What is Brass?

Brass is a workable, machinable, antibacterial, and anti-biofouling material. As briefly covered in our intro, brass is a metal alloy of copper and zinc that typically has a golden-yellow color but if the alloy has a lot of copper in it, it could sport a reddish hue. This type is called &#;red brass.&#; The exact quantities of copper and zinc (or other alloying elements) in the brass will determine its type and properties. Lead in brass will improve its corrosion resistance and machinability, and including iron will make it harder and easier to forge.

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Types of Brass

There are many brass alloys and they differ in their elemental makeup. Here are some of the most commonly used ones.

1. Alloy 260 (Cartridge Brass): This has around 70% copper and 30% zinc with impurities. This alloy has excellent hot formability and is readily cold-worked.
2. Alloy 280 (Muntz Brass / Muntz Metal): This brass alloy contains approximately 60% copper and 40% zinc, as well as trace amounts of iron. A common application for Muntz metal was as a less expensive replacement for the copper sheeting formerly placed on boat hulls to prevent the growth of sea organisms such as barnacles on the hulls. 
3. Alloy C360 (Free Machining Brass): This brass alloy contains approximately 60% copper, 35.5% zinc, up to 3.7% lead, and trace quantities of iron. This alloy is one of the easiest materials of all the brasses to machine and is classified as having a 100% machinability rating. It&#;s commonly used for parts like gears and bushings.
4. Alloy 385 (Architectural Bronze): Despite being called bronze, 385 brass has around 59% copper, 42% zinc, and up to 3.5% lead in it. This mixture makes it more machinabile and formabile, which is why it&#;s popular in architecture for aluminum extrusions. 
5. Brass 464 Marine Grade (Naval Brass): This brass alloy contains approximately 59% copper, 40% percent zinc, and 1% tin, with a small amount of lead. The combination produces a metal with exceptional corrosion resistance to seawater. Applications can include the various fittings found on the deck of a boat.

Properties of Brass

Table 1 below lists the mechanical and elemental makeup of the more common brass alloys. Many of these alloys instant quote on Xometry&#;s platform as a manufacturing material option.

Benefits of Using Brass Over Stainless Steel

Deciding between brass and stainless steel may come down to what&#;s more aesthetically appealing. However, the differences between the two metals go beyond color and what matches your kitchen or bathroom. Let us break down the brass tax and explore the benefits of using brass over stainless steel.

Corrosion-Resistant

Brass is far more corrosion-resistant than stainless steel. Steel is very vulnerable to corrosion in its unprotected, unalloyed state. Because of that, chromium in stainless steel coatings helps to reduce the corrosion rate. Even with chromium, however, steel can still corrode.

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Brass resists corrosion better than other metals. It has no iron interaction, making it last much longer than steel. As a result, brass is the metal of choice in the plumbing industry. Opting for brass ensures no faulty or busted pipes can wreak havoc on your project.

More Malleable

Ductility is vital with metals because we often contort them into unique shapes. Brass is better to work with because steel is quite stiff. While rigidity is ideal for some circumstances, other applications require malleable materials.

Brass is the answer to your flexibility needs. You can use brass in various applications, most notably in the automobile sector. When steel gets too hot from the engine or other components, it can crack or break. Brass, on the other hand, adapts to heat.

Better Conductor

Conducting electricity is an important ability for many metals. The primary difference between steel and brass is that the latter is a far better electrical conductor. Steel combines iron and carbon, making it poor at conducting electricity. For this reason, many electrical experts advocate replacing steel wires with brass. In addition to lowering the risk of electrical fires, brass simplifies supplying power to a house.

Applications for Each Metal

Stainless steel and brass have unique uses thanks to their composition. Steel is ideal for building projects due to its durability and longevity. It is a popular choice among architects for making the framework of structures like bridges and houses.

Smaller, more delicately manufactured projects often include brass because of its versatility and affordability. You can mold and shape brass to suit your needs with relative ease. It&#;s common in producing plumbing fixtures, valves, and fasteners for automobiles and airplanes.

It all comes down to what the project is when debating the benefits of using brass over stainless steel. Thin Metal Sales can cater to your needs by being the most trusted brass sheet supplier. We are happy to fulfill your requests, whether it&#;s for a small or large job.

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