The Ultimate Bronze Cross-Reference Guide: ASTM B505 vs. EN 1982
The Ultimate Bronze Cross-Reference Guide: ASTM B505 vs. EN 1982
High-Performance Self-Lubricating Bronze Bushing Solutions & Technologies. Minimize downtime, extend service life, and reduce costs for dynamic applications.
The Ultimate Bronze Cross-Reference Guide: ASTM B505 vs. EN 1982
Simplify your global supply chain with our expert cross-reference chart for bronze and copper casting alloys. Compare ASTM B505 and EN 1982 standards, from Tin Bronzes to Aluminum Bronzes.
You’re looking at an engineering drawing from the United States, and it specifies ASTM B505 C93200 for a critical bearing. Your manufacturing facility is in Europe, and your local supplier has never heard of it. They only work with EN standards and ask if EN 1982 CC493K will do.
Are they the same? Is one a suitable replacement for the other?
This scenario plays out every day in the world of global manufacturing, and a simple mistake can lead to component failure, costly rework, and project delays. Navigating the sea of international material specifications is one of the biggest hurdles for engineers and procurement managers.
This guide is designed to be your definitive Rosetta Stone for cast bronze alloys. We will demystify the two leading standards—America’s ASTM B505 and Europe’s EN 1982—and provide a clear, comprehensive cross-reference chart to make your job easier.
You will learn:
-
What ASTM B505 and EN 1982 standards represent.
-
The key characteristics of the main bronze alloy families.
-
A detailed comparison chart for the most common grades.
Understanding the Standards: ASTM B505 vs. EN 1982
Before diving into the chart, it’s important to know what these standards signify.
-
ASTM B505: This is the standard specification from the American Society for Testing and Materials for continuous cast copper alloy bars, tubes, and shapes. Continuous casting is a process that produces a very fine-grained, dense material structure, making it ideal for high-performance bearings and bushings.
-
EN 1982: This is the European Norm that specifies copper alloy ingots and castings. The grades are often followed by a “-C” suffix (e.g., CC493K-C), which specifically denotes “Continuously Cast” (Strangguss), making it the direct counterpart to the ASTM B505 process.
While many grades have direct equivalents, some compositions may have slight variations in their minimum or maximum elemental percentages. Always verify with a material test certificate (MTC).
A Quick Guide to the Bronze Families
The term “bronze” covers a wide range of copper-based alloys, each with a unique personality. Here are the main families you’ll encounter in the chart below:
| Alloy Family | Key Characteristics & Primary Use |
| Tin Bronzes (CuSn) | The classic workhorses. Known for excellent strength, wear resistance, and corrosion resistance. Ideal for gears, high-load bushings, and general-purpose bearings. |
| Leaded Bronzes (CuSnPb) | The self-lubricating specialists. The addition of lead (Pb) creates a material with superb anti-friction properties, making it perfect for bearings that may experience intermittent lubrication. Note: These are heavily restricted by RoHS in many applications. |
| Aluminum Bronzes (CuAl) | The high-strength champions. With additions of aluminum, iron (Fe), and nickel (Ni), these alloys can achieve strengths comparable to steel while offering superior corrosion and wear resistance. Used in marine hardware, heavy-duty valve components, and wear plates. |
| High-Tensile Brasses (Manganese Bronzes) | The strong and versatile performers. Technically brasses due to their high zinc (Zn) content, they are often called “manganese bronzes” because manganese, aluminum, and iron give them bronze-like strength and toughness. |
| Eco-Alloys | The modern solution. These are typically lead-free tin bronzes designed to meet environmental regulations like RoHS without sacrificing performance. They often use elements like bismuth or zinc as substitutes for lead. |
The ASTM B505 to EN 1982 Cross-Reference Chart
Here is your go-to comparison chart for the most common continuously cast bronze alloys.
