Gunmetal Casting – LG2 Bronze Casting for Valves, Pumps and Fittings
Cable Glands India produces gunmetal casting and LG2 bronze casting components for valve bodies, pump housings, pipe fittings, marine hardware, and electrical connector blanks. LG2, also known as gunmetal, is a leaded tin bronze alloy cast to BS 1400 LG2 and ASTM C83600 composition, selected across industries for its combination of pressure tightness, machinability, and corrosion resistance in water, steam, and marine service. Valve manufacturers, pump OEMs, EPC contractors, and marine equipment builders source gunmetal castings from Cable Glands India because our foundry controls melt chemistry, degassing, and mould design to deliver sound, porosity-free castings ready for precision machining.
Price: US$ 14.50 per kilogram | Custom pricing available for bulk and OEM orders
Product Overview
What LG2 Gunmetal Casting Is
LG2 is the British Standard designation for a leaded gunmetal alloy containing copper, tin, zinc, and lead in proportions that give a good balance of strength, pressure tightness, and machinability. The alloy is close in composition to ASTM C83600, so LG2 and C83600 castings are widely treated as interchangeable across export markets for valve, pump, and fitting applications.
Casting Methods Used for Gunmetal Components
Cable Glands India produces LG2 gunmetal castings using sand casting for larger or lower volume components, gravity die casting for higher volume repeatable parts, and centrifugal casting for cylindrical blanks such as bushings, bearing bushes, and valve body preforms that benefit from the directional solidification this method provides.
Pressure Tightness for Valve and Pump Bodies
Because gunmetal castings frequently form pressure-retaining valve bodies and pump housings, foundry practice focuses on controlling gas porosity and shrinkage through degassing, controlled pouring temperature, and gating design, so that machined bores and flange faces meet pressure test requirements without impregnation in most cases.
Machinability and Post-Cast Processing
The leaded tin bronze structure of LG2 gives good chip formation and surface finish during turning, boring, and threading operations, allowing valve seats, flange faces, and threaded ports to be machined to close tolerance directly from the as-cast blank without excessive tool wear.
Corrosion Resistance in Water and Marine Service
Gunmetal resists dezincification and general corrosion in fresh water, seawater, and steam service better than many brass alloys, which is why LG2 castings remain the standard material for marine valve bodies, seawater pump casings, and potable water fittings across many national plumbing and marine codes.
Electrical and Structural Connector Blanks
Beyond fluid handling components, gunmetal castings are supplied as blanks for transformer connectors, busbar supports, and structural bronze fittings where the combination of conductivity, castability, and corrosion resistance is required in a single material.
Custom Pattern and Tooling Development
For OEM and project-specific components, Cable Glands India develops wood, metal, or 3D-printed patterns and core boxes in-house, allowing new gunmetal casting designs to move from drawing to first sample casting without dependency on a third-party pattern shop.
Key Features
- LG2 / C83600 gunmetal composition for pressure tightness and machinability
- Sand casting, gravity die casting, and centrifugal casting available
- Corrosion resistant in fresh water, seawater, and steam service
- Suitable for valve bodies, pump casings, fittings, and connector blanks
- Custom pattern and tooling development in-house
- CNC machining available on the same castings for finished components
- Batch-wise chemical composition and mechanical test certificates
- Casting weights from small fittings to large valve body blanks
Alloy Composition Control
Melt chemistry is verified by spectrometer analysis before pouring to confirm copper, tin, zinc, and lead content falls within the LG2 / C83600 specification window, ensuring consistent mechanical and corrosion performance across production batches.
Sand Casting for Larger Components
Sand casting supports larger valve bodies, pump casings, and low to medium volume components where pattern cost must remain proportionate to order quantity, while still achieving the dimensional control needed for machining allowances.
Gravity Die Casting for Repeatable Volumes
Permanent metal dies produce gunmetal castings with tighter as-cast tolerances and better surface finish than sand casting, reducing machining stock and cycle time for medium to high volume fittings and connector blanks.
