Why is brass an alloy

Posted by: Dani Weinhandl on July 20, Unique Properties of Brass The proportions of zinc and copper within brass can be varied, creating a range of brass with varying properties. Common Uses for Brass Brass is most widely used in applications that are decorative and mechanical.

Decorative Applications Beyond its antimicrobial properties , brass's aesthetic value makes it a popular choice for decorative applications. Mechanical Applications From shell casings for an M assault rifle to everyday use bearings and gears, brass is widely used for mechanical applications.

Musical Instruments If you've ever participated in a concert band, marching band, or perhaps even a symphony, you are likely very aware of the brass all around you. Topics: Metal Products Brass. Subscribe to Our Blog. This along with beauty and ease of production make brass one of the most widely used alloys. Brass has, for centuries, been the metal of choice for many musical instruments.

It's an ideal alloy for the transport of water through pipes and fittings. It's also appropriate for use in marine engines and pump parts. It should not be surprising that one of the first commercial uses of brass was on naval ships. Another common usage of the metal comes from its non- magnetic nature. Clock and watch components, electrical terminals and munitions all require a metal that will not be affected by magnetism.

While compiling a complete list of all of the brass' applications would be a colossal task, we can get an idea of the breadth of industries and the types of products in which brass is found by categorizing and summarizing some end-uses based on the grade of brass used.

Alloy C brass, also called "free cutting brass," is alloyed with copper , zinc, and lead. Free cutting brass is very easy to machine, but also offers the same toughness and corrosion resistance as other forms of brass.

Some uses for free cutting brass include:. A soft brass alloy, gilding metal can be hammered or easily formed into desired shapes. Its unusual deep bronze color and ease of use make it ideal for craft-related projects.

Many of the properties of bronze overlap with those of copper and brass. There are a variety of bronze alloy types based on their composition. Choosing the right type of metal for an application is critical to designing and manufacturing a high-quality part or product. Although copper, brass, and bronze provide electrical and thermal conductivity, corrosion resistance, and strength, there are distinct differences between the three metals.

Some of the key differences to keep in mind when selecting sheet metal materials include:. With over 30 years of experience sourcing and buying alloys, we have the knowledge and skills to source specialty and hard-to-find copper alloys for your unique needs. Copper, brass, and bronze are three different metals that offer a variety of advantageous characteristics, such as conductivity, corrosion resistance, and machinability.

Consequently, metal sheets formed from these materials find use in a variety of industrial applications and end-use environments. To learn more about our material offerings, browse our copper , brass , and bronze inventories.

Contact Us Copper, Brass, and Bronze Metal Alloys Although copper, brass, and bronze belong to the same category of metals, each exhibits distinct characteristics that make it ideal for different circumstances. What Is Copper? Properties of Copper Copper has several properties that make it ideal for construction and manufacturing, such as: Copper demonstrates excellent thermal and electrical conductivity, making it suitable for use in electronic and electrical systems and thermal equipment.

It exhibits resistance to many forms of damage, including impact, wear, and corrosion. Additionally, it maintains its strength when flexed, formed, and drawn. Bacterial antimicrobial resistance. The material resists bacteria without degrading. It even kills bacteria that are exposed to its surface. This quality makes it ideal for use in food-safe equipment.

This alloy is an oxygen-free copper , which is suitable for when manufacturers need high conductivity and ductility. Alloy Also referred to as electrolytic ETP copper, this alloy demonstrates the highest level of electrical and thermal conductivity, as well as good ductility and malleability.

This alloy is mechanically similar to Alloy , but it also exhibits superior formability, weldability, and brazing capabilities. Of all the existing versions of brass, this is the softest, containing a staggering 95 percent copper and only 5 percent zinc.

This makes the metal look almost like pure copper—reddish and supple. Manufacturers in the electronic and industrial field are in constant hunt for metals that have high machinability. Luckily, they found that adding lead to brass makes the latter easy to cut with a satisfactory finish. Like admiralty brass, naval brass possesses an extremely high corrosion resistance, allowing it to withstand even long exposures to saltwater, which is known to be ten times more corrosive than fresh water.

This makes naval brass the perfect choice for most marine applications. Here are some of the brass benefits you should know before you use brass supplies for any of your projects:.

Both copper and zinc are non-ferrous metals, and the other elements that are added to the alloy are mostly non-ferrous as well. Even though brass tarnishes easily, this only affects its luster and not its performance and durability. The molecules of copper in brass are capable of producing ions that attack a certain type of protein in single-celled organisms, killing them instantly in the process. This makes brass and other copper-based metals for that matter an excellent material for water filtration and sanitation systems.

They are even suitable for lavatories, kitchen sinks, and other areas in the house that provide breeding ground for harmful microbes. Unlike pure copper and bronze, brass has a quite attractive appearance.