Designation: B 139/B 139M 06

Standard Specification for

Phosphor Bronze Rod, Bar, and Shapes1

This standard is issued under the fixed designation B 139/B 139M; 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.

3.1.7 Test Methods.

3.1.8 Significance of Numerical Limits.
3.1.9 Inspection.
3.1.10 Rejection and Rehearing.
3.1.11 Certification.
3.1.12 Mill Test Report.
3.1.13 Packaging and Package Marking.
3.2 In addition, when a section with a title identical to that
referenced in 3.1 above appears in this specification, it contains
additional information which supplements that appearing in
Specification B 249/B 249M. In case of conflict, this specification shall prevail.

1. Scope*
1.1 This specification establishes the requirements for phosphor bronze rod, bar, and shapes.
1.2 UnitsThe values stated in inch-pound units or SI units
are to be regarded separately in the standard. Within the text,
the SI values are given in brackets. The values stated in each
system are not exact equivalents; each system of units is
independent of the other. Combining values from the two
systems may result in nonconformance with the specification.
2. Referenced Documents
2.1 ASTM Standards: 2
B 249/B 249M Specification for General Requirements for
Wrought Copper and Copper-Alloy Rod, Bar, Shapes and
Forgings
E 8 Test Methods for Tension Testing of Metallic Materials
E 8M Test Methods for Tension Testing of Metallic Materials [Metric]
E 62 Test Methods for Chemical Analysis of Copper and
Copper Alloys (Photometric Methods)
E 478 Test Methods for Chemical Analysis of Copper
Alloys

4. Ordering Information
4.1 Include the following information when placing orders
for product under this specification, as applicable:
4.1.1 ASTM designation and year of issue,
4.1.2 Copper Alloy UNS No. designation (for example,
C51000),
4.1.3 Temper (for example, H04),
4.1.4 Form of product (rod, bar or shape),
4.1.5 Dimensions and permissible variations,
4.1.6 Edge Contours,
4.1.7 Quantitytotal weight of each copper alloy, temper,
form, and size, and
4.1.8 If product is purchased for an agency of the U.S.
government (see Supplementary Requirements section of
B 249/B 249M).
4.2 The following options are available and should be
specified at the time of placing the order when required:
4.2.1 Piston-finish rod or shafting (Other Requirements
section),
4.2.2 Certification (Specification B 249/B 249M), and
4.2.3 Mill test report (Specification B 249/B 249M).

3. General Requirements
3.1 The following sections of Specification B 249/B 249M
constitute a part of this specification.
3.1.1 Terminology.
3.1.2 Materials and Manufacture.
3.1.3 Workmanship, Finish and Appearance.
3.1.4 Sampling.
3.1.5 Number of Tests and Retests.
3.1.6 Specimen Preparation.
1
This specification is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee B05 on Copper
and Copper Alloys and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee B05.02 on Rods,
Bars, Wires, Shapes, and Forgings.
Current edition approved Feb. 1, 2006. Published February 2006. Originally
approved in 1941. Last previous edition approved in 2001 as B 139/B 139M 01.
2
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
contact ASTM Customer Service at [email protected]. For Annual Book of ASTM
Standards volume information, refer to the standards Document Summary page on
the ASTM website.

5. Material and Manufacture

5.1 Material:
5.1.1 The material of manufacture shall be cast rod, bar, or
billets of Copper Alloy UNS Nos. C51000, C52100, C52400,
C53400, or C54400 and of such soundness as to be suitable for
processing in to the products prescribed herein.

*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.

B 139/B 139M 06
9. Other Requirements
9.1 Piston-Finish Rod or ShaftingWhen specified in the
contract or purchase order, round rod over 12-in. [12mm]
diameter shall be furnished as piston-finish rod or shafting.
9.2 Purchases for U.S. Government When specified in the
contract or purchase order, product purchased for agencies of
the U.S. government shall conform to the additional requirements prescribed in the Supplementary Requirements section
of Specification B 249/B 249M.

NOTE 1Copper Alloy UNS Nos. C51000, C52100, and C52400 are
suitable for structural applications, pump parts, rods, bolts, gears, and
similar applications.
NOTE 2Copper Alloys UNS Nos. C53400 and C54400 are free
machining and are suitable for screw-machine products.

5.2 Manufacture:
5.2.1 The product shall be manufactured by such hotworking, cold-working, and annealing processes as to produce
a uniform wrought structure in the finished product.
5.2.2 The product shall be hot or cold worked to the finished
size and subsequently annealed, when required, to meet the
temper properties specified.

