Designation: B 169/B 169M – 01

Standard Specification for

Aluminum Bronze Sheet, Strip, and Rolled Bar1
This standard is issued under the fixed designation B 169/B 169M; 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 (e) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.

This standard has been approved for use by agencies of the Department of Defense.

1. Scope * and Copper Alloys—Wrought and Cast3

1.1 This specification2 establishes the requirements for Cop- B 846 Terminology for Copper and Copper Alloys3
per Alloy UNS Nos. C61300 and C61400 aluminum bronze E 8 Test Methods for Tension Testing of Metallic Materials4
sheet, strip, and rolled bar. E 8M Test Methods for Tension Testing of Metallic Mate-
1.2 The products made to this specification are commonly rials [Metric]4
used for drawing, forming, stamping, and bending applications E 54 Test Methods for Chemical Analysis of Special
and are not intended for electrical applications. Brasses and Bronzes5
E 62 Test Methods for Chemical Analysis of Copper and
NOTE 1—The products produced under this general specification may Copper Alloys (Photometric)5
be used in many applications in which the individual requirements may be
too specific to be determined by normal physical or mechanical testing.
E 290 Test Methods for Bend Testing for Ductility4
Therefore, it may be advisable for the purchaser to submit samples or E 478 Test Methods for Chemical Analysis of Copper
drawings to the manufacturer to be assured that the product furnished is Alloys5
suitable for the intended application.
NOTE 2—Refer to Specification B 171/B 171M for plate product. 3. General Requirements
1.3 The values stated in inch-pound or SI units are to be 3.1 The following sections of Specifications B 248 or
regarded separately as standard. The values in each system are B 248M form a part of this specification:
not exact equivalents; therefore, each system shall be used 3.1.1 Terminology,
independently of the other. Combining values from the two 3.1.2 Workmanship, Finish and Appearance,
systems may result in nonconformance with the specification. 3.1.3 Sampling,
3.1.4 Significance of Numerical Limits,
2. Referenced Documents 3.1.5 Inspection,
2.1 The following documents in the current Book of Stan- 3.1.6 Rejection and Rehearing,
dards form a part of this specification to the extent referenced 3.1.7 Certification,
herein: 3.1.8 Mill Test Reports,
2.2 ASTM Standards: 3.1.9 Packaging and Package Marking,
B 171/B 171M Specification for Copper Alloy Plate and 3.1.10 Supplementary Requirements.
Sheet for Pressure Vessels, Condensers and Heat Exchang- 3.2 In addition, when a section with a title identical to that
ers3 referenced in 3.1 appears in this specification, it contains
B 248 Specification for General Requirements for Wrought additional requirements which supplement those appearing in
Copper and Copper-Alloy Plate, Sheet, Strip and Rolled Specifications B 248 or B 248M.
Bar3
4. Terminology
B 248M Specification for General Requirements for
Wrought Copper and Copper-Alloy Plate, Sheet, Strip and 4.1 For definitions of terms related to copper and copper
Rolled Bar [Metric]3 alloys, refer to Terminology B 846.
B 601 Classification for Temper Designations for Copper
5. Ordering Information
5.1 Orders for products under this specification should
1
This specification is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee B05 on Copper include the following information:
and Copper Alloys and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee B05.01 on Plate, 5.1.1 ASTM designation and year of issue (for example,
Sheet, and Strip. B 169/B 169M – 00),
Current edition approved April 10, 2001. Published August 2001. Originally
published as B 169 – 41 T. Last previous edition B 169 – 95.
2
For ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code applications, see related Specifi-
4
cation SB-169 in Section II of that code. Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 03.01.
3 5
Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 02.01. Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 03.05.

*A Summary of Changes section appears at the end of this standard.

Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959, United States.

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 B 169/B 169M – 01
5.1.2 Copper Alloy UNS No. (for example, C61300), required for unnamed elements by agreement between the
5.1.3 Temper (for example, Section 8), supplier and the purchaser.
5.1.4 Dimensions, thickness, and width (for example, Sec- 7.2 When all elements in Table 1 for the specified alloy are
tion 12), determined, the sum of the results shall be:
5.1.5 Length, Copper Alloy UNS Sum of Results % min.
5.1.6 How furnished, flat or rolls, No.
5.1.7 Total weight, each size, C61300 99.8
5.1.8 When product is purchased for ASME Boiler and C61400 99.5
Pressure Vessel Code Application, and
5.1.9 When product is purchased for agencies of the U.S. 8. Temper
government. 8.1 Products in both alloys are available in the following
5.2 The following options are available and should be tempers as defined in Practice B 601: annealed tempers O25,
specified when required: O60, and hot-rolled temper M20.
5.2.1 Type of edge (for example, slit, sheared, sawed, and so
NOTE 3—Inquiry should be made to the supplier concerning the
forth), availability of the specific temper required.
5.2.2 Heat identification or traceability details,
5.2.3 Bend test, 9. Mechanical Property Requirements
5.2.4 Certification, and 9.1 The product furnished shall conform to the requirements
5.2.5 Mill Test Report. of Table 2 for the specified alloy, temper, and dimensions
prescribed.
6. Materials and Manufacture
6.1 Material: 10. Bending Requirements
6.1.1 The material of manufacture shall be from cast slabs 10.1 When specified in the contract or purchase order, the
(also termed cakes or ingots) of Copper Alloy UNS Numbers test specimen shall withstand being bent cold perpendicular to
C61300 or C61400 of such purity and soundness as to be the direction of rolling (rightway bend) through 120° around a
suitable for processing into the products prescribed herein. mandrel whose radius is equal to the thickness of the product.
6.2 Manufacture: When the outside surface of the bend is examined with an
6.2.1 The products shall be manufactured by such hot- unaided eye, no sign of fracturing shall be observed.
working, cold-working, and annealing processes as to produce
a uniform wrought structure in the finished product. The 11. Purchases for U.S. Government Agencies
product shall be hot or cold rolled to finish gage and subse-
11.1 When specified in the contract or purchase order,
quently annealed, if required, to meet the temper properties
product purchased for agencies of the U.S. government shall
invoked.
conform to the special government stipulations in the Supple-
6.2.2 Edges:
mentary Requirements section of Specifications B 248 or
6.2.2.1 Slit edges shall be furnished unless otherwise speci-
B 248M.
fied in the contract or purchase order.
12. Dimensions, Mass, and Permissible Variations
7. Chemical Composition
12.1 The dimensions and tolerances for material described
7.1 The specified copper alloy shall conform to the require-
by this specification shall be as specified in the current edition
ments of Table 1.
of Specifications B 248 or B 248M.
7.1.1 These composition limits do not preclude the presence
12.1.1 Thickness
of unnamed elements. Limits may be established and analysis
12.1.2 Width:
12.1.2.1 Slit Metal and Slit Metal with Rolled Edges
TABLE 1 Chemical Requirements 12.1.2.2 Square Sheared Metal
Composition,% 12.1.2.3 Sawed Metal
Element Copper Alloy UNS No.
12.1.3 Length:
12.1.3.1 Length Tolerances for Straight Lengths
C61300A C61400
12.1.3.2 Schedule for Minimum Lengths and Maximum
Copper (including silver) remainder remainder Weights of Ends for Specific Lengths with Ends, and Stock
Lead, max 0.01 0.01
Iron 2.0–3.0 1.5–3.5 Lengths with Ends
Zinc, max 0.10 0.20 12.1.3.3 Length Tolerance for Square Sheared Metal
Aluminum 6.0–7.5 6.0–8.0
Manganese, max 0.20 1.0
12.1.3.4 Length Tolerances for Sawed Metal
Phosphorus, max 0.015 0.015 12.1.4 Straightness:
Silicon, max 0.10 ... 12.1.4.1 Slit Metal or Slit Metal Either Straightened or
Tin 0.20–0.50 ...
Nickel (including cobalt), max 0.15 ...
Edge Rolled
A
12.1.4.2 Square Sheared Metal
When the product is for subsequent welding applications and is so specified by
the purchaser, chromium shall be 0.05 % max, cadmium 0.05 % max, zirconium 12.1.4.3 Sawed Metal
0.05 % max, and zinc 0.05 % max. 12.1.5 Edges:

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 B 169/B 169M – 01
TABLE 2 Tensile Requirements

Temper Designation A Tensile Yield Strength at Yield Strength at

Copper
Strength 0.5 % Extension 0.2 % Extension Elongation
Alloy Thickness, in. [mm] Width, in.
min, ksiB Under Load, Under Load, in 2 in., min, %
UNS No. Standard Former [MPa] min, ksiB [MPa] min, ksiB [MPa]
C61300 O25, O60, or M20 soft 1⁄2 and under all widths 75 [515] 36 [255] 34 [235] 35
[12.0 and under]

Over 1⁄2 to 2, incl all widths 72 [495] 32 [220] 30 [210] 35

[Over 12.0 to
50.0, incl]

Over 2 to 5, incl all widths 65 [450] 28 [195] 26 [180] 35

[Over 50.0 to 140
incl]

C61400 O25, O60, or M20 soft 1⁄2 and under all widths 72 [495] 32 [220] 30 [205] 35
[12.0 and under]

Over 1⁄2 to 2, incl all widths 70 [485] 30 [205] 28 [195] 35

[Over 12.0 to
50.0, incl]

Over 2 to 5, incl all widths 65 [450] 28 [195] 26 [180] 35

[Over 50.0 to 140
incl]
A
Standard designations defined in Practice B 601.
B
ksi = 1000 psi.

12.1.5.1 Square Edges 14.1.1 Preparation of the analytical specimen shall be the
12.1.5.2 Rounded Corners responsibility of the reporting laboratory.
12.1.5.3 Rounded Edges 14.2 Mechanical Properties:
12.1.5.4 Full Rounded Edges 14.2.1 Tensile and yield test specimens shall be prepared in
accordance with Test Methods E 8 or E 8M.
13. Number of Tests and Retests 14.2.1.1 The tensile test specimen shall be taken so that the
13.1 Tests: longitudinal axis is parallel to the direction of rolling.
13.1.1 Chemical Analysis: 14.3 Bend Test:
13.1.1.1 Composition shall be determined as the average of 14.3.1 Bend test specimens shall be prepared as directed in
at least two replicate determinations for each element in Table Test Method E 290.
1 for the specified alloy.
13.1.2 Mechanical Properties: 15. Test Methods
13.1.2.1 Tensile strength, yield strength, and elongation
15.1 Chemical Analysis:
shall be reported as the average of results from at least two
specimens. 15.1.1 The chemical composition shall be determined, in
13.1.3 Bending Requirements: case of disagreement, as follows:
13.1.3.1 Two specimens shall be tested and both shall pass. ASTM
Element
Method
13.2 Retests:
13.2.1 Chemical Analysis: Copper E 478
Iron E 478
13.2.1.1 Should the results for one or more of the elements Lead E 478 (AA)
in the specified alloy fail to conform with the requirements in Zinc E 478 (titrimetric)
Table 1, a retest may be made with a new composite made up Aluminum E 478
Manganese E 62
from the pieces originally selected. Phosphorus E 62
13.2.2 Mechanical Properties: Silicon E 54 (sulfuric acid)
13.2.2.1 Should the test results obtained from the specified Tin E 478 (photometric)
Nickel E 478 (photometric)
product fail to conform to the requirements of Table 2, a retest
shall be permitted on two specimens made from the remaining 15.1.2 Test method(s) for the determination of element(s)
pieces selected. required by contractual or purchase order agreement shall be as
13.2.3 Referee (Umpire) Tests: agreed upon between the supplier and purchaser.
13.2.3.1 Refer to section entitled “Rejection and Rehearing” 15.2 Other Tests:
in Specifications B 248 or B 248M. 15.2.1 The product furnished shall conform with the me-
chanical and other requirements enumerated in this specifica-
14. Specimen Preparation tion when tested in accordance with the following appropriate
14.1 Chemical Analysis: method:

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 B 169/B 169M – 01
Test Method rate of stressing to the yield strength should not exceed 100
ksi/min [690 MPa/min.]. Above the yield strength, the move-
Tensile strength E8
Yield strength E8
ment per minute of the testing machine head under load should
Elongation E8 not exceed 0.5 in./in [0.5 mm/mm].
Bending E 290

15.2.1.1 Yield strength shall be determined in accordance 16. Certification

with the “Extension-Under Load Method” of Test Methods 16.1 When the contract or purchase order specifies the
E 8. product to be for ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel applica-
15.2.1.2 Elongation shall be determined as specified in the tion, certification is mandatory.
first two subsections of the section of Test Methods E 8, or
E 8M, entitled “Elongation.” 17. Keywords
15.2.1.3 Test results are affected by variations in speed of 17.1 aluminum bronze; aluminum bronze rolled bar; alumi-
testing. A considerable range of testing speed is permitted. The num bronze sheet; aluminum bronze strip

SUMMARY OF CHANGES

Committee B05 has identified the location of selected changes to this standard since the March 1995
publication that may impact the use of this standard.

(1) A section on Keywords has been added. specification.

(2) B 169 and B 169M have been combined into one

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