Centrifugal Casting for Cylindrical Blanks
Centrifugal casting produces a directionally solidified, low-porosity cylindrical blank ideal for bushings, bearing bushes, and tubular valve body preforms that are subsequently machined to finished dimension.
Pressure Testing and Quality Verification
Finished or semi-finished castings intended for pressure service can be hydrostatically tested to the pressure and standard specified by the customer, with test certificates issued alongside material composition reports.
Integrated Machining Capability
Because Cable Glands India operates CNC machining alongside the foundry, gunmetal castings can be supplied as finished, ready-to-install valve bodies, fittings, or connectors rather than as rough castings requiring further outside processing.
Technical Specifications
| Parameter | Typical Range / Value |
|---|---|
| Alloy designation | BS 1400 LG2 / ASTM C83600 |
| Tensile strength | 170 to 220 MPa (sand cast) |
| Elongation | 12 percent to 18 percent |
| Hardness | 60 to 70 HB |
| Density | Approximately 8.7 g/cm3 |
| Casting methods | Sand casting, gravity die casting, centrifugal casting |
| Maximum working temperature | Approximately 260 degrees C (application dependent) |
| Typical casting weight range | 0.1 kg to 150 kg (larger on request) |
Raw Material Grades
| Grade | Alloy Type | Key Properties |
|---|---|---|
| LG2 (BS 1400) | Leaded gunmetal | Pressure tight, machinable, general purpose |
| C83600 | Leaded red brass / bronze | ASTM equivalent to LG2, good castability |
| C90300 | Tin bronze | Higher strength, good wear resistance |
| LG4 (BS 1400) | Leaded gunmetal, higher lead | Improved pressure tightness for valve bodies |
International Equivalent Standards
| Country / Standard Body | Equivalent Reference |
|---|---|
| UK – BS | BS 1400 LG2 |
| USA – ASTM | ASTM B584 C83600 |
| Germany – DIN | DIN 1705 CuSn5ZnPb / Rg5 |
| Europe – EN | EN 1982 CC491K |
| India – IS | IS 318 Grade LTB2 |
Product Types and Variants
| Casting Type | Description | Typical Use |
|---|---|---|
| Sand cast blanks | Larger components, low to medium volume | Valve bodies, pump casings |
| Gravity die cast blanks | Tighter tolerance, medium to high volume | Pipe fittings, connector blanks |
| Centrifugal cast bushings | Directionally solidified cylindrical blank | Bearing bushes, valve preforms |
| Finished machined components | Fully machined from cast blank | Ready-to-install valves, connectors |
Applications in Industry
Valve and Pump Manufacturing
LG2 gunmetal castings form valve bodies, bonnets, and pump casings for water, steam, and general industrial fluid handling systems.
Marine and Offshore Fittings
Seawater resistant gunmetal castings are used for marine valves, deck fittings, and seawater pump components on vessels and offshore platforms.
Potable Water and Plumbing Systems
Gunmetal fittings and valve bodies are widely specified in potable water distribution systems due to low leaching characteristics relative to leaded brass and good pressure tightness.
Electrical Connector and Busbar Support Castings
Gunmetal blanks are machined into transformer connectors, busbar supports, and structural bronze fittings requiring both conductivity and mechanical strength.
General Industrial Bronze Components
Bushings, bearing housings, and wear plates are cast in gunmetal where a combination of strength, machinability, and moderate wear resistance is required.
Manufacturing Process
Production begins with melt preparation in induction furnaces, where copper, tin, zinc, and lead are charged and alloyed to the LG2 / C83600 specification, verified by spectrometer analysis before pouring. Depending on component size and volume, castings are produced by sand casting, gravity die casting, or centrifugal casting, then fettled to remove gates, risers, and flash. Castings intended for pressure service are visually and, where specified, radiographically or hydrostatically inspected before proceeding to CNC machining, where flange faces, bores, threads, and sealing surfaces are finished to drawing tolerance. Finished components are cleaned, dimensionally inspected, and packed for dispatch with accompanying material and test certification.
