Brass

Brass is primarily an alloy consisting of copper with added zinc. Brass can have varying amounts of zinc or other added elements. These variable mixtures produce a wide range of properties and variations in color. Higher amounts of zinc provide the material with greater strength and ductility. Brass can vary in color from red to yellow depending on the amount of zinc added to the alloy.

• If the zinc content of the brass ranges from 32% to 39%, it will have higher hot work capabilities, but cold work will be limited.
• If the brass contains more than 39% zinc, it will have greater strength and lower ductility (at room temperature).

Brass applications

Brass is commonly used for decorative purposes mainly due to its resemblance to gold. It is also commonly used to make musical instruments due to its high workability and durability.

Other brass alloys

Tin brass
This is an alloy that contains copper, zinc and tin. This group of alloys would include admiralty brass, naval brass and free machining brass. Tin has been added to inhibit decincification (leaching of zinc from brass alloys) in many environments. This group has low sensitivity to decincification, moderate resistance, high resistance to atmospheric and aqueous corrosion and excellent electrical conductivity. They have good hot forging and good cold formability. These alloys are typically used to make fasteners, marine hardware, screw machine parts, pump shafts and corrosion-resistant mechanical products.

Types

L1 Sheet | CuZn37

CuZn37 is used for a wide variety of purposes that involve cold work by forming, stretching, turning, etc. Some of its examples are: lamp covers and switch components. In the form of strip and wire for springs and contacts ...

L1 Bar | CuZn39Pb3

CuZn39Pb3 is mainly used where machining is required. The material is particularly suitable for machine treatment. It has an excellent hot working property, it has poor water resistance, various saline solutions and organic fluids ...

L3 Plate | CuZn38Sn1

The Borncesval L3 Plate is commonly known as naval brass due to its resistance to corrosion in seawater and other slightly aggressive environments. It is a copper and zinc alloy with a small addition of tin to help corrosion resistance ...