Copper Tube

Solid Drawn Brass Tubes
The tubes supplied are all guaranteed to be of solid drawn brass, manufactured and cleaned to the strict conditions of BS 2871. These materials are not to be confused with tubes made from continuously welded strip nor with tubes of other metals of poorer corrosion resistance finished to look like brass.

CZ108 is the standard 63/37 "common brass" used for a wide variety of engineering and decorative applications. It has excellent ductility for cold forming applications, can be readily joined by soft or hard soldering and can be very easily and cheaply be polished and laquered or plated. It is ideal for the manufacture of furniture, lighting fitiings, jewellery and other ornamental items. It can be also used for heat exchanger tubing where cooling water supplies are clean.

CZ126, arsenic brass is a 70/30 brass with a small addition of and extra corrosion inhibitor. Strength and ductility are are better than for common brass which makes it ideal for heat exchanger work and other applications where severe deformation such as expanding, bulging, flanging, or spinning are required. It can be readily soft or hard soldered.

CZ110, aluminium brass has even better corrosion resistance, making it ideal for use in marine environments. It is generally specified for the manufacture of ships condensers, oil coolers, and other heat exchangers used in aggressive conditions where reliability is essential.

Other tube materials, as specified in BS 2871 are available to order.

Specifications
BS 2871: Part 2 for General Engineering and Decorative Purposes
BS 2871: Part 3 for Heat Exchangers

Decorative Tubes
As well as round tube, we supply square tube and a range of fittings which are covered in a separate stock list. These items are normally supplied with a polished finish. Also available is a range of patterned tubes including "Fluted", "Barley Twist" and "Rope Twist".

Compositions / Mechanical Properties

Copper-Nickel Alloys
These alloys (sometimes called cupro-nickels) have nickel contents ranging from10% to 45 %, often with small additions (0.5% - 2.0%) of iron and/or manganses

The overiding qualities are a combination of good cold and hot working properties, superlative sea water corrosion and erosion resistance and good strength. Typical users are thus sea water distilation and desalination plant, marine condensers etc. where long trouble free performance is rated more highly than initial cost.

The two alloys most commonly used for these applications are CN102 (10% nickel) and CN107 (30% nickel) - both with small amounts of iron and manganese.

One other copper-nickel alloy is of interest (and value) to us all. It is the alloy CN105, which is 75/25 copper nickel with a small addition of manganese. The main user is the Royal Mint!

The 90/10 alloy is primarily used for sea water piping aboard shipsm and for the very large seawater piping systems on offshore oil production platforms.

Both of the copper nickel alloys have applications in the handling of hot brines, they are frequently employed in condenser and heat exchangers for tubes, tube plates and baffles where resistance is required to salt-water corrosion, erosion, impingement and biological fouling.

Copper-nickel is available in most product forms, including plate, tube, pipe and fittings. Plate is available in any cut size on short delivery.

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