C360 is free-cutting brass, and it is the easiest metal on this list to machine — small broken chips, excellent surface finish, high speeds, long tool life. That is why it dominates turned fittings, connectors and instrument hardware. Its limitation is dezincification in some water chemistries, which matters for plumbing and marine parts.
| Tensile strength | 340 MPa |
|---|---|
| Yield strength | 125 MPa |
| Hardness | 100 HB |
| Density | 8.50 g/cm³ |
| Elongation | 18% |
| Thermal conductivity | 115 W/m·K |
| Series | Copper-zinc alloy, free-cutting |
Typical values for the standard condition (Brass C360 (Free-Cutting Brass)). Heat treatment, temper and product form move these numbers — confirm against the mill certificate for your order.
Best machinability of any common metal — high speeds, long tool life, fine finish
Excellent electrical and thermal conductivity
Good corrosion resistance in clean, non-aggressive water
Natural antibacterial properties (relevant for touch surfaces)
Starting parameters for carbide tooling. These are the shop's working numbers, not brochure values — adjust for machine rigidity, tool geometry and workholding.
| Surface speed | 200–400 m/min |
|---|---|
| Feed per tooth | 0.08–0.20 mm/tooth |
| Tooling | Sharp carbide, uncoated |
| Coolant | Flood or mist |
One of the easiest materials to machine. Free-cutting — chips break small and clear well. Manage the small chips so they do not pack into fixtures or recirculate. Excellent surface finish comes almost for free.
Material costs more than aluminum but machining is fast and tool life is long, which offsets much of it. For turned parts at volume, C360 is often the cheapest per part despite the material price.
For the full cost structure — material, programming, setup, cycle time, finishing and inspection — see CNC machining cost per hour, and for how price changes with quantity see machining by production volume.
The lead in C360 acts as a chip breaker and internal lubricant, so chips break small instead of forming long strings, and cutting forces stay low. That combination allows high speeds, long tool life and fine surface finish without special effort. Lead-free brasses machine noticeably worse.
Not in most jurisdictions. C360 contains lead for machinability, and lead leaching limits its use in potable water systems. Lead-free alternatives (such as C27450 or C69300) exist for plumbing applications — confirm the applicable regulation for your market.
Dezincification is selective leaching of zinc from the alloy, leaving a weak, porous copper structure. It occurs in certain water chemistries, particularly warm, slightly acidic or high-chloride water. For marine or aggressive water service, a dezincification-resistant brass (DZR) is the correct choice rather than C360.
Not functionally — machined brass has good natural corrosion resistance indoors. It tarnishes over time in humid or sulfur-containing air, so decorative parts are usually lacquered or plated. Functional parts are often left as machined.
Tell us the grade and temper, the quantity and what the part has to do. You get a line-item quote within 24 hours, with DFM feedback on anything that is raising the cost.