10. Dimensions, Mass, and Permissible Variations

10.1 The dimensions and tolerances for product described
by this specification shall be as specified in Specification
B 249/B 249M with particular reference to the following tables
and related paragraphs in that specification:
10.1.1 Diameter or Distance Between Parallel Surfaces:
10.1.1.1 Rod: Round, Hexagonal, OctagonalTable 2.
10.1.1.2 Piston-Finish RodTable 3.
10.1.1.3 Bar: Rectangular and SquareTables 9 and 11.
10.1.2 Shapes:
10.1.2.1 The dimensional tolerances for shapes shall be
subject to agreement between the manufacturer and the purchaser and the agreement shall be a part of the contract or
purchase order.
10.1.3 Length:
10.1.3.1 Rod, Bar, and ShapesTables 13 and 15.
10.1.4 Straightness:
10.1.4.1 Rod and BarTable 16.
10.1.4.2 Shafting RodTable 17.
10.1.4.3 Piston-Finish RodThe tolerance is subject to
agreement between the manufacturer and the purchaser and the
agreement shall be a part of the contract or purchase order.
10.1.5 Edge Contours:
10.1.5.1 For a description of edge contours, refer to the
section titled Edge Contours and Figs. 1, 2, and 3 in
Specification B 249/B 249M.

6. Chemical Composition
6.1 The material shall conform to the chemical composition
requirements in Table 1 for the Copper Alloy UNS No.
designation specified in the ordering information.
6.1.1 These composition limits do not preclude the presence
of other elements. By agreement between the manufacturer and
the purchaser, limits may be established and analysis required
for unnamed elements.
6.2 For alloys in which copper is listed as remainder,
copper is the difference between the sum of all elements
determined and 100 %.
6.3 When all elements specified in Table 1,for the Copper
Alloy UNS No. named in the ordering information are determined, the sum of results shall be 99.5 % min.
7. Temper
7.1 Rod and BarThe standard tempers for rod and bar
produced under this specification are identified in Table 2 or
Table 3.
7.1.1 Soft anneal temper (O60),
7.1.2 Hard temper (H04), and
7.1.3 Spring temper (H08).
7.2 ShapesThe temper for shapes is subject to agreement
between the manufacturer and the purchaser and the agreement
shall be a part of the contract or purchase order.

11. Test Methods

11.1 Chemical Analysis:
11.1.1 In cases of disagreement, determine the composition
using the following test methods:

8. Mechanical Property Requirements

8.1 Tensile Strength Requirements:
8.1.1 Rod and BarRod and bar furnished under this
specification shall conform to the tensile requirements prescribed in Table 2 or Table 3 for the specified Copper Alloy
UNS No. designation, temper, cross-section, and size when
tested in accordance with Test Methods E 8 or E 8M.
8.1.2 ShapesThe tensile requirements for shapes shall be
subject to agreement between the manufacturer and the purchaser and the agreement shall be a part of the contract or
purchase order.

Element
Copper
Iron
Lead
Zinc <2 %
>2 %
Tin
Phosphorus

Test Method
E 478
E 478
E 478
E 478
E 478
E 478
E 62

(AA)
(AA)
(titrimetric)
(titrimetric)

TABLE 1 Chemical Requirements

Copper Alloy UNS No.
Element, %
C51000
Tin
Phosphorus
Iron, max
Lead
Zinc
Copper

4.25.8
0.030.35
0.10
0.05 max
0.30 max
remainder

C52100

C52400

7.09.0
0.030.35
0.10
0.05 max
0.20 max
remainder

9.011.0
0.030.35
0.10
0.05 max
0.20 max
remainder

C53400
3.55.8
0.030.35
0.10
0.81.2
0.30 max
remainder

C54400
3.54.5
0.010.50
0.10
3.54.5
1.54.5
remainder

B 139/B 139M 06
TABLE 2 Tensile Requirements for Rod and Bar, inch-pound

NOTEFor SI values, see Table 3.

Temper Designation
Code

Name

Diameter or Distance Between Parallel Surfaces,A in.

Tensile Strength, ksi

Elongation in 43
Diameter or Thickness
of Specimen, min, %B

min

max

40
80

58
128

70
60
55

...
...
...

13
15
18

60
55

...
...

10
15

115
110
105
100
90

...
...
...
...
...

...
...
3.5
5.0
9.0

53
105

68
150

...
...

85
75
60

...
...
...

12
15
20

68
60

...
...

10
15

60
105

75
160

95
85
70

...
...
...

