ASTM B967/B967M-18(2023)

Standard Specification for Copper-Zinc-Tin-Bismuth Alloy Rod, Bar and Wire

ABSTRACT
This specification covers the requirements for copper-zinc-tin-bismuth alloy rod, bar and wire intended for use in plumbing application and drinking water system. 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. Chemical analysis, tensile strength, hardness, and yield strength test methods shall be performed in accordance to the specified requirements.
SCOPE
1.1 This specification establishes the requirements for copper-zinc-tin-bismuth alloy rod, bar and wire of alloy UNS Nos. C49250, C49255, C49260, C49265, C49300, C49340, C49345, C49350, C49355, and C49360 intended for use in plumbing applications and drinking water systems.  
1.2 Typically, rod and bar product made to this specification is furnished as straight lengths. Wire (H04) 0.08 in. to 0.3 in. [2 mm to 8 mm inclusive] is furnished in coil form, and H50 shapes.  
1.3 Units—The values stated in either SI units or inch-pound units are to be regarded separately as standard. The values stated in each system may not be exact equivalents; therefore, each system shall be used independently of the other. Combining values from the two systems may result in non-conformance with the standard.  
1.4 The following safety hazard caveat pertains only to the test method(s) described in this specification.  
1.4.1 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.  
1.5 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.

General Information

• Status: Published
• Publication Date: 14-Apr-2023
• ICS: 77.150.30 - Copper products
• Technical Committee: B05 - Copper and Copper Alloys
• Drafting Committee: B05.02 - Rod, Bar, Wire, Shapes and Forgings

Relations

• Refers: ASTM E8/E8M-24 - Standard Test Methods for Tension Testing of Metallic Materials
• Effective Date: 01-Jan-2024
• Refers: ASTM B249/B249M-23 - Standard Specification for General Requirements for Wrought Copper and Copper-Alloy Rod, Bar, Shapes and Forgings
• Effective Date: 01-Oct-2023
• Refers: ASTM B250/B250M-19 - Standard Specification for General Requirements for Wrought Copper Alloy Wire
• Effective Date: 01-Oct-2019
• Refers: ASTM B249/B249M-19a - Standard Specification for General Requirements for Wrought Copper and Copper-Alloy Rod, Bar, Shapes and Forgings
• Effective Date: 01-Oct-2019
• Refers: ASTM B846-19a - Standard Terminology for Copper and Copper Alloys
• Effective Date: 01-Aug-2019
• Refers: ASTM B249/B249M-19 - Standard Specification for General Requirements for Wrought Copper and Copper-Alloy Rod, Bar, Shapes and Forgings
• Effective Date: 01-Apr-2019
• Refers: ASTM B846-19 - Standard Terminology for Copper and Copper Alloys
• Effective Date: 01-Jan-2019
• Refers: ASTM B249/B249M-18a - Standard Specification for General Requirements for Wrought Copper and Copper-Alloy Rod, Bar, Shapes and Forgings
• Effective Date: 01-Oct-2018
• Refers: ASTM B249/B249M-18 - Standard Specification for General Requirements for Wrought Copper and Copper-Alloy Rod, Bar, Shapes and Forgings
• Effective Date: 01-Mar-2018
• Refers: ASTM B249/B249M-17 - Standard Specification for General Requirements for Wrought Copper and Copper-Alloy Rod, Bar, Shapes and Forgings
• Effective Date: 01-Apr-2017
• Refers: ASTM B250/B250M-16 - Standard Specification for General Requirements for Wrought Copper Alloy Wire
• Effective Date: 01-Oct-2016
• Refers: ASTM B249/B249M-16 - Standard Specification for General Requirements for Wrought Copper and Copper-Alloy Rod, Bar, Shapes and Forgings
• Effective Date: 01-Oct-2016
• Refers: ASTM E8/E8M-16 - Standard Test Methods for Tension Testing of Metallic Materials
• Effective Date: 15-Jul-2016
• Refers: ASTM B249/B249M-15a - Standard Specification for General Requirements for Wrought Copper and Copper-Alloy Rod, Bar, Shapes and Forgings
• Effective Date: 01-Oct-2015
• Refers: ASTM B249/B249M-15 - Standard Specification for General Requirements for Wrought Copper and Copper-Alloy Rod, Bar, Shapes and Forgings
• Effective Date: 01-May-2015

Overview

ASTM B967/B967M-18(2023): Standard Specification for Copper-Zinc-Tin-Bismuth Alloy Rod, Bar and Wire sets the requirements for copper-zinc-tin-bismuth alloy products, specifically rod, bar, and wire, intended for use in drinking water systems and plumbing applications. Developed by ASTM International, this standard ensures product quality, uniformity, and safety by specifying chemical composition, mechanical property requirements, and permissible variations for alloys within the UNS C49250 to C49360 series.

