Brass C260 vs. Steel A992

Compare Brass C260 vs. Steel A992 strength, stiffness, weight and thermal properties.

Mechanical	Brass C260	Steel A992
Yield strength	345MPa1	385MPa212% stronger
Ultimate tensile strength	427MPa1	505MPa218% stronger
Elongation at break	23%1	24.2%2
Young's modulus (stiffness)	110GPa3	design value200GPa4
Density	8,525kg/m³3	7,850kg/m³5
Strength to weight	40.5kN·m/kg	49kN·m/kg21% higher
Stiffness to weight	12.9MN·m/kg	25.5MN·m/kg1.97x higher
Poisson's ratio	0.346	design value0.34
Shear modulus	41.2GPa	76.9GPa1.87x stiffer in shear
Bulk modulus	115GPa	167GPa45% higher
Speed of sound	3,597m/s	5,048m/s40% faster

Stiffness against densityHigher and further left: stiffer for its weight

Strength against densityHigher and further left: stronger for its weight

Thermal	Brass C260	Steel A992
Thermal conductivity	121W/m·K32.52x more heat through a fin	48W/m·K5
Thermal expansion	20µm/m·K3	12µm/m·K51.67x less
100 mm part over a 50 °C swing	100µm growth	60µm growth1.67x less
Specific heat	377J/kg·K3	base material460–480J/kg·K7
Heats up and cools (diffusivity)	37.7mm²/s2.9x faster	13mm²/s
Thermal shock resistance	12,510W/m2.32x more resistant	5,390W/m
Melting point	solidus-liquidus916–954°C3	not sourced

Thermal conductivity against densityHigher and further left: spreads more heat for its weight

Thermal expansion against thermal conductivityLower and further right: warps less when heated

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Sources7 documents: Copper Development Association, American Institute of Steel Construction, bauforumstahl (ArcelorMittal), Wieland, Ovako

Brass C260: C26000 cartridge brass, H02 half hard flat/strip: CDA Electronic Connector Design Guide (mechanical) + CDA alloy page (physical)
Steel A992: ASTM A992 W-shapes; Fy/Fu specified minimums from AISC publications (AISC 360-16 Commentary; Modern Steel Construction); elastic constants AISC 360; physical constants from the bauforumstahl structural-steel EPD, which names A992 among covered product standards.

1
Electronic Connector Design Guide: Cold Rolled TempersCopper Development Associationarchived copyBrass C260 · Yield strength: nominal, strip/flat, 0.5% extension (not 0.2% offset)Brass C260 · Ultimate tensile strength: nominal, strip/flatBrass C260 · Elongation at break: nominal, in 2.0 in., strip/flat
2
Updating Standard Shape Material Properties Database for Design and ReliabilityAmerican Institute of Steel Constructionarchived copySteel A992 · Yield strength: typical: mean of 20,295 A992 flange mill-test coupons (1998 SSPC survey), as reported by AISCSteel A992 · Ultimate tensile strength: typical: mean of 20,295 A992 flange mill-test coupons (1998 SSPC survey)Steel A992 · Elongation at break: typical: mean of 24,847 A992 mill-test elongations, web and flange (1998 SSPC mill data), as reported by AISC
3
C26000 Alloy (copper.org)Copper Development Associationarchived copyBrass C260 · Young's modulus (stiffness): typical, temper-independentBrass C260 · Density: nominalBrass C260 · Thermal conductivity: typical, 20 °CBrass C260 · Thermal expansion: typical, mean 20-300 °CBrass C260 · Specific heat: typical, 20 °CBrass C260 · Melting point: solidus-liquidus
4
ANSI/AISC 360-16 Specification for Structural Steel Buildings, with CommentaryAmerican Institute of Steel Constructionarchived copySteel A992 · Young's modulus (stiffness): design value (AISC 360-16)Steel A992 · Poisson's ratio: design value (AISC 360-16 Commentary)
5
Environmental Product Declaration: Structural Steel Sections and Merchant Bars (2023)bauforumstahl (ArcelorMittal)archived copySteel A992 · Density: nominal (constructional data)Steel A992 · Thermal conductivity: nominal at 20 °CSteel A992 · Thermal expansion: nominal (constructional data, no temperature range stated)
6
Wieland-M30 (CuZn30, C26000) Data SheetWielandarchived copyBrass C260 · Poisson's ratio: reference value at room temperature (Wieland-M30 = CuZn30 = C26000, rolled products)
7
S275JR Steel GradeOvakoSteel A992 · Specific heat: base material: EN S275JR unalloyed structural steel (the EN counterpart of A36), typical, 50/100 °C

Each number points to the document that states it, with the exact basis. Values without a number are computed from the sourced ones. "Not sourced" means no citable source states it (or only a specification minimum); figures computed from it are left out too.

Questions

Mechanical

Is Brass C260 stronger than Steel A992?

Steel A992 is stronger: its yield strength is 385 MPa against 345 MPa for Brass C260 (12%).

Which is lighter, Brass C260 or Steel A992?

Steel A992 is lighter: 7,850 kg/m³ against 8,525 kg/m³ for Brass C260.

Which is stiffer, Brass C260 or Steel A992?

Steel A992 is stiffer: Young's modulus 200 GPa against 110 GPa for Brass C260, so the same part in Steel A992 deflects less under the same load.

Which is lighter for the same job, Brass C260 or Steel A992?

For the same stiffness or strength: Steel A992 is lighter for a stiff rod or tie (tension), stiff beam (bending), stiff panel or plate, strong rod or tie, strong beam, strong panel or plate.

Part that must be	Brass C260	Steel A992
Stiff rod or tie (tension)	1.97x heavier	lighter
Stiff beam (bending)	46% heavier	lighter
Stiff panel or plate	32% heavier	lighter
Strong rod or tie	21% heavier	lighter
Strong beam	17% heavier	lighter
Strong panel or plate	15% heavier	lighter

For the same stiffness or strength, mass scales with density over stiffness (or strength) raised to a power set by how the part is loaded: 1 for a rod in tension, 1/2 for a beam in bending, 1/3 for a panel (the standard material-selection indices).

Brass C260 vs. Steel A992

Questions

Mechanical

Is Brass C260 stronger than Steel A992?

Which is lighter, Brass C260 or Steel A992?

Which is stiffer, Brass C260 or Steel A992?

Which is lighter for the same job, Brass C260 or Steel A992?

Thermal

Which conducts heat better, Brass C260 or Steel A992?

Which expands less with temperature?

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