ASTM B846-09a

Standard Terminology for Copper and Copper Alloys

SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
This terminology is not intended to apply to any standard, test method, practice, or other document not within the jurisdiction of Committee B05 on Copper and Copper Alloys.
SCOPE
1.1 The terms defined in this terminology standard are applicable to copper and copper alloy products specifications, test methods, practices, and other documents within the jurisdiction of Committee B05 on Copper and Copper Alloys.

General Information

• Status: Historical
• Publication Date: 14-Nov-2009
• ICS: 01.040.77 - Metallurgy (Vocabularies)
• ICS: 77.120.30 - Copper and copper alloys
• Technical Committee: B05 - Copper and Copper Alloys
• Drafting Committee: B05.93 - Terminology

Relations

• Replaces: ASTM B846-09 - Standard Terminology for Copper and Copper Alloys
• Effective Date: 15-Nov-2009
• Replaced By: ASTM B846-11 - Standard Terminology for Copper and Copper Alloys
• Effective Date: 01-Jan-2011
• Referred By: ASTM B937-18 - Standard Specification for Copper-Beryllium Seamless Tube (UNS Nos. C17500 and C17510)
• Effective Date: 15-Nov-2009
• Referred By: ASTM F68-16 - Standard Specification for Oxygen-Free Copper in Wrought Forms for Electron Devices
• Effective Date: 15-Nov-2009
• Referred By: ASTM B250/B250M-19 - Standard Specification for General Requirements for Wrought Copper Alloy Wire
• Effective Date: 15-Nov-2009
• Referred By: ASTM B882-10(2018) - Standard Specification for Pre-Patinated Copper for Architectural Applications
• Effective Date: 15-Nov-2009
• Referred By: ASTM B360-20 - Standard Specification for Hard-Drawn Copper Capillary Tube for Restrictor Applications
• Effective Date: 15-Nov-2009
• Referred By: ASTM B208-14(2021) - Standard Practice for Preparing Tension Test Specimens for Copper Alloy Sand, Permanent Mold, Centrifugal, and Continuous Castings
• Effective Date: 15-Nov-2009
• Referred By: ASTM B194-22 - Standard Specification for Copper-Beryllium Alloy Plate, Sheet, Strip, and Rolled Bar
• Effective Date: 15-Nov-2009
• Referred By: ASTM B967/B967M-18(2023) - Standard Specification for Copper-Zinc-Tin-Bismuth Alloy Rod, Bar and Wire
• Effective Date: 15-Nov-2009
• Referred By: ASTM B569-19 - Standard Specification for Brass Strip in Narrow Widths and Light Gage for Heat-Exchanger Tubing
• Effective Date: 15-Nov-2009
• Referred By: ASTM B968/B968M-16(2022) - Standard Test Method for Flattening of Copper and Copper-Alloy Pipe and Tube
• Effective Date: 15-Nov-2009
• Referred By: ASTM B369/B369M-20 - Standard Specification for Copper-Nickel Alloy Castings
• Effective Date: 15-Nov-2009
• Referred By: ASTM B447-12a(2021) - Standard Specification for Welded Copper Tube
• Effective Date: 15-Nov-2009
• Referred By: ASTM B740-21 - Standard Specification for Copper-Nickel-Tin Spinodal Alloy Strip
• Effective Date: 15-Nov-2009

Standards Content (Sample)

NOTICE: This standard has either been superseded and replaced by a new version or withdrawn.
Contact ASTM International (www.astm.org) for the latest information
Designation:B846–09a
Standard Terminology for
1
Copper and Copper Alloys
This standard is issued under the fixed designation B846; 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.
1. Scope* acid dipped-dry rolled finish—see finish, acid dipped-dry
rolled.
1.1 The terms defined in this terminology standard are
Admiralty—an alloy containing nominally 71 % copper: 1 %
applicable to copper and copper alloy products specifications,
tin and 28 % zinc, originally developed by the British
test methods, practices, and other documents within the juris-
Admiralty and generally available in tube, flat products, and
diction of Committee B05 on Copper and Copper Alloys.
wire. Its principal use is in heat exchanger and condenser
2. Referenced Documents
tubes.Aninhibitormaybeaddedtoincreasetheresistanceto
2
dezincification.
2.1 ASTM Standards:
Admiralty, inhibited (arsenical, antimonial or
B153 Test Method for Expansion (Pin Test) of Copper and
phosphorized)—admiralty modified by the addition of
Copper-Alloy Pipe and Tubing
small amounts of arsenic, antimony or phosphorus to inhibit
B170 Specification for Oxygen-Free Electrolytic Copper—
dezincification. (Copper Alloy Nos. C44300, C44400,
Refinery Shapes
C44500)
B379 Specification for Phosphorized Coppers—Refinery
air stain—see stain, air.
Shapes
alpha—the name of a phase or of a certain range of copper
E8 Test Methods for Tension Testing of Metallic Materials
alloys which contain one or more alloying elements dis-
E10 Test Method for Brinell Hardness of Metallic Materials
solved in copper, the phase being a homogeneous solid
E18 Test Methods for Rockwell Hardness of Metallic Ma-
solution.
terials
alpha beta brass—a series of copper-zinc alloys containing
E23 Test Methods for Notched Bar Impact Testing of
approximately 55 to 63 % copper and the remainder mostly,
Metallic Materials
if not all, zinc and composed of crystals or grains of both the
E112 Test Methods for Determining Average Grain Size
alpha and the beta phases.
3. Significance and Use
aluminum brass—a copper alloy containing nominally
77.5 % copper, 2 % aluminum and 20.5 % zinc with an
3.1 This terminology is not intended to apply to any
arsenical inhibitor, available in tube form. Its principal use is
standard, test method, practice, or other document not within
in heat exchanger and condenser tubes. (Copper Alloy No.
the jurisdiction of Committee B05 on Copper and Copper
C68700)
Alloys.
aluminum bronze—copper alloys with aluminum as the
4. Terminology
principal alloying element, normally in the range of 3 to
11 % with or without the additions of other elements.
acid dip—see dip solution.
(Copper Alloy Nos. C60800 – 64699 incl.)
anneal (annealing)—a thermal treatment to change the prop-
1
This terminology is under the jurisdiction ofASTM Committee B05 on Copper erties or grain structure of the product. When applied to a
and Copper Alloys and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee B05.93 on
cold-worked product having a single phase: to produce
Terminology.
softening by recrystallization or recrystallization and grain
Current edition approved Nov. 15, 2009. Published December 2009. Originally
growth, with the accompanying changes in properties.When
approved in 1993. Last previous edition approved in 2009 as B846 – 09. DOI:
10.1520/B0846-09a.
applied to a product having two or more phases: to produce
2
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
softening by changes in the phase relationship that may
contact ASTM Customer Service at [e-mail]. For Annual Book of ASTM
include recrystallization and grain growth.
Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
the ASTM website. annular ring—see circular ring.
*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.
1

