Brass Companies and Suppliers

Brass

Brass is a versatile and commonly used alloy, composed primarily of copper and, to a lesser degree, zinc.

Quick links to Brass Information

• Applications of Brass
• Material Properties of Brass
• Manufacturing Process of Brass
• Factors to Consider When Purchasing Brass
• Brass Designations
• Brass Grades

Applications of Brass

Exhibiting the copper characteristics of good electricity and heat conductivity as well as malleability, brass is frequently used in the machining of radiators, electrical equipment, casing, pressure vessels, screws, and heat exchangers. Stronger than non-alloyed copper, brass is also popular in the creation of piping and tubing. In addition, non-sparking brass is sought after not only for petrochemical processing applications, but for the fabrication of a diverse list of low-friction products, including, but are not limited to, musical instruments, valves, doorknobs, ammunition, locks, gears, and bearings.

Material Properties of Brass

Today, brass is recognized as an alloy made up of a combination of approximately 67% copper and 33% zinc. However, it is a substitutional alloy, meaning that the atoms of its copper and zinc contents can replace one another within the same crystal structure. Also, in addition to copper and zinc, other metals, such as antimony, arsenic, iron, and tin, may be present in some iterations of the alloy. These metals are commonly added to brass compositions in order to improve their mechanical and/or physical properties, such as hardness, formability, strength, or appearance. Without the addition of other metals, brass most often takes on a matte, butter-like yellow hue, depending on its exact copper-to-zinc ratio. As a rule, the more zinc, the lighter the color of the alloy. Brass with particularly low levels of zinc exhibit a darker, reddish color, earning it the name “red brass.”

Manufacturing Process of Brass

To produce the various brass types needed to accommodate any given application, brass manufacturers begin by gathering the appropriate types and amounts of scrap metal. Once gathered, the scrap metal is weighed and, in predetermined increments, moved into a furnace. Usually, this furnace is powered by electricity, which allows it to reach the temperature at which the metals become molten. When the metals become molten, they homogenize (i.e., combine into one product). This is also the point at which manufacturers may add more scrap, if they deem it necessary. After this, they wait for recrystallization, which is the point at which they can pour or cast the metal into stock shapes. Once the preliminary shapes have been allowed to cool and harden, manufacturers conduct additional processing procedures. To finish ingots or billets, for example, manufacturers hot or cold roll them, extrude them, and cut them into more exact shapes, such as plates, bars, sheets, rods, strips, or foils. These stock brass shapes can then be sold to other manufacturers or end-users.

Factors to Consider When Purchasing Brass

When selecting a brass alloy for an application, it is essential to consider several factors, including elemental composition, shape, length, width, and weight. Brass may also be divided into classes based on their copper and zinc percentages.

The classes of brass are:

• Alpha Brasses
• Alpha-Beta (or Duplex) Brasses
• Beta Brasses
• Gamma Brasses
• White Brass

Alpha brasses have the highest copper content; these levels increase as you go down the list of classes until you reach gamma brasses, which have the lowest copper content. White brass, which is too brittle for general use, is half copper and half zinc.

Brass Designations

To help distinguish one brass alloy from another, brass manufacturers assign their products designations that indicate their composition and specific features. These designations begin with the letter “C,” which stands for copper, and are followed with five digits. These digits provide suppliers and other customers with a variety of important facts about the alloy at which they are looking. For example, designations beginning with the numbers one through seven indicate that the brass can be forged or machined. Designations beginning with eight or nine, on the other hand, let the customer know that that particular alloy may only be via casting. To find out more about brass designations and types, for questions about the best alloy for an application, or to place an order, consult with an experienced brass manufacturer today.

Brass Grades