Difference between revisions of "Brass" - New World Encyclopedia

Latest revision as of 13:23, 11 February 2022

A decorative brass paperweight (left), alongside samples of zinc and copper.

Brass is the term used for alloys of copper and zinc. It has a yellow color, somewhat similar to gold. The proportions of zinc and copper can be varied to create a range of brasses, each with unique properties.^[1] By comparison, bronze is principally an alloy of copper and tin.^[2] Despite this distinction, some types of brasses are called bronzes.

Brass is relatively resistant to tarnishing and is often used for decorative purposes. Its malleability and acoustic properties have made it the metal of choice for brass musical instruments. It is also used for plumbing and electrical applications.

Prehistoric usage

Brass has been known to humans since prehistoric times, long before zinc itself was discovered. It was produced by melting copper together with calamine, a zinc ore. During this process, the zinc gets extracted from the calamine and mixes with the copper. Pure zinc, on the other hand, is too reactive to have been produced by ancient metalworking techniques.

Properties

Brass has higher malleability than copper or zinc. The relatively low melting point (900–940 °C, depending on composition) of brass and its flow characteristics make it a relatively easy material to cast. By varying the proportions of copper and zinc, the properties of the brass can be changed, allowing the production of hard and soft brasses.

Aluminum makes brass stronger and more corrosion resistant. It forms a transparent, self-healing, protective layer of aluminum oxide (Al₂O₃) on the surface. Tin has a similar effect and finds its use especially in seawater applications (naval brasses). Combinations of iron, aluminum, silicon and manganese make brass resistant to wear and tear.

Recycling

Today, almost 90 percent of all brass alloys are recycled. Brass scrap is collected and transported to the foundry where it is melted and recast into billets. Billets are later heated up and extruded into the right form and size.

Applications

Based on its attractive color and resistance to tarnishing, brass is used for making decorative items.

Given its malleability and tonal qualities, it is used for brass musical instruments such as the trombone, tuba, trumpet, and euphonium. Although the saxophone is classified as a woodwind instrument and the harmonica is a free reed aerophone, both are also often made from brass. In organ pipes designed as "reed" pipes, brass strips are used as the "reed."

Brass is also used for plumbing and electrical applications.

A well-known alloy used in the automotive industry is 'LDM C673', where the right combination of manganese and silicon lead to a strong and resistant brass.

The so-called dezincification-resistant (DZR) brasses (brasses that resist the leaching out of zinc), such as alloy 'LDM G563' (brand name 'Enkotal'), are used where there is a large corrosion risk and when normal brasses do not meet the standards. Applications with high water temperatures, presence of chlorides, or deviating water qualities (soft water) play a role. DZR brass is excellent in water boiler systems. This brass alloy must be produced with great care, with special attention placed on a balanced composition and proper production temperatures and parameters to avoid long-term failures. Drunen, Netherlands, has the only active production facility that makes these high-grade brass alloys.

Brass can be used for cryogenic containers.

It was used to make fan blades, fan cages, and motor bearings in many antique fans that date before the 1930s.

Brass types

Admiralty brass contains 30 percent zinc and one percent tin, which inhibits dezincification (leaching out of zinc) in most environments.
Alpha brasses (Prince's metal), with less than 35 percent zinc, are malleable, can be worked cold, and are used in pressing, forging, or similar work.
Alpha-beta brass (Muntz metal), also called duplex brass, is 35-45 percent zinc and is suited for hot working.
Aluminum brass contains aluminum, which improves its corrosion resistance.
Arsenical brass contains an addition of arsenic and frequently aluminum, and is used for boiler fireboxes.
Beta brasses, with 45-50 percent zinc content, can only be worked hot, and are harder, stronger, and suitable for casting.
Cartridge brass is a 30 percent zinc brass with good cold working properties.
Common brass, or rivet brass, is a 37 percent zinc brass, cheap and standard for cold working.
DZR brass is dezincification-resistant brass with a small percentage of arsenic.
High brass, contains 65 percent copper and 35 percent zinc, has a high tensile strength and is used for springs, screws, rivets.
Leaded brass is an alpha-beta brass with an addition of lead. It has excellent machinability.
Low brass is a copper-zinc alloy containing 20 percent zinc with a light golden color, excellent ductility and is used for flexible metal hoses and metal bellows.
Naval brass, similar to admiralty brass, is a 40 percent zinc brass and one percent tin.
Red brass is an American term for CuZnSn alloy known as gunmetal.
White brass contains more than 50 percent zinc and is too brittle for general use.
Yellow brass is an American term for 33 percent zinc brass.

Notes

↑ Engineering Designer, v 30, n 3, May-June 2004, 6-9.
↑ Machinery Handbook, Industrial Press Inc, New York, Edition 24, page 501.

References
ISBN links support NWE through referral fees

Davis, J.R., editor. ASM Specialty Handbook: Copper and Copper Alloys. ASM International, 2001. ISBN 0871707268
Flinn, Richard Alfred. 1961. Copper, brass, and bronze castings: Their structures, properties, and applications. Non-ferrous Founders Society. ASIN B0007EHBWO
Maynard, H.B. Brass and Alloy Founding. Lindsay Publications, 2005. ISBN 1559183160

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[1] Engineering Designer, v 30, n 3, May-June 2004, 6-9.

[2] Machinery Handbook, Industrial Press Inc, New York, Edition 24, page 501.

[1]

[2]

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-{{otheruses}}
+{{Copyedited}}{{Images OK}}{{Submