Overview
C932 Bearing Bronze, also known as C93200 SAE 660 Bronze, is one of the most widely used bearing bronze alloys in the world. This high-leaded tin bronze alloy is renowned for its excellent combination of wear resistance, machinability, anti-friction properties, load-carrying capacity, corrosion resistance, and embeddability.
C932 contains carefully balanced amounts of copper, tin, lead, and zinc, making it an ideal material for plain bearings, bushings, thrust washers, and wear components operating under moderate loads and speeds.
C932 bearing bronze is widely used in:
- Bushings
- Bearings
- Thrust Washers
- Wear Plates
- Gear Components
- Hydraulic Equipment
- Industrial Machinery
- Agricultural Equipment
Because of its outstanding bearing performance and economical cost, C932 remains the industry standard for general-purpose bronze bearing applications.
Material Specification
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Material Designation | C932 Bearing Bronze |
| UNS Number | C93200 |
| Common Name | SAE 660 Bronze |
| Standard | ASTM B505 / ASTM B584 |
| Material Family | Leaded Tin Bronze |
| Density | 8.80 g/cm³ |
| Magnetic Property | Non-Magnetic |
| Typical Supply Condition | Cast |
| Standard Forms | Bar, Tube, Hollow Bar, Plate, Casting |
Chemical Composition
| Element | Content (%) |
|---|---|
| Copper (Cu) | 81.0–85.0 |
| Tin (Sn) | 6.3–7.5 |
| Lead (Pb) | 6.0–8.0 |
| Zinc (Zn) | 2.0–4.0 |
| Nickel (Ni) | ≤1.0 |
| Iron (Fe) | ≤0.75 |
The lead content improves lubricity and embeddability, while tin enhances strength and wear resistance.
Mechanical Properties
As-Cast Condition
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Tensile Strength | 240–310 MPa |
| Yield Strength | 120–170 MPa |
| Elongation | 10–18% |
| Hardness | 65–85 HB |
| Elastic Modulus | 105 GPa |
Typical Bearing Service Condition
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Compressive Strength | 380–450 MPa |
| Fatigue Strength | Good |
| Impact Resistance | Good |
| Bearing Performance | Excellent |
Physical Properties
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Density | 8.80 g/cm³ |
| Melting Point | 900–1025°C |
| Thermal Conductivity | 50 W/m·K |
| Electrical Conductivity | 15% IACS |
| Electrical Resistivity | 0.115 μΩ·m |
| Thermal Expansion Coefficient | 18.0 × 10⁻⁶/K |
| Specific Heat Capacity | 377 J/kg·K |
Bearing Performance
| Property | Rating |
|---|---|
| Wear Resistance | Excellent |
| Anti-Friction Properties | Excellent |
| Load Capacity | Excellent |
| Embeddability | Outstanding |
| Conformability | Outstanding |
| Seizure Resistance | Excellent |
C932 is often considered the benchmark alloy for general-purpose bronze bearings.
Load Capacity
| Application Condition | Typical Performance |
|---|---|
| Low-Speed / High-Load | Excellent |
| Medium-Speed / Medium-Load | Excellent |
| High-Speed / Light-Load | Good |
| Shock Loading | Good |
Corrosion Resistance
| Environment | Performance |
|---|---|
| Indoor Environment | Excellent |
| Fresh Water | Excellent |
| Industrial Atmosphere | Excellent |
| Marine Atmosphere | Good |
| Salt Water | Good |
| Lubricated Systems | Outstanding |
C932 performs well in lubricated mechanical systems and industrial environments.
Recommended surface treatments:
- Precision Machining
- Oil Impregnation
- Graphite Plugging
- Anti-Corrosion Coating
- Protective Oil Film
Wear Resistance
| Property | Performance |
|---|---|
| Sliding Wear Resistance | Excellent |
| Bearing Wear Resistance | Outstanding |
| Galling Resistance | Excellent |
| Lubricated Performance | Outstanding |
The lead content provides excellent emergency lubrication characteristics.
Weldability
| Welding Process | Rating |
|---|---|
| TIG Welding | Fair |
| MIG Welding | Fair |
| Brazing | Good |
| Soldering | Good |
Welding is generally avoided because bearing bronze components are usually machined from cast stock.
Machinability
| Process | Rating |
|---|---|
| CNC Turning | Excellent |
| CNC Milling | Excellent |
| Drilling | Excellent |
| Boring | Excellent |
| Grinding | Good |
Machinability Comparison
| Material | Machinability |
|---|---|
| C360 Brass | Excellent |
| C932 Bronze | Excellent |
| C954 Aluminum Bronze | Moderate |
| C521 Bronze | Good |
| Stainless Steel 304 | Moderate |
C932 is one of the easiest bronze alloys to machine.
Heat Treatment
Heat Treatability
| Property | Performance |
|---|---|
| Heat Treat Hardening | No |
| Annealing Response | Limited |
| Cast Structure Stability | Excellent |
C932 is typically used in the as-cast condition.
International Equivalent Grades
| Standard | Equivalent Grade |
|---|---|
| UNS (USA) | C93200 |
| ASTM | C932 |
| SAE | SAE 660 |
| EN (Europe) | CC493K |
| DIN (Germany) | G-CuSn7ZnPb |
| JIS (Japan) | LBC3 |
| ISO | CuSn7Zn4Pb7-C |
Available Forms
| Product Type | Availability |
|---|---|
| Solid Round Bar | Yes |
| Hollow Bar | Yes |
| Tube | Yes |
| Plate | Yes |
| Custom Castings | Yes |
| Bushings | Yes |
Typical Applications
Bearing Industry
- Plain Bearings
- Sleeve Bearings
- Journal Bearings
- Flange Bearings
Mechanical Industry
- Bushings
- Wear Plates
- Guide Components
- Thrust Washers
Hydraulic Equipment
- Hydraulic Cylinder Bushings
- Wear Rings
- Pivot Components
Agricultural Machinery
- Pivot Bushings
- Bearing Components
- Wear Parts
Construction Equipment
- Excavator Bushings
- Loader Components
- Pivot Bearings
Industrial Machinery
- Gear Components
- Bearing Housings
- Sliding Components
Manufacturing Characteristics
| Manufacturing Process | Rating |
|---|---|
| CNC Machining | Outstanding |
| Turning | Outstanding |
| Boring | Outstanding |
| Drilling | Outstanding |
| Casting | Excellent |
| Welding | Fair |
Advantages
Outstanding Bearing Properties
Industry-standard bearing bronze alloy.
Excellent Wear Resistance
Provides long service life under sliding conditions.
Superior Machinability
Easy to machine into precision components.
Excellent Embeddability
Can absorb dirt and foreign particles without damaging shafts.
Good Load Capacity
Suitable for medium to heavy-duty bearing applications.
Economical Solution
Offers excellent performance at a competitive cost.
Limitations
Lower Strength Than Aluminum Bronze
Not suitable for extremely high-load applications.
Moderate Corrosion Resistance
Less resistant than nickel-aluminum bronze in seawater.
Contains Lead
May not be suitable for certain environmental or drinking-water applications.
Limited Weldability
Generally used as cast and machined components.
Comparison with Other Bronze Grades
| Property | C932 | C954 | C863 | C521 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bearing Performance | Outstanding | Good | Excellent | Moderate |
| Machinability | Excellent | Moderate | Good | Good |
| Wear Resistance | Excellent | Excellent | Outstanding | Good |
| Corrosion Resistance | Good | Excellent | Good | Excellent |
| Cost | Moderate | Higher | Higher | Higher |
Comparison with Common Bearing Materials
| Material | Wear Resistance | Machinability | Bearing Performance |
|---|---|---|---|
| C932 Bronze | Excellent | Excellent | Outstanding |
| C954 Bronze | Excellent | Moderate | Excellent |
| Cast Iron | Moderate | Good | Moderate |
| Stainless Steel 304 | Poor | Moderate | Poor |
| PTFE Composite | Good | N/A | Good |
Available Surface Finishes
Raw Finishes
- As-Cast Finish
- Turned Finish
Functional Finishes
- Precision Machined Finish
- Ground Finish
- Bored Finish
Specialty Finishes
- Oil Impregnated
- Graphite Plugged
- Lubrication Grooved
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What is C932 bronze?
C932 is a leaded tin bronze alloy commonly known as SAE 660 bronze and is widely used for bearings and bushings.
What is C932 used for?
Typical applications include:
- Bushings
- Bearings
- Wear Plates
- Thrust Washers
- Hydraulic Components
What is the equivalent material to C932?
Common equivalents include:
- SAE 660
- CC493K
- LBC3
- CuSn7Zn4Pb7-C
Why is C932 called bearing bronze?
Because it offers excellent anti-friction properties, wear resistance, and embeddability for bearing applications.
Is C932 suitable for bushings?
Yes. C932 is one of the most commonly used bushing materials worldwide.
Is C932 corrosion resistant?
Yes. It performs well in industrial, lubricated, and moderate marine environments.
Can C932 be machined?
Yes. C932 offers excellent machinability and is ideal for CNC machining.
Why choose C932 bronze?
Because it combines:
- Excellent Bearing Performance
- Outstanding Machinability
- Good Wear Resistance
- Good Load Capacity
- Cost Effectiveness
Is C932 suitable for heavy equipment?
Yes. It is widely used in agricultural, construction, hydraulic, and industrial machinery.
Does GCNOV provide custom manufacturing services for C932 bronze?
Yes. GCNOV provides:
- CNC Machining
- Custom Bushings
- Bearing Manufacturing
- Precision Turning
- Prototype Development
- Low-Volume Production
- Mass Production
- Custom Cast Bronze Components