 
Brass is an alloy of copper and zinc that has unique and beneficial
properties for a wide range of engineering and building applications.
Brass is often the first-choice material for electrical, precision,
and general engineering equipment. It is usually specified for its
strength, ductility, hardness, conductivity, machinability, wear resistance,
color, and corrosion resistance. Its high ratings for machinability
sets the standards by which other materials are judged. The addition
of small amounts of lead further improves machinability.
The availability of brasses in precise shapes such as extrusions,
hot stampings, drawn tubes, and die castings eliminates much of the
machining costs required to produce finished components.
There are over 40 standard compositions for brass, with copper contents
ranging from 58% to 95%. Small additions of other alloying elements
are used to modify the properties of brass to meet specific applications.
Brass is the preferred material in many engineering and building applications
for the following reasons:
- Brasses often offer better and longer service performance than other
materials.
- Brasses have excellent resistance to corrosion. Outdoor exposure
results in a thin protective green patina that is a visually attractive
feature in buildings and other structures.
- Brasses have superior electrical and thermal conductivities to ferrous
alloys, nickel alloys, and titanium. Their high conductivity combined
with corrosion resistance makes them ideal for electrical equipment.
- The presence of lead in brass has a lubricating effect that provides
low friction and low wear properties. This improves the functioning
of clocks, gears, pinions, and plates. The addition of silicon in
brass is ideal for resisting wear in heavy duty bearings.
- Since brasses do not spark when struck, they are common materials
in hazardous environments.
- Brasses are readily joined to other copper alloys or to other metals
by most commercial joining processes, such as riveting, soft soldering,
silver brazing, and friction welding.
- Brasses exhibit excellent cryogenic properties.
- Brasses are ideal substrates for electroplating and painting.
- Brasses are highly recyclable. There is substantial demand for scrap
brass, which is eventually recycled into refined brass and copper
products.
- Brasses are frequently the cheapest material to select.
- Brasses can be easily cast to shape. |
