The results are in! A scientific study commissioned by the California Metals Coalition has proven ECO BRASS^® to be a superior choice for drinking water applications compared to other tested brass alloys. ^[1]The three key ECO BRASS® characteristics – performance, sustainability, and cost/value – make the critical difference when it comes to brass selection for potable water components.

• Performance – ECO BRASS® proved to resist dezincification, stress corrosion crackling, underground corrosion simulation, and pitting resistance testing as well as or better than the other leaded and lead-free* alloys in the study. No alloys exhibited dezincification in the ISO6509 test, no alloys cracked in the ASTM B858 one-day and UL1821 ten-day tests and all alloys showed some level of sulfide scaling in a chemical environment known to cause corrosion similar to that experienced by underground components. Further, all alloys resisted pitting in the high pH, high Cl₂ water of the type that causes pitting failures in copper pipe.
• Sustainability – ECO BRASS® was superior in environmental impact and human health sustainability, requiring less energy and creating fewer emissions compared to the leaded and bismuth brasses in the study. Lower pour temperature of silicon brasses resulted in lower energy use and CO₂ This lower pour temperature also results in a lower human health impact due to the substantial reduction in flue dust emissions.
• Cost/value – ECO BRASS® alloys clearly provide for less waste, competitive machining rates, and lower cost than competitive alloys. Furnace refractory life, mold sand life, and manufacturability with current processes were greater with ECO BRASS.

The results from the UCLA report suggest that ECO BRASS® is the preferred material for drinking water applications. ECO BRASS® outpaced competing brass alloys in performance, sustainability, and cost/value. Wieland Chase and Copper Company, LLC, one of the world’s foremost providers of brass rod, is proud to make ECO BRASS® and can assure you that your lead-free components are in strict compliance with the Safe Drinking Water Act and RoHS regulations.

Please contact Wieland Chase and Copper Company, LLC to satisfy your requirements for brass rod, bar, custom shapes, forging, casting, lead-free bearing and bushing and antimicrobial applications.

Chase has brass alloy in stock and can give you a brass casting quote and brass castings part quote. 

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[1] “Alternatives Assessment Case Study of Lead-Free Brass Alloys for Drinking Water Applications: A Private Report for the California Metals Coalition” dated June 9, 2017 by Peter Sinsheimer, PH.D., MPH (UCLA) and Marc Edwards, Ph.D. (Virginia Tech)

*This product complies with 0.25% weighted average lead content on wetted surfaces in accordance with Safe Water Drinking Act (SDWA) / Federal Public Law No. 111-380.