What Is Naval Brass CZ112 (BS2874)?

Naval Brass CZ112 — also known as CW712R (EN), C46400 (UNS), CuZn37Sn1 (ISO/DIN), Alloy 464, C464 brass, or 464 naval brass in US markets — is a copper-zinc-tin alloy containing approximately 60% copper, 37–39% zinc, and 1% tin. It is also widely referred to as naval bronze in some procurement documents and markets, though technically it is a brass (copper-zinc-tin) rather than a true bronze (copper-tin); both terms describe the same CZ112 / C46400 material. It is classified and supplied under BS2874 in the UK and international marine markets, and under EN 12163 as CW712R in European specifications. The defining characteristic that sets CZ112 apart from standard 60/40 yellow brass (CZ108) is the 1% tin addition, which dramatically improves resistance to dezincification — the selective leaching of zinc from the brass matrix that causes porous, mechanically weak failure in corrosive aqueous environments.

Dezincification is a well-documented failure mechanism in standard yellow brass exposed to seawater, chloride-bearing waters, and aggressive industrial fluids. In dezincified brass, zinc is selectively removed leaving behind a porous copper sponge that looks intact externally but has no structural integrity. Naval Brass CZ112 suppresses this mechanism through the synergistic effect of tin with the copper-zinc matrix, making it the standard brass specification for marine fittings, seacocks, valve bodies, pump components, and any application involving sustained contact with seawater or corrosive water.

At Nifty Alloys, we supply Naval Brass CZ112 in round bars, hex bars, and flat bars from our Dubai warehouse, with EN 10204 3.1 mill test certificates confirming chemistry (including tin content), mechanical properties, and heat traceability, available for immediate dispatch to UAE, GCC, and global marine project destinations.