Copper alloys

Brass 260

UNS C26000 is cartridge brass in the wrought copper-zinc family.

Specific property examples

What distinguishes this material

It is a forming-oriented brass; it must not inherit free-cutting C36000 chip behaviour or its machinability basis.

Designation in this reference

UNS C26000

Forms covered by the sources

Flat product
Rod
Tube
Wire

States to distinguish or confirm

H01
H02
H04
Annealed/grain-size conditions

Temperature and exposure

No general service-temperature limit or temperature-independent strength is established by this page. Check the temperature and duration for the specific source table and application.

Other search names in these sources

C26000

Read the scope above: a source’s related product name is not a blanket interchangeability statement.

Property evidence for a stated condition

Read the complete example before using a number. Typical values are not guaranteed limits. Missing test conditions remain visible.

Specific source example

CDA flat-product example

Product / specimen: Flat product, 0.04-inch section
Condition: H02 half hard
Test temperature / environment: 20°C / 68°F

Values apply to the example above
Property	Value	Meaning and method
Tensile strength	62 ksi	typical Source tensile column; test standard not stated
Elongation	25 %	typical Source mechanical table; gauge length not stated

Copper Development Association — C26000 ↗

Resolve these conditions next

Is the material annealed, half-hard or hard, and is formability or machining the controlling operation?
Obtain the full material certificate, governing specification/edition, product dimensions and test direction before adopting a property value.

For machining, take the exact grade, supplied condition and measured hardness where applicable into the tool maker’s application data. A generic material-family speed is not a substitute for an operation and tool-specific recommendation.

Continue to a machining task →Check specified size limits →

Sources and what they establish

Reviewed 23 October 2026. A source’s publication date and the review date are different. The scope below identifies the fields checked.

Copper Development Association — C26000

Specific alloy database entry; identity and listed form/temper distinctions. Direct fetch intermittently returns 403; indexed first-party text inspected on review date. No supplied-batch certification.

Copper Development Association — C26000 ↗

Source identity, a named product example and a supplied-batch certificate are different evidence. Cross-standard similarity does not approve substitution.

Corrections from the previous article

Correct the 'short chips/easiest to cut' claim and remove 250% machinability; CDA lists a different copper-family rating.
Remove the untraceable generic machining recommendation (250 %) and cutting-speed ranges; select machining data by actual material condition, tool and operation.

See this page’s review record →

Other copper-alloy compositions

Distinguish the brass and phosphor-bronze records by designation and supplied form before comparing fabrication or service properties.