10
12
15

76
70

...
...

10
15

65
60
55
50

...
...
...
...

8
10
12
15

55
50

...
...

10
15

Copper Alloy UNS No. C51000

O60
H04

H08

soft anneal
hard

spring

rod: round under 14

rod: round under 14
round and hexagonal:
14 to 12 , incl
over 12 to 1, incl
over 1
bar: square and rectangular:
14 to 38 , incl
over 38
rod: round:
0.026 to 116 , incl
over 116 to 18 , incl
over 18 to 14 , incl
over 14 to 38 , incl
over 38 to 12 , incl

...
...

Copper Alloy UNS No. C52100

O60
H04

soft anneal
hard

rod: round under 14

rod: round under 14
round and hexagonal:
14 to 12 , incl
over 12 to 1, incl
over 1
bar: square and rectangular:
14 to 38 , incl
over 38
Copper Alloy UNS No. C52400

O60
H04

soft anneal
hard

rod: round under 14

rod: round under 14
round and hexagonal:
14 to 12 , incl
over 12 to 1, incl
over 1
bar: square and rectangular:
14 to 38 , incl
over 38

...
...

Copper Alloy UNS Nos. C53400 and C54400

H04

A
B

hard

rod: round and hexagonal:

116 to 14 , incl
over 14 to 12 , incl
over 12 to 1, incl
over 1
bar: square and rectangular:
14 to 38 , incl
over 38

For rectangular bar, the Distance Between Parallel Surfaces refers to thickness.
In any case, a minimum gage length of 1 in. shall be used.

11.1.2 Test method(s) to be followed for the determination

of element(s) resulting from contractual or purchase order
agreement shall be as agreed upon between the manufacturer or
supplier and the purchaser.

C51000; UNS No. C52100; UNS No. C52400; UNS No.

C53400; UNS No. C54400

12. Keywords
12.1 phosphor bronze bar; phosphor bronze rod; phosphor
bronze shapes; piston-finish rod; shafting; shapes; UNS No.

B 139/B 139M 06
TABLE 3 Tensile Requirements for Rod and Bar, SI

NOTEFor inch-pound values, see Table 2.

Temper Designation
Code

Name

Diameter or Distance Between Parallel Surfaces,A mm

Tensile Strength, MPa

Elongation in 43
Diameter or
Thickness
of Specimen, min, %B

min

max

275
550

400
880

485
415
380

...
...
...

13
15
18

415
380

...
...

10
15

790
760
725
690
620

...
...
...
...
...

...
...
3.5
5.0
9.0

365
720

470
1030

...
...

585
515
415

...
...
...

12
15
20

470
415

...
...

10
15

415
725

515
1100

655
585
480

...
...
...

10
12
15

525
480

...
...

10
15

450
415
380
345

...
...
...
...

8
10
12
15

380
345

...
...

10
15

Copper Alloy UNS No. C51000

O60
H04

H08

soft anneal
hard

spring

rod: round under 6

rod: round under 6
round and hexagonal:
6 to 12 incl
12 to 25 incl
over 25
bar: square and rectangular:
6 to 9 incl
over 9
rod: round:
0.065 to 1.6 incl
over 1.6 to 3 incl
over 3 to 6 incl
over 6 to 9 incl
over 9 to 12 incl

...
...

Copper Alloy UNS No. C52100

O60
H04

soft anneal
hard

rod: round under 6

rod: round under 6
round and hexagonal:
6 to 12 incl
over 12 to 25 incl
over 25
bar: square and rectangular:
6 to 9 incl
over 9
Copper Alloy UNS No. C52400

O60
H04

soft anneal
hard

rod: round under 6

rod: round under 6
round and hexagonal:
6 to 12 incl
over 12 to 25 incl
over 25
bar: square and rectangular:
6 to 9 incl
over 9

...
...

Copper Alloy UNS Nos. C53400 and C54400

H04

A
B

hard

rod: round and hexagonal:

1.6 to 6 incl
over 6 to 12 incl
over 12 to 25 incl
over 25
bar: square and rectangular:
6 to 9 incl
over 9

For rectangular bar, the Distance Between Parallel Surfaces refers to thickness.
In any case, a minimum gage length of 25mm shall be used.

B 139/B 139M 06
SUMMARY OF CHANGES
Committee B05 has identified the location of selected changes to this standard since the last issue
(B 139/B 139M 01) that may impact the use of this standard. (Approved Feb. 1, 2006.)
(1) Sections were revised to conform to the B05 Outline of
Form.
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