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B846–09a
arbor—a cylindrical core around which metal is wound to bar, extruded—see extruded bar.
obtain a desired inside diameter of the wound coil or roll. bar, hot-rolled—see hot-rolled bar.
arc welding—a group of welding processes wherein coales- barrelrolling—a method of polishing small parts in which the
cence is produced by heating with an arc or arcs, with or parts and a polishing medium are placed in a barrel, the
without the application of pressure, and with or without the polishing action resulting from the revolving of the barrel.
use of filler metal. base metal—the sheet or plate from which the p
...

This document is not anASTM standard and is intended only to provide the user of anASTM standard an indication of what changes have been made to the previous version. Because
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:B846–09 Designation:B846–09a
Standard Terminology for
1
Copper and Copper Alloys
This standard is issued under the fixed designation B846; 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.
1. Scope*
1.1 The terms defined in this terminology standard are applicable to copper and copper alloy products specifications, test
methods, practices, and other documents within the jurisdiction of Committee B05 on Copper and Copper Alloys.
2. Referenced Documents
2
2.1 ASTM Standards:
B153 Test Method for Expansion (Pin Test) of Copper and Copper-Alloy Pipe and Tubing
B170 Specification for Oxygen-Free Electrolytic CopperRefinery Shapes
B379 Specification for Phosphorized CoppersRefinery Shapes
E8 Test Methods for Tension Testing of Metallic Materials
E10 Test Method for Brinell Hardness of Metallic Materials
E18 Test Methods for Rockwell Hardness of Metallic Materials
E23 Test Methods for Notched Bar Impact Testing of Metallic Materials
E112 Test Methods for Determining Average Grain Size
3. Significance and Use
3.1 This terminology is not intended to apply to any standard, test method, practice, or other document not within the
jurisdiction of Committee B05 on Copper and Copper Alloys.
4. Terminology
acid dip—see dip solution.
acid dipped-dry rolled finish—see finish, acid dipped-dry rolled.
Admiralty—analloycontainingnominally71 %copper:1 %tinand28 %zinc,originallydevelopedbytheBritishAdmiraltyand
generally available in tube, flat products, and wire. Its principal use is in heat exchanger and condenser tubes.An inhibitor may
be added to increase the resistance to dezincification.
Admiralty, inhibited (arsenical, antimonial orphosphorized)—admiralty modified by the addition of small amounts of arsenic,
antimony or phosphorus to inhibit dezincification. (Copper Alloy Nos. C44300, C44400, C44500)
air stain—see stain, air.
alpha—thenameofaphaseorofacertainrangeofcopperalloyswhichcontainoneormorealloyingelementsdissolvedincopper,
the phase being a homogeneous solid solution.
alpha beta brass—a series of copper-zinc alloys containing approximately 55 to 63 % copper and the remainder mostly, if not
all, zinc and composed of crystals or grains of both the alpha and the beta phases.
aluminumbrass—acopperalloycontainingnominally77.5 %copper,2 %aluminumand20.5 %zincwithanarsenicalinhibitor,
available in tube form. Its principal use is in heat exchanger and condenser tubes. (Copper Alloy No. C68700)
aluminum bronze—copper alloys with aluminum as the principal alloying element, normally in the range of 3 to 11 % with or
without the additions of other elements. (Copper Alloy Nos. C60800 – 64699 incl.)
anneal(annealing)—athermaltreatmenttochangethepropertiesorgrainstructureoftheproduct.Whenappliedtoacold-worked
product having a single phase: to produce softening by recrystallization or recrystallization and grain growth, with the
accompanying changes in properties. When applied to a product having two or more phases: to produce softening by changes
in the phase relationship that may include recrystallization and grain growth.
1
This terminology is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee B05 on Copper and Copper Alloys and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee B05.93 on
Terminology.
Current edition approved Nov. 15, 2009. Published December 2009. Originally approved in 1993. Last previous edition approved in 20062009 as B846–06a.B846 – 09.
DOI: 10.1520/B0846-09a.
2
For referencedASTM standards, visit theASTM website, www.astm.org, or contactASTM Customer Service at [e-mail]. For Annual Book of ASTM Standards
volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on the ASTM website.
*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.
1

---------------------- Page: 1 ----------------------
B846–09a
annular ring—see circular ring.
arbor—a cylindrical core around which metal is wound to obtain a desired inside diameter of the wound coil or roll.
arc welding—a group of welding processes wherein coalescence is produced by heating with an arc or arcs, with or without the
application of pressure, and with or without the use of filler metal.
architectural bronze—an alloy containing nominally 57 % copper
...