| ASTM B505 Grade | EN 1982 Grade | Common Name / Composition | Alloy Family | Key Characteristics & Applications |
| Tin Bronzes | ||||
| C90700 | CC483K | CuSn12-C | Tin Bronze | High tin content for excellent strength and wear resistance. Used for gears, worm wheels, heavy-load bushings. |
| C90700, C92700 | CC480K | CuSn10-C | Tin Bronze | A general-purpose high-strength tin bronze. Slightly less wear-resistant than C90700 but more common. |
| C83600 | CC491K | CuSn5Zn5Pb5-C | Tin Bronze | The famous “85-5-5-5” red brass. Excellent machinability, good corrosion resistance. Used for fittings, valves, general bushings. |
| N/A (EN Specific) | CC484K | CuSn12Ni2-C | Nickel-Tin Bronze | Nickel addition enhances strength and corrosion resistance, especially at higher temperatures. |
| N/A (EN Specific) | CC482K | CuSn11Pb2-C | Leaded Tin Bronze | A versatile alloy balancing the strength of tin with the machinability of lead. |
| N/A (EN Specific) | CC481K | CuSn11P-C | Phosphor Bronze | Phosphorus acts as a deoxidizer, improving hardness and wear resistance. Excellent for bearings. |
| Leaded Bronzes (High Lead) | ||||
| C93200 | CC493K | CuSn7Zn4Pb7-C | Leaded Bronze | The #1 bearing bronze in the US (“Bearing Bronze”). Excellent anti-friction properties and conformability. |
| C93700 | CC495K | CuSn10Pb10-C | Leaded Bronze | Higher lead content for excellent self-lubrication under lower speeds and moderate loads. |
| C93800 | CC496K | CuSn7Pb15-C | Leaded Bronze | Very high lead content. Ideal for bearings where lubrication might fail or is inconsistent. |
| N/A (EN Specific) | CC492K | CuSn7Zn2Pb3-C | Leaded Bronze | A lower-lead general-purpose bearing bronze common in Europe. |
| N/A (EN Specific) | CC499K | CuSn5Zn5Pb2-C | Leaded Bronze | A leaded, RoHS-friendlier version of C83600, common in Europe. |
| N/A (EN Specific) | CC494K | CuSn5Pb9-C | Leaded Bronze | Good bearing properties with less tin than the C93X series. |
| C94300 | CC497K | CuSn5Pb20-C | Leaded Bronze | Extremely high lead content. Used in applications with minimal lubrication and high surface speeds. |
| Aluminum Bronzes | ||||
| C95200 | CC331G | CuAl10Fe2-C | Aluminum Bronze | Good strength, ductility, and excellent corrosion resistance, especially in saltwater. |
| C95500 | CC333G | CuAl10Fe5Ni5-C | Nickel-Aluminum Bronze | The workhorse of high-strength bronzes. Excellent strength, toughness, and wear/corrosion resistance. Used for heavy-duty gears, wear plates, valve seats. |
| N/A (EN Specific) | CC334G | CuAl11Fe6Ni6-C | Nickel-Aluminum Bronze | An even higher-strength version of CC333G for the most demanding applications. |
| N/A (EN Specific) | CC332G | CuAl10Ni3Fe2-C | Nickel-Aluminum Bronze | A balanced, general-purpose high-strength aluminum bronze. |
| N/A (EN Specific) | CC330G | CuAl9-C | Aluminum Bronze | A basic aluminum bronze without iron or nickel, for good corrosion resistance. |
| High-Tensile Brasses | ||||
| C86200 | CC764S | CuZn34Mn3Al2Fe1-C | High-Tensile Brass | Very high strength and good wear resistance. Often used as a lower-cost alternative to aluminum bronzes. |
| C86300 | CC762S | CuZn25Al5Mn4Fe3-C | High-Tensile Brass | The highest strength cast copper alloy. Very hard and wear-resistant, but lower corrosion resistance than aluminum bronzes. |
| N/A (EN Specific) | CC765S | CuZn35Mn2Al1Fe1-C | High-Tensile Brass | A versatile, general-purpose high-strength brass common in Europe. |
Conclusion: Making the Right Choice
Navigating international material standards doesn’t have to be a source of confusion. By understanding the alloy families and using this cross-reference guide, you can confidently select the correct material for your project, no matter where it’s being manufactured.
The Golden Rule: While this chart provides excellent guidance, always request a material test certificate (MTC or EN 10204 3.1 cert) from your supplier. This document is your ultimate guarantee that the chemical composition and mechanical properties of the alloy you receive meet the exact specifications your design requires.
Struggling to source the right bronze alloy or need technical verification for your project? Contact our material experts today for a free consultation and quote!
Metal Bushing (Lubricated Metal) -Self-Lubricating Bushing Materials
Bushings are specialized, self-lubricating metal components widely utilized across various industries due to their durability and low maintenance requirements. Self-lubricating metal bushings are engineered to function without additional lubrication in numerous applications, thereby minimizing maintenance needs. These bushings are available in various series and configurations, such as flanged bushings and split bearings, to meet specific application requirements.
Metal-Polymer Anti-Friction Plain Bearings
Metal-Polymer Composite Self-lubricating Bushing Material
Steel Back + Porous Bronze Sinter + PTFE

