BRASS - Brass is an alloy made primarily of copper and zinc. The proportions of the copper and zinc are varied to yield many different kinds of brass. Brass often has a bright gold appearance however, it can also be reddish-gold or silvery-white. A higher percentage of copper yields a rosy tone, while more zinc makes the alloy appear silver. Brass has higher malleability than either bronze or zinc. Brass has desirable acoustic properties appropriate for use in musical instruments. Brass and bronze may appear similar, yet they are two distinct alloys. Basic modern brass is 67% copper and 33% zinc. However, the amount of copper may range from 55% to 95% by weight, with the amount of zinc varying from 5% to 40%. Lead is commonly added to brass at a concentration of around 2%. The lead addition improves the machinability of brass.

................................................................................................................................................................

Brass

What Is Brass? Composition and Properties

Brass Composition, Properties, and Comparison With Bronze

by Anne Marie Helmenstine, Ph.D. 

Brass is an alloy made primarily of copper and zinc.

The proportions of the copper and zinc are varied to yield many different kinds of brass.

Basic modern brass is 67% copper and 33% zinc. However, the amount of copper may range from 55% to 95% by weight, with the amount of zinc varying from 5% to 40%.

Lead is commonly added to brass at a concentration of around 2%. The lead addition improves the machinability of brass.

However, significant lead leaching often occurs, even in brass that contains a relatively low overall concentration of lead.

Uses of brass include musical instruments, firearm cartridge casing, radiators, architectural trim, pipes and tubing, screws, and decorative items.

Brass Properties

·          Brass often has a bright gold appearance, however, it can also be reddish-gold or silvery-white. A higher percentage of copper yields a rosy tone, while more zinc makes the alloy appear silver.

·          Brass has higher malleability than either bronze or zinc.

·          Brass has desirable acoustic properties appropriate for use in musical instruments.

·          The metal exhibits low friction.

·          Brass is a soft metal that may be used in cases when a low chance of sparking is necessary.

·          The alloy has a relatively low melting point.

·          It's a good conductor of heat.

·          Brass resists corrosion, including galvanic corrosion from saltwater.

·         Brass is easy to cast.

·          Brass is not ferromagnetic. Among other things, this makes it easier to separate from other metals for recycling.

Brass vs. Bronze

Brass and bronze may appear similar, yet they are two distinct alloys. Here's a comparison between them:

	Brass	Bronze
Composition	Alloy of copper and zinc. Commonly contains lead. May include iron, manganese, aluminum, silicon, or other elements.	Alloy of copper, usually with tin, but sometimes other elements, including manganese, phosphorus, silicon, and aluminum.
Color	Golden yellow, reddish gold, or silver.	Usually reddish brown and not as bright as brass.
Properties	More malleable than copper or zinc. Not as hard as steel. Corrosion resistant. Exposure to ammonia may produce stress cracking. Low melting point.	Better conductor of heat and electricity than many steels. Corrosion resistant. Brittle, hard, resists fatigue. Usually a slightly higher melting point than brass.
Uses	Musical instruments, plumbing, decoration, low-friction applications (e.g., valves, locks), tools and fittings used around explosives.	Bronze sculpture, bells and cymbals, mirrors and reflectors, ship fittings, submerged parts, springs, electrical connectors.
History	Brass dates back to around 500 B.C.E.	Bronze is an older alloy, dating back to about 3500 B.C.E.

Identifying Brass Composition by Name

Common names for brass alloys may be misleading, so the Unified Numbering System for metals and alloys is the best way to know the composition of the metal and predict its applications.

The letter C indicates brass is a copper alloy. The letter is followed by five digits.

Wrought brasses — which are suitable for mechanical forming — begin with 1 through 7.

Cast brasses, which may be formed from molded molten metal, are indicated using an 8 or 9.

Anne Marie Helmenstine, Ph.D.

Introduction

Ph.D. in biomedical sciences from the University of Tennessee at Knoxville - Oak Ridge National Laboratory.

Science educator with experience teaching chemistry, biology, astronomy, and physics at the high school, college, and graduate levels.

ThoughtCo and About Education chemistry expert since 2001.

Widely-published graphic artist, responsible for printable periodic tables and other illustrations used in science.

Experience

Anne Helmenstine, Ph.D. has covered chemistry for ThoughtCo and About Education since 2001, and other sciences since 2013. She taught chemistry, biology, astronomy, and physics at the high school, college, and graduate levels. She has worked as a research scientist and also abstracting and indexing diverse scientific literature for the Department of Energy.

In addition to her work as a science writer, Dr. Helmenstine currently serves as a scientific consultant, specializing in problems requiring an interdisciplinary approach. Previously, she worked as a research scientist and college professor. 

Education

Dr. Helmenstine holds a Ph.D. in biomedical sciences from the University of Tennessee at Knoxville and a B.A. in physics and mathematics with a minor in chemistry from Hastings College. In her doctoral work, Dr. Helmenstine developed ultra-sensitive chemical detection and medical diagnostic tests.

ThoughtCo and Dotdash

ThoughtCo is a premier reference site focusing on expert-created education content. We are one of the top-10 information sites in the world as rated by comScore, a leading Internet measurement company. Every month, more than 13 million readers seek answers to their questions on ThoughtCo.

For more than 20 years, Dotdash brands have been helping people find answers, solve problems, and get inspired. We are one of the top-20 largest content publishers on the Internet according to comScore, and reach more than 30% of the U.S. population monthly. Our brands collectively have won more than 20 industry awards in the last year alone, and recently Dotdash was named Publisher of the Year by Digiday, a leading industry publication.

https://www.thoughtco.com/brass-composition-and-properties-603729