Quality Standards and Certifications
| Standard / Certification | Scope |
|---|---|
| ISO 9001 | Quality management system certification |
| BS 1400 | Reference specification for LG2 gunmetal composition and properties |
| ASTM B584 | Reference specification for copper alloy sand castings |
| EN 1982 | Reference specification for copper alloy ingots and castings |
| RoHS | Restriction of hazardous substances compliance on request |
Why Choose Cable Glands India
- In-house melting, casting, and CNC machining for full process control
- Spectrometer verified alloy composition on every melt batch
- Sand, gravity die, and centrifugal casting capability under one roof
- In-house pattern and tooling development for new component designs
- Pressure testing and material certification on request
- Competitive per-kilogram pricing with volume and OEM discounts
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1: What is LG2 gunmetal?
LG2 is a British Standard leaded gunmetal alloy composed of copper, tin, zinc, and lead, closely equivalent to ASTM C83600, used for pressure-tight castings such as valve bodies and pump housings.
Q2: Is LG2 the same as gunmetal?
Yes, LG2 is a specific gunmetal grade defined in BS 1400, and the term gunmetal is commonly used interchangeably with LG2 in industry.
Q3: What casting methods do you offer?
We offer sand casting, gravity die casting, and centrifugal casting depending on component size, tolerance requirement, and order volume.
Q4: Can gunmetal castings be used in seawater applications?
Yes, gunmetal is widely specified for marine valves and seawater pump components due to its corrosion resistance in saline environments.
Q5: Can you supply finished machined components, not just raw castings?
Yes, our foundry and CNC machining operations work together to supply fully finished, ready-to-install components from the same gunmetal casting.
Q6: What casting weight range can you produce?
Standard capability covers castings from approximately 0.1 kg up to 150 kg, with larger components available on request.
Q7: Do you provide pressure testing?
Yes, hydrostatic pressure testing can be performed to the pressure and standard specified by the customer for pressure-retaining components.
Q8: Can you develop new patterns for custom components?
Yes, pattern and core box development is handled in-house, allowing new designs to progress from drawing to first sample casting without third-party dependency.
Q9: Do you provide material test certificates?
Yes, spectrometer composition reports and mechanical test certificates are provided with every batch on request.
Q10: What is the standard lead time?
Standard lead time is 4 to 6 weeks depending on pattern availability, quantity, and machining requirements.
International Equivalent Terms
| Language | Equivalent Terms |
|---|---|
| Spanish | Fundicion de metal de canon, Fundicion de bronce LG2 |
| Russian | Litio iz pushechnogo metalla, Bronzovoye litio LG2 |
| French | Fonte en bronze au canon, Fonte de bronze LG2 |
| Portuguese | Fundicao de metal de canhao, Fundicao de bronze LG2 |
| Italian | Fusione in metallo di cannone, Fusione di bronzo LG2 |
Linked Parts and Related Terms
Gunmetal Casting, LG2 Bronze Casting, C83600 Casting, Valve Body Casting, Pump Casing Casting, Sand Casting, Gravity Die Casting, Centrifugal Casting, Bronze Pipe Fitting.
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Get a Quote – Gunmetal / LG2 Bronze Casting
Ready to source LG2 gunmetal castings for valves, pumps, fittings, or custom bronze components? Our foundry team can recommend the correct casting method and alloy grade for your application.
Price: US$ 14.50 per kilogram | Custom pricing available for bulk and OEM orders
Email: sales@cableglandsindia.com
Phone / WhatsApp: +91-22-43449300
Website: www.cableglandsindia.com
Share your drawing, required quantities, and preferred delivery timeline, and we will respond with a detailed quotation within one business day.