These products are typically supplied as straight lengths for rods and bars, or in coil form for wire. The specification covers both SI and inch-pound units, with requirements that ensure compliance, regardless of measurement system.

Key Topics

• Material Scope: The standard applies to rods, bars, and wires made from copper-zinc-tin-bismuth alloys, specifically targeting UNS alloy numbers C49250, C49255, C49260, C49265, C49300, C49340, C49345, C49350, C49355, and C49360.
• Manufacturing Processes: Products must be produced by hot and/or cold working and annealing, resulting in a uniform wrought structure.
• Product Forms:
  • Rods and bars: Supplied in straight lengths
  • Wire: Supplied in coils (diameters from 0.08 in. to 0.3 in. or 2 mm to 8 mm)
• Properties and Testing:
  • Chemical composition: Products must meet specified limits for copper, zinc, tin, bismuth, and other residual elements.
  • Mechanical properties: Tensile strength, yield strength, and hardness must conform to specified values.
  • Dimensional tolerances: Products must meet specific measurements and tolerances as outlined in related ASTM standards.
• Traceability and Certification: Orders can specify requirements for heat identification, traceability, and certification, ensuring product quality and compliance.

Applications

The ASTM B967/B967M standard is particularly valuable in industries where plumbing systems and drinking water supply components require dependable, corrosion-resistant, and lead-free materials. Practical applications include:

• Plumbing fixtures: Use in valves, fittings, and connectors for potable water distribution.
• Drinking water systems: Ensures materials are suitable and safe for water contact, meeting regulatory requirements.
• Manufacturing sectors: Applicable to producers of piping, connectors, and hydraulic system parts where corrosion resistance and mechanical strength are critical.

Compliance with ASTM B967/B967M helps manufacturers, suppliers, and engineers ensure that copper-zinc-tin-bismuth alloy products meet safety and quality standards for potable water and general plumbing applications.

Related Standards

For comprehensive quality assurance and interoperability, refer to the following associated standards:

• ASTM B249/B249M: General requirements for wrought copper and copper-alloy rod, bar, shapes, and forgings
• ASTM B250/B250M: General requirements for wrought copper alloy wire
• ASTM B846: Terminology for copper and copper alloys
• ASTM E8/E8M: Test methods for tension testing of metallic materials
• ASTM E478, E62, E54: Methods for chemical analysis of copper and copper alloys
• ISO 3110: Copper alloys - Determination of aluminum as an alloying element
• JIS H 1068: Method for determination of bismuth in copper and copper alloys

These related standards support comprehensive testing, proper terminology usage, and cross-referenced requirements for the production and certification of copper-zinc-tin-bismuth alloy rod, bar, and wire.

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Keywords: copper-zinc-tin-bismuth alloy rod bar wire, ASTM B967/B967M, plumbing application, drinking water system, UNS C49250, mechanical properties, chemical composition, wrought copper alloys, safety, traceability.

Standards Content (Sample)

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.
Designation: B967/B967M − 18 (Reapproved 2023)
Standard Specification for
Copper-Zinc-Tin-Bismuth Alloy Rod, Bar and Wire
This standard is issued under the fixed designation B967/B967M; 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 B249/B249M Specification for General Requirements for
Wrought Copper and Copper-Alloy Rod, Bar, Shapes and
1.1 This specification establishes the requirements for
Forgings
copper-zinc-tin-bismuth alloy rod, bar and wire of alloy UNS
B250/B250M Specification for General Requirements for
Nos. C49250, C49255, C49260, C49265, C49300, C49340,
Wrought Copper Alloy Wire
C49345, C49350, C49355, and C49360 intended for use in
B846 Terminology for Copper and Copper Alloys
plumbing applications and drinking water systems.
E8/E8M Test Methods for Tension Testing of Metallic Ma-
1.2 Typically, rod and bar product made to this specification
terials
is furnished as straight lengths. Wire (H04) 0.08 in. to 0.3 in.
E54 Test Methods for Chemical Analysis of Special Brasses
[2 mm to 8 mm inclusive] is furnished in coil form, and H50
and Bronzes (Withdrawn 2002)
shapes.
E62 Test Methods for Chemical Analysis of Copper and
Copper Alloys (Photometric Methods) (Withdrawn 2010)
1.3 Units—The values stated in either SI units or inch-
pound units are to be regarded separately as standard. The E92 Test Methods for Vickers Hardness and Knoop Hard-
ness of Metallic Materials
values stated in each system may not be exact equivalents;
therefore, each system shall be used independently of the other. E478 Test Methods for Chemical Analysis of Copper Alloys
E527 Practice for Numbering Metals and Alloys in the
Combining values from the two systems may result in non-
conformance with the standard. Unified Numbering System (UNS)
2.2 Other Standards:
1.4 The following safety hazard caveat pertains only to the
ISO No. 3110 (AA) Copper Alloys – Determination of Alu-
test method(s) described in this specification.
minum as an Alloying Element – Volumetric (Interna-
1.4.1 This standard does not purport to address all of the
tional Organization of Standardization)
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
JIS H 1068:2005 Method for Determination of Bismuth in
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
Copper and Copper Alloys (Japanese Industrial Stan-
priate safety, health, and environmental practices and deter-
dards)
mine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.
1.5 This international standard was developed in accor-
3. General Requirements
dance with internationally recognized principles on standard-
3.1 The following sections of Specifications B249/B249M
ization established in the Decision on Principles for the
for rod and bar and B250/B250M for wire constitute a part of
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recom-
this specification:
mendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical
3.1.1 Terminology,
Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
3.1.2 Materials and Manufacture,
3.1.3 Sampling,
2. Referenced Documents
3.1.4 Number of Tests and Retests,
2.1 ASTM Standards:
3.1.5 Specimen Preparation,
3.1.6 Certification,
3.1.7 Test Reports.
This specification is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee B05 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 15, 2023. Published April 2023. Originally The last approved version of this historical standard is referenced on
approved in 2009. Last previous edition approved in 2018 as B967/B967M – 18. www.astm.org.
DOI: 10.1520/B0967_B0967M-18R23. Available from International Organization for Standardization (ISO), ISO
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or Central Secretariat, BIBC II, Chemin de Blandonnet 8, CP 401, 1214 Vernier,
contact ASTM Customer Service at [e-mail]. For Annual Book of ASTM Geneva, Switzerland, http://www.iso.org.
Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on Available from Japanese Standards Association (JSA), Mita MT Bldg., 3-13-12
the ASTM website. Mita, Minato-ku, Tokyo 108-0073, Japan, http://www.jsa.or.jp.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
B967/B967M − 18 (2023)
3.2 In addition, when a section with a title identical to that C49340, C49345, C49350, C49355, or C49360 of such purity
referenced in Appendix X1, above, appears in this and soundness as to be suitable for processing into the products
specification, it contains additional requirements which supple- prescribed herein.
ment those appearing in Specifications B249/B249M for rod 6.1.2 In the event heat identification or traceability is
and bar and B250/B250M for wire.
required, the purchaser shall specify the details desired.
NOTE 1—Due to the discontinuous nature of the processing of castings
4. Terminology
into wrought products, it is not always practical to identify a specific
casting analysis with a specific quantity of finished material.
4.1 For definitions of terms related to copper and copper
alloys, refer to Terminology B846.
6.2 Manufacture:
6.2.1 The product shall be manufactured by such hot
5. Ordering Information working, cold working, and annealing processes as to produce
a uniform wrought structure in the finished product.
5.1 Include the following information when placing orders
6.2.2 The product shall be hot or cold worked to the finished
for product under this specification, as applicable:
size, and subsequently annealed when required, to meet the
5.1.1 ASTM designation and year of issue;
temper properties specified.
5.1.2 Copper Alloy UNS designation;
5.1.3 Temper (Section 8);
7. Chemical Composition
5.1.4 Dimensions, diameter, or distance between parallel
surfaces;
7.1 The material shall conform to the chemical composition
5.1.5 How furnished: straight lengths or coils;
requirements in Table 1 for the copper alloy UNS Numbers
5.1.6 Quantity: total weight or total length or number of
specified in the ordering information.
pieces of each size;
7.1.1 Results of analysis on a product (check) sample shall
5.1.7 If product is purchased for agencies of the U.S.
conform to the composition requirements within the permitted
Government (see the Supplementary Requirements section of
analytical variance specified in Table 1.
Specifications B249/B249M or B250/B250M for additional
7.2 These composition limits do not preclude the presence
requirements, if specified); and
of other elements. By agreement between the manufacturer and
5.1.8 Shapes—When product is in a shape form, the dimen-
purchaser, limits may be established and analysis required for
sional tolerances shall be as agreed upon between the manu-
unnamed elements.
facturer or supplier and purchaser and shall be specified (see
11.1.7). 7.3 For alloys in which zinc is listed as “remainder,” either
copper or zinc may be taken as the difference between the sum
5.2 The following options are available and should be
of results of all elements determined and 100 %. When all
specified at the time of placing of the order when required:
elements in Table 1 are determined, the sum of results shall be
5.2.1 Heat identification or traceability details,
99.5 % min.
5.2.2 Certification, and
5.2.3 Mill Test Report. 7.4 For alloys in which copper is listed as “remainder,”
copper is the difference between the sum of results of all
elements determined and 100 %. When all elements in Table 1
6. Materials and Manufacture
are determined, the sum of results shall be 99.5 % min.
6.1 Materials:
6.1.1 The material of manufacture shall be a form of Copper 7.5 All chemical composition requirements must be in
Alloy UNS Nos. C49250, C49255, C49260, C49265, C49300, accordance with the UNS Registered Composition or another
TABLE 1 Chemical Composition, %
Copper
Lead, Iron, Phosphorus, Aluminum, Antimony, Manganese, Selenium, Silicon,
Alloy Copper Tin Zinc Bismuth Nickel, max
max max max max max max max max
UNS No.
A
C49250 58.0–61.0 0.09 0.50 0.30 max Rem . . . . . . . . . 1.8–2.4 . . . . . . . . . . . .
B
C49255 58.0–60.0 0.09 0.10 0.50 max Rem 0.10 . . . . . . 1.7–2.9 . . . 0.3 0.02–0.07 0.10
A
C49260 58.0–63.0 0.09 0.50 0.50 max Rem 0.05–0.15 . . . . . . 0.50–1.8 . . . . . . . . . 0.10
A, C
C49265 58.0–62.0 0.09–0.25 0.30 0.50 Rem 0.05–0.12 . . . . . . 0.50–1.3 . . . . . . . . . 0.10
B
C49300 58.0–62.0 0.09 0.10 1.0–1.8 Rem . . . . . . 0.50 0.5–2.5 . . . 0.3 0.20 0.10
A
C49340 60.0–63.0 0.09 0.12 0.50-1.5 Rem 0.05–0.15 . . . . . . 0.50–2.2 . . . . . . . . . 0.10
A, C
C49345 60.0–64.0 0.09–0.25 0.30 0.50–1.5 Rem 0.05–0.12 . . . . . . 0.50–1.3 . . . . . . . . . 0.10
C49350 61.0–63.0 0.09 0.12 1.5–3.0 Rem 0.04–0.15 . . . 0.02–0.10 0.50–2.5 . . . . . . . . . 0.30
D
C49355 63.0–69.0 0.09 0.10 0.50–2.0 27.0–35.0 . . . . . . . . . 0.50–1.5 0.10 . . . . . . 1.0–2.0
C49360 Rem 0.09 { 1.0–2.0 19.0–22.0 . . . . . . . . . 0.50–1.5 . . . . . . . . . 2.0–3.5
A
Includes Cadmium 0.001 max.
B
Includes Cadmium 0.0075 max.
C
Includes Ag.
D
Boron 0.001 max.
B967/B967M − 18 (2023)
internationally recognized system for alloy designation (“other 11.1.1.1 Rod, Cold-Drawn, H02, H04 Table 1, Specification
designation”). It is permissible for applications to have tighter B249/B249M.
(more restrictive) limits, but they must be completely within
11.1.1.2 Hot Extruded and Annealed, O30 Table 4, Specifi-
the registered UNS (or other designation) Composition. When
cation B249/B249M.
different limits outside the registered limits are desired, a new
11.1.1.3 Rod and Bar, As Extruded, O61 Table 4, Specifi-
Registered UNS Composition must be obtained.
cation B249/B249M.
11.1.1.4 Wire Cold Drawn Hard, H04 Table 1, Specification
NOTE 2—Refer to E527 Standard Practice for Numbering Metals and
B250/B250M.
Alloys in the Unified Numbering System (UNS) for information on
registering a UNS composition.
11.1.2 Thickness Tolerance for Rectangular and Square Bar,
Table 8, Specification B249/B249M.
8. Temper
11.1.3 Width Tolerance for Rectangular Bar, Table 10,
8.1 The standard tempers for products described in this
Specification B249/B249M.
specification are given in Table 2.
11.1.4 Length: Table 13, Full Length Tolerances for Rod,
8.1.1 Hot Extruded and Annealed: O30.
Bar, and Table 15, Schedule of Lengths with Ends for Rod and
8.1.2 Annealed: 061 for rod and bar.
Bar, Specification B249/B249M.
8.1.3 As Hot Extruded: M30 for rod and bar.
11.1.5 Straightness: Table 16, Straightness Tolerances for
8.1.4 Cold drawn half hard temper: H02 for rod and bar.
Rod, Bar, For General Use section, Specification B249/
8.1.5 Cold drawn hard temper: H04 for wire.
B249M.
8.1.6 Hot extruded and drawn: H50 for Shapes in all
...