C360 and C260 are the two most common brass grades in CNC shops. C360 has 3% lead added for excellent machinability (the gold standard for high-volume turned parts). C260 is lead-free, slightly harder to machine, but required for food-contact and ROHS-compliant applications. Picking between them is mostly about regulatory requirements and production volume.
| Element | C36000 | C26000 |
|---|---|---|
| Copper | 60-63% | 68.5-71.5% |
| Zinc | 35-37% | 28-32% |
| Lead | 2.5-3.7% | 0.07% max (essentially none) |
| Iron (max) | 0.35% | 0.05% |
The 3% lead in C360 is deliberate — it makes chips break cleanly instead of forming long strings, dramatically improves machinability. C260 (no lead) has higher tensile strength but is harder to machine, with stringy chips that require different tooling strategies.
| Property | C36000 | C26000 |
|---|---|---|
| Tensile strength | 360 MPa | 325 MPa (annealed), 525 MPa (1/2 hard) |
| Yield strength | 310 MPa | 105 MPa (annealed), 380 MPa (1/2 hard) |
| Elongation | 20% | 60% (annealed), 15% (1/2 hard) |
| Hardness (Brinell) | 90 HB | 55 HB (annealed), 155 HB (1/2 hard) |
| Machinability rating | 100% (industry baseline) | 30% |
| Formability (drawing, bending) | Fair | Excellent (especially annealed) |
| Corrosion resistance | Good (dezincification risk in stagnant water) | Good (slight improvement over C360) |
| Cost (per kg) | $10-12 | $11-14 |
C360 is the machinability baseline of the standard rating scale (100%). C260 at 30% takes about 3× the cycle time to machine — significant on production volume. But C260 can be drawn into cup shapes that C360 would split during forming.
Plumbing fittings, valve bodies, connectors, electrical terminals. C360 is the default for anything produced in quantity — its machinability cuts cycle times by 3×.
Small precision parts, high-volume turning. The chip breaking behavior of C360 is essential for automated high-speed production.
Most industrial plumbing, pneumatic, hydraulic. Lead content is not an issue if the part doesn't contact consumables.
FDA and most international food safety regulations require lead-free materials for food contact. C260 is the standard "lead-free" brass option.
The US Safe Drinking Water Act amendment (2014) limits lead content in plumbing to 0.25% (wetted surface average). C360 exceeds this. C260 complies easily.
C260 in annealed condition is the standard cartridge brass — designed specifically for drawing operations (ammunition cartridges, spun parts, deep-drawn enclosures). C360 will crack during deep forming.
C260 has slightly better electrical conductivity (lead doesn't help conductivity). For high-performance electrical connectors, C260 is preferred.
Though brass is exempt from many ROHS lead restrictions, certain specific applications (some consumer electronics, certain medical devices) require lead-free. C260 satisfies.
When C360's lead is a problem but you still need good machinability, modern lead-free free-machining brasses exist:
These modern alternatives cost 20-40% more than C360 but deliver acceptable machinability without lead. For production runs at scale, EcoBrass is often the sweet spot.
Email [email protected] with your application. For potable water or food contact, we'll confirm C260 or lead-free alternatives. For industrial applications, C360 is the economical default.
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