C23400 Brass vs. Zamak 2

C23400 brass belongs to the copper alloys classification, while Zamak 2 belongs to the zinc alloys. They have a modest 20% of their average alloy composition in common, which, by itself, doesn't mean much. There are 23 material properties with values for both materials. Properties with values for just one material (13, in this case) are not shown.

For each property being compared, the top bar is C23400 brass and the bottom bar is Zamak 2.

UNS C23400 Red Brass Zamak 2 (ASTM AC43A, Z35541, Mazak 2) Zinc Alloy

Metric UnitsUS Customary Units

Mechanical Properties

Elastic (Young's, Tensile) Modulus, GPa		110
Elastic (Young's, Tensile) Modulus, GPa		87

Poisson's Ratio		0.32
Poisson's Ratio		0.26

Rockwell B Hardness		52 to 91
Rockwell B Hardness		63

Shear Modulus, GPa		42
Shear Modulus, GPa		33

Tensile Strength: Ultimate (UTS), MPa		370 to 640
Tensile Strength: Ultimate (UTS), MPa		360

Thermal Properties

Latent Heat of Fusion, J/g		190
Latent Heat of Fusion, J/g		130

Maximum Temperature: Mechanical, °C		160
Maximum Temperature: Mechanical, °C		95

Melting Completion (Liquidus), °C		970
Melting Completion (Liquidus), °C		390

Melting Onset (Solidus), °C		930
Melting Onset (Solidus), °C		380

Specific Heat Capacity, J/kg-K		390
Specific Heat Capacity, J/kg-K		410

Thermal Conductivity, W/m-K		120
Thermal Conductivity, W/m-K		110

Thermal Expansion, µm/m-K		19
Thermal Expansion, µm/m-K		28

Otherwise Unclassified Properties

Base Metal Price, % relative		27
Base Metal Price, % relative		12

Density, g/cm³		8.5
Density, g/cm³		6.5

Embodied Carbon, kg CO₂/kg material		2.6
Embodied Carbon, kg CO₂/kg material		3.0

Embodied Energy, MJ/kg		43
Embodied Energy, MJ/kg		57

Embodied Water, L/kg		320
Embodied Water, L/kg		380

Common Calculations

Stiffness to Weight: Axial, points		7.2
Stiffness to Weight: Axial, points		7.5

Stiffness to Weight: Bending, points		19
Stiffness to Weight: Bending, points		23

Strength to Weight: Axial, points		12 to 21
Strength to Weight: Axial, points		15

Strength to Weight: Bending, points		13 to 19
Strength to Weight: Bending, points		17

Thermal Diffusivity, mm²/s		36
Thermal Diffusivity, mm²/s		41

Thermal Shock Resistance, points		12 to 22
Thermal Shock Resistance, points		11

Alloy Composition

Aluminum (Al), %		0
Aluminum (Al), %		3.5 to 4.3

Cadmium (Cd), %		0
Cadmium (Cd), %		0 to 0.0050

Copper (Cu), %		81 to 84
Copper (Cu), %		2.5 to 3.3

Iron (Fe), %		0 to 0.050
Iron (Fe), %		0 to 0.1

Lead (Pb), %		0 to 0.050
Lead (Pb), %		0 to 0.0050

Magnesium (Mg), %		0
Magnesium (Mg), %		0.020 to 0.060

Nickel (Ni), %		0
Nickel (Ni), %		0 to 0.020

Silicon (Si), %		0
Silicon (Si), %		0 to 0.030

Tin (Sn), %		0
Tin (Sn), %		0 to 0.0030

Zinc (Zn), %		15.7 to 19
Zinc (Zn), %		92.2 to 94

Residuals, %		0 to 0.2
Residuals, %		0