Cunifer appears to be a copper-nickel-iron alloy (Cu = copper, Ni = nickel,
Fer = iron) that is accepted in Europe as brake line. In the US, it's
known as Monel alloy 400.
>From the data sheet at http://www.hpalloy.com/DataSheets/400.htm :
"A Nickel-Copper alloy, resistant to sea water and steam at high
temperatures as well as to salt and caustic solutions. Alloy 400 is a
nickel-copper alloy with excellent corrosion resistance in a wide variety
of media. The alloy is characterized by good general corrosion resistance,
good weldability and moderate to high strength. The alloy has been used in
a variety of applications. It has excellent resistance to rapidly flowing
brackish water or seawater. It is particularly resistant to hydrochloric
and hydrofluoric acids when they are de-aerated. The alloy is slightly
magnetic at room temperature. The alloy is widely used in the chemical, oil
and marine industries."
It does not appear to be US DOT approved, but that's probably just because
our DOT is 30 years out of date. Even when I lived in a state with a
safety inspection (similar to MOT but much less rigorous), they didn't pay
any attention to replacement materials, so I doubt this is an issue.
California has no safety inspection, and the only state regulation I've
found regarding brakes on cars just says they have to stop the car.
However, I'll bet money you can't buy Monel tubing at Home Depot ! <g>
Randall
On Wednesday, May 05, 1999 12:50 AM, John Dowson [SMTP:jdo@star.le.ac.uk]
wrote:
>
> In the UK there are basically two types of approved automotive
> hydraulic tubing.
>
> The first is the normal steel tubing used as standard which is
> sometimes called Bundy Tubing probably because it was made
> by a company called Bundy?
>
> The second is an after market tubing called Cunifer which is a trade
> name for a copper/nickel tubing. It is designed for automotive brake
> and fuel lines, is widely used for repair work and is approved by our
> MOT inspectors.
>
> I do not know what it is called in the US but I have used Cunifer in
> many projects, it is harder to flare than steel but does not corrode
> and has a higher burst pressure than steel or copper.
>
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