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National Sanitation Foundation study of the potential for dezincification in alloy C87850, Eco Brass
To All Interested Parties:
Yesterday we received results from the National Sanitation Foundation regarding their independent study of the potential for dezincification in alloy C87850, Eco Brass. As we know, many third party sources have issued warnings regarding dezincification issues with C87850 alloy due to the high zinc levels. C87850 passed the National Sanitation Foundation test with flying colors. There was no dezincification noted. In addition to this news c87850, Eco Brass, is the only copper based alloy to have received approval by the Federal EPA to be anti microbial. The issue of microbial contamination in potable water and on metal surfaces is becoming a national concern. We look forward to the continuing success of this alloy in reducing green house gases and adding to the solutions to eradicate harmful bacteria’s.
In addition to this news we are also pleased to announce that customers using C87850 in sand casting applications have been able to produce casting yields in excess of 50%. This is in stark contradiction to comments made by third parties stating that C87850 has bad yields. We continue to look forward to the application of good science for the benefit of all customers in evaluating this 21st century alloy.
Yours truly,
Tim Strelitz
President CMX
CMX certified for Utility Supplier Diversity Program
CMX is proud to announce that we have received approval from The Suppliers Clearinghouse of the PUC in the State of California certifying us as a “women owned and/or minority-owned business”. This certification allows both CMX and its customers preferential discounts when competing for certain, municipal, state or federal contracts.
In this current economic downturn it is important to take advantage of any and all opportunities that can give you an upper hand in staying competitive. CMX’s minority status can give that edge. This status enables CMX to be recognized as a women and/or minority-owned business eligible for procurements by public utilities participating in the Utility Supplier Diversity Program. Participating utility companies may operate in and outside of California and will accept the MBE certification in those other states.
Participating utilities, as do many large businesses and government agencies, have MBE Initiatives and Programs, which include “outreach” to women and/or minority business enterprises, inclusion of MBE’s in their procurement solicitations and specific goals for MBE’s. Consult the specific terms of your bid contract or call The Supplier Clearinghouse for more information.
CMX Receives NSF/ANSI 61 Certification for Eco Brass
California Metal-X is proud to announce our NSF (National Sanitation Foundation) approval of Eco Brass alloy. CMX has obtained certification for Eco Brass to NSF/ANSI Standard 61, including Annex G demonstrating compliance with California’s Health and Safety Code Section 116875 (commonly known as AB 1953). Eco Brass contains a maximum lead content of 0.09% well below the targets set by California, Vermont and the EPA for lead standards in potable water systems.
The NSF Water Treatment and Distribution Systems Program is responsible for Certification of drinking water treatment chemicals and drinking water system components. NSF Certification ensures these products do not contribute contaminants to drinking water that could cause adverse health effects.
NSF/ANSI Standard 61 establishes minimum health effects requirements for materials, components, products, or systems that come into contact with drinking water, drinking water treatment chemicals, or both.
Eco Brass is a lead-free alloy with excellent machine-ability, forge-ability and high strength, equal to that of stainless steel. Eco Brass is a great choice for plumbing and potable water applications. Its low melting temperature helps reduce any foundries carbon emissions. When melting, Eco Brass provides cost savings. It also qualifies and meets the requirements of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) antimicrobial alloys.
Eco Brass is the new “Green Alloy” of the 21st century. Made from recycled metals, it is lead free to help protect present and future generations from the cumulative effects of lead contamination in drinking water systems. California Metal-X is committed to a cleaner, “green” environment. Our goal is to supply the water plumbing industry with the best no-lead alloy available. Learn more about Eco Brass.
CMX Website Gets A Facelift
In an effort to provide the highest level of service to our customers we have recently revamped our website. We hope that the new functionality makes it easier for you to find the products and services you need.
We’ve added an online quote form to streamline the process but of course still welcome any phone calls if you prefer that method of communication.
If you have any questions, comments or feedback we’d love to hear from you.
Eco Brass Fact Sheet
A comparison of C87850 ECO BRASS® with C89833, C89836 and Envirobrass®
- C87850 alloy ingot is made to a manufacturing specification of max. .05 % lead. This alloy is compliant to AB 1953 and with the Federal EPA definition of a lead free alloy.
- C87850 alloy is currently the only lead free alloy to be designated and registered by the Federal EPA to be anti microbial. ECO BRASS is among the few casting alloys registered. Once Federal and State registrations are complete, Alloy C87850, Eco Brass can be promoted in killing germs. This would make it highly suitable for Hospitals, food preparation areas, schools, gyms and all other public buildings.
- C87850 alloy is significantly lower priced than any of the lead free bismuth alloys.
- C87850 alloy is significantly stronger than the bismuth alloys and the C844 and C836 alloys. This allows for thinner wall thicknesses.
- C87850 alloy runs about 7% less dense than the bismuth alloys. This allows a 7% savings based solely on metal cost. This also infers a 7% increase per thousand weight of product produced.
- C87850 alloy melts and pours between 1750°F and 1900°F generating a 10% power savings over all of the bismuth alloys.
- C87850 generates little to no smoke, from ZnO, and little to no fuming. This means higher metal recovery in the furnace, less slag and it provides a very clean furnace with little to no cleaning required. This also means that ZnO by-products will be significantly lower.
- Because C87850 alloy has no bismuth it has exceptional cold and warm embrittlement cracking resistance. Bismuth is very similar to lead in that it remains independent of the other elements alloyed with it. Bismuth is also very similar to water in that as it cools it actually expands causing stress within the cast part. C87850 alloy has none of these issues.
- C87850 alloy is typically adaptable to all current foundry gating, risering and molding operations. Properly gated patterns will require little to no modifications. Foundry yields will remain the same and increase as the learning curve for using C87850 develops in the foundry.
- C87850 can be plated without any additional copper flashing.
- C87850 is NSF pending. We expect to have full approval within 60 days.
- C87850 alloy is a three phase alloy that creates (type #1 chips) when machined. This means that the machined chips will be small and fully reusable in the foundry. The minimal drosses and slags are easily sellable into any market or to any copper refinery.
- C87850 alloy, Eco Brass, is globally available with no constraints of supply or capacity or elements such as bismuth.
- C87850 alloy, Eco Brass, achieves 80-100% machinability of the other free cutting alloys without the concerns of micro porosity.
Many claims have been made about all types of problems arising from the use of C87850. None of these claims have been proven. We ask that production foundries look long and hard at the decisions being made to be compliant with AB 1953 as well as the upcoming new Federal EPA standards for airborne leads. C87850 alloy has been used successfully in Japan for over 10 years with more than 40,000,000 pounds poured and zero field failures. All of us are in this together. The decisions we make today will have big impacts for our industry and our ability to be competitive in the market place.
