DIN 17660 CuZn20Al2 F39 Seamless Copper Alloy Tube for Heat Exchanger

Product Overview

DIN 17660 CuZn20Al2 F39 seamless copper alloy tube is an aluminum brass tube manufactured for heat exchanger, condenser and other industrial heat-transfer applications.

CuZn20Al2 is a copper-zinc-aluminum alloy. The F39 designation identifies a specified material condition with defined mechanical requirements. The product is supplied as seamless round tubing and can be manufactured in customized outside diameters, wall thicknesses and lengths according to project requirements.

The tube is suitable for equipment where copper alloy tubing is specified for heat-transfer service, including condensers, heat exchangers and evaporator systems.

For projects requiring an exact European material designation, the applicable standard, material grade, temper and product form should be confirmed against the purchase specification and material certificate.

Technical Specifications

The existing product information lists CuZn20Al2 F39 as a seamless copper alloy tube and gives customized dimensions for industrial heat exchanger applications.

Material Designation

CuZn20Al2

CuZn20Al2 belongs to the copper-zinc alloy family with aluminum as an alloying element.

The available product information identifies the alloy with approximately:

• Copper: 76.0–79.0%

• Aluminum: 1.8–2.5%

• Zinc: Balance

• Lead and iron controlled according to the applicable specification

The exact chemical composition should be verified against the applicable edition of DIN 17660 and the material test certificate for the supplied heat.

Important Material Identification

CuZn20Al2 should not be described as CW509L.

CW509L is the European designation for CuZn40, with copper approximately 59.5–61.5% and zinc as the balance. It is a different brass grade from CuZn20Al2.

Therefore, the product page should not use:

CuZn20Al2 / CW509L

as interchangeable material designations.

If the customer's MTC actually specifies CW509L / CuZn40, then this should be treated as a different product page.

Chemical Composition

For the CuZn20Al2 material listed on the existing product data:

The exact heat analysis shall be reported according to the applicable material standard and purchase order.

Mechanical Properties – F39

The existing technical data for CuZn20Al2 F39 specifies:

These values should be retained only when the supplied material and applicable edition of the standard confirm the F39 condition. The MTC should govern for each production lot.

Manufacturing Process

The CuZn20Al2 F39 tube can be manufactured through a controlled seamless copper alloy tube production process:

1. Copper alloy raw material preparation

2. Billet inspection and heat identification

3. Hot extrusion or piercing

4. Cold drawing

5. Intermediate heat treatment where required

6. Final sizing

7. Straightening

8. Cutting

9. Surface cleaning

10. Nondestructive testing

11. Dimensional inspection

12. Final marking and packaging

The actual production route depends on the specified tube dimensions, temper and applicable technical requirements.

Tube Dimensions

Available dimensions can be customized according to the customer's requirements.

Typical order information includes:

• Outside diameter

• Wall thickness

• Tube length

• Dimensional tolerances

• Surface condition

• End condition

• Material condition

• Testing requirements

For heat exchanger applications, tube dimensions can be coordinated with the tube-sheet hole diameter, tube pitch and tube expansion requirements.

Surface Finish

Available surface conditions may include:

• Mill finish

• Cleaned surface

• Polished surface

• Bright finish where specified

The required surface condition should be stated in the purchase order when a specific finish is required.

Nondestructive Testing

Eddy current testing can be applied to seamless copper alloy tubes according to the applicable product specification and purchase requirements.

Additional testing can include:

• Eddy Current Test

• Hydrostatic Test

• Pneumatic Test

• Dimensional Inspection

• Surface Inspection

The exact testing method should be specified according to the applicable standard and customer requirements.

Heat Exchanger Applications

CuZn20Al2 F39 seamless tubes can be used in equipment such as:

• Shell-and-tube heat exchangers

• Surface condensers

• Industrial condensers

• Evaporators

• Oil coolers

• Cooling-water systems

• Steam condenser systems

• Turbine-related cooling equipment

The existing product information specifically identifies heat exchangers, evaporators, condensers, gland steam condensers, steam ejectors and turbine oil coolers among the applications.

Condenser Tube Applications

Copper alloy tubes are widely used as heat-transfer tubing in condenser equipment.

For a specific condenser project, material selection should consider:

• Cooling-water chemistry

• Temperature

• Flow velocity

• Tube-side environment

• Tube-sheet material

• Tube-to-tubesheet joining method

• Design requirements

A generic corrosion-resistance statement should not replace application-specific material selection.

Tube-to-Tubesheet Installation

For heat exchanger and condenser applications, tube OD and wall thickness should be matched to the tube-sheet design.

Depending on the equipment design, the tube may be installed by:

• Mechanical expansion

• Tube rolling

• Other tube-to-tubesheet joining methods specified by the equipment designer

The selected material condition should be considered when designing the tube expansion process.