Brass C360 vs. Copper C10100

Compare Brass C360 vs. Copper C10100 strength, stiffness, weight and thermal properties.

Mechanical	Brass C360	Copper C10100
Yield strength	310MPa14.49x stronger	69MPa2
Ultimate tensile strength	400MPa11.81x stronger	221MPa2
Elongation at break	25%1	45%21.8x more ductile
Young's modulus (stiffness)	96.5GPa1	117GPa221% stiffer
Density	8,498kg/m³1	8,941kg/m³2
Strength to weight	36.5kN·m/kg4.73x higher	7.72kN·m/kg
Stiffness to weight	11.4MN·m/kg	13.1MN·m/kg15% higher
Poisson's ratio	base material0.343	0.344
Shear modulus	36GPa	43.7GPa21% stiffer in shear
Bulk modulus	101GPa	122GPa21% higher
Speed of sound	3,370m/s	3,621m/s7% faster

Stiffness against densityHigher and further left: stiffer for its weight

Strength against densityHigher and further left: stronger for its weight

Thermal	Brass C360	Copper C10100
Thermal conductivity	116W/m·K1	391W/m·K23.37x more heat through a fin
Thermal expansion	20.5µm/m·K1	16.9µm/m·K221% less
100 mm part over a 50 °C swing	103µm growth	84.5µm growth21% less
Specific heat	377J/kg·K1	385J/kg·K2
Heats up and cools (diffusivity)	36.2mm²/s	114mm²/s3.13x faster
Thermal shock resistance	11,997W/m33% more resistant	8,992W/m
Melting point	solidus-liquidus888–899°C1	melting point1,083°C2

Thermal conductivity against densityHigher and further left: spreads more heat for its weight

Thermal expansion against thermal conductivityLower and further right: warps less when heated

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Sources4 documents: Copper Development Association, Wieland

Brass C360: C36000 free-cutting brass, H02 half-hard rod 1 in. section (20% cold work), copper.org typical values
Copper C10100: C10100 oxygen-free electronic (OFE) copper, annealed to 0.050 mm grain size (OS050), 0.04 in. flat products, copper.org typical values

1
C36000 Alloy (copper.org)Copper Development Associationarchived copyBrass C360 · Yield strength: typical, 0.5% extension under loadBrass C360 · Ultimate tensile strength: typicalBrass C360 · Elongation at break: typical, 1 in. rodBrass C360 · Young's modulus (stiffness): typical, temper-independentBrass C360 · Density: nominalBrass C360 · Thermal conductivity: typical, 20 °CBrass C360 · Thermal expansion: typical, mean 20-300 °CBrass C360 · Specific heat: typical, 20 °CBrass C360 · Melting point: solidus-liquidus
2
C10100 Alloy (copper.org)Copper Development Associationarchived copyCopper C10100 · Yield strength: typical, 0.5% extension under load, 0.04 in. flatCopper C10100 · Ultimate tensile strength: typical, 0.04 in. flatCopper C10100 · Elongation at break: typical, 0.04 in. flatCopper C10100 · Young's modulus (stiffness): typicalCopper C10100 · Density: nominalCopper C10100 · Thermal conductivity: typical, 20 °CCopper C10100 · Thermal expansion: typical, mean 20-100 °CCopper C10100 · Specific heat: typical, 20 °CCopper C10100 · Melting point: melting point (liquidus = solidus, pure copper)
3
Wieland-Z30 (CuZn39Pb2, C37700) Data SheetWielandarchived copyBrass C360 · Poisson's ratio: base material: leaded free-machining brass CuZn39Pb2 (C37700), Wieland-Z30 rolled products, reference value at room temperature
4
Wieland-K09 (Cu-OFE, C10100) Data SheetWielandCopper C10100 · Poisson's ratio: reference value at room temperature (Wieland-K09 = Cu-OFE = C10100, rolled products)

Each number points to the document that states it, with the exact basis. Values without a number are computed from the sourced ones. "Not sourced" means no citable source states it (or only a specification minimum); figures computed from it are left out too.

Questions

Mechanical

Is Brass C360 stronger than Copper C10100?

Brass C360 is stronger: its yield strength is 310 MPa against 69 MPa for Copper C10100 (4.49x).

Which is lighter, Brass C360 or Copper C10100?

Brass C360 is lighter: 8,498 kg/m³ against 8,941 kg/m³ for Copper C10100.

Which is stiffer, Brass C360 or Copper C10100?

Copper C10100 is stiffer: Young's modulus 117 GPa against 96.5 GPa for Brass C360, so the same part in Copper C10100 deflects less under the same load.

Which is lighter for the same job, Brass C360 or Copper C10100?

For the same stiffness or strength: Brass C360 is lighter for a strong rod or tie, strong beam, strong panel or plate; Copper C10100 is lighter for a stiff rod or tie (tension), stiff beam (bending), stiff panel or plate.

Part that must be	Brass C360	Copper C10100
Stiff rod or tie (tension)	15% heavier	lighter
Stiff beam (bending)	5% heavier	lighter
Stiff panel or plate	1% heavier	lighter
Strong rod or tie	lighter	4.73x heavier
Strong beam	lighter	2.86x heavier
Strong panel or plate	lighter	2.23x heavier

For the same stiffness or strength, mass scales with density over stiffness (or strength) raised to a power set by how the part is loaded: 1 for a rod in tension, 1/2 for a beam in bending, 1/3 for a panel (the standard material-selection indices).

Which is more ductile, Brass C360 or Copper C10100?

Copper C10100 stretches further before it breaks: 45% elongation at break against 25% for Brass C360.

Thermal

Which conducts heat better, Brass C360 or Copper C10100?

Copper C10100 conducts heat better: 391 W/m·K against 116 W/m·K for Brass C360.

Which expands less with temperature?

Copper C10100 expands less: 16.9 µm/m·K against 20.5 µm/m·K for Brass C360.