supplementary Requirements.
11.2 In addition, when a section with a title identical to that
referenced in 11.1, above, appears in this specification, it
contains additional requirements which supplement those appearing in Specification B 249.

8. Piston-Finish Rod and Shafting

8.1 When so specified in the contract or order, round rods
over 12-in. diameter shall be furnished as piston-finish rods or
shafting.
8.2 Piston-finish rods shall have a special surface produced
by turning or grinding and shall comply with the special
diameter tolerances specified in 10.2.3.
8.3 The straightness tolerances for piston-finish rod are
subject to agreement between the manufacturer or supplier and
the purchaser.
9. Purchases for U.S. Government
9.1 Product purchased for agencies of the U.S. Government
shall conform to the additional requirements prescribed in the
Supplemental Requirements section of Specification B 249.
10. Dimensions, Mass, and Permissible Variations
10.1 The dimensions and tolerances for material covered by
this specification shall be as specified in the current edition of
Specification B 249, with particular reference to Section 5 and
the following tables of that specification:
10.2 Diameter or Distance Between Parallel Surfaces:
10.2.1 Rod: Round, Hexagonal, OctagonalSee 5.2, Table
1.
10.2.2 Rod, M30 (As-Hot Extruded)See 5.2, Table 4.
10.2.3 Piston-Finish RodSee 5.2, Table 3.
10.2.4 Bar: Rectangular and SquareSee 5.2, Tables 8 and
Tables 10.
10.2.5 Bar, M30 (As-Hot Extruded)See 5.2, Table 4.
10.3 ShapesThe dimensional tolerances for shapes shall
be as agreed upon by the manufacturer or supplier and the

12. Specimen Preparation

12.1 In the tension test all material shall be pulled in full
size when practicable. Full-size or machined test specimens
shall be as specified in Test Methods E 8. Whenever tension
test results are obtained from both full-size and from machined
test specimens and they differ, the results obtained from
full-size test specimens shall be used to determine conformance to the requirements of this specification.
NOTE 4The tension test specimens shall conform to the dimensions
specified in Section 6 of Test Methods E 8.

12.2 Mercurous nitrate test specimens shall be of the full

size of the material, and without bending, springing, polishing,
4

B 21
or any other preparation.

Zinc

13. Test Methods

13.1 Chemical Analysis:
13.1.1 Chemical composition shall be determined, in case of
disagreement, as follows:

13.1.2 Test method(s) to be followed for the determination

of element(s) resulting from contractural or purchase order
agreement shall be agreed upon between the supplier and
purchaser.

Element
Copper
Iron
Lead
Nickel
Tin

ASTM Test Method

E 478
E 478
E 478 (AA)
E 478
E 478 (Titrimetric)

E 478 (Titrimetric)

14. Keywords
14.1 naval brass; naval brass bar; naval brass rod; pistonfinish rod; piston-finish shafting

SUMMARY OF CHANGES
The following is a summary of the changes that have been incorporated since the printing of B 21 90:
4. Table 2 was revised to more clearly state the mechanical
property requirements.
5. A Test Methods section was added to identify individual test
methods for the determination of chemical composition.
6. Table 3 was added to show the Rockwell hardness requirements for the alloys and tempers listed.

1. The Scope section was revised, and the previously used

alloy designation deleted.
2. The Ordering information section revised to more clearly
delineate purchasing options.
3. The General Requirements section revised to identify the
specific sections in Specification B 249 which constitute a part
of this specification.

The American Society for Testing and Materials takes no position respecting the validity of any patent rights asserted in connection
with any item mentioned in this standard. Users of this standard are expressly advised that determination of the validity of any such
patent rights, and the risk of infringement of such rights, are entirely their own responsibility.
This standard is subject to revision at any time by the responsible technical committee and must be reviewed every five years and
if not revised, either reapproved or withdrawn. Your comments are invited either for revision of this standard or for additional standards
and should be addressed to ASTM Headquarters. Your comments will receive careful consideration at a meeting of the responsible
technical committee, which you may attend. If you feel that your comments have not received a fair hearing you should make your
views known to the ASTM Committee on Standards, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, West Conshohocken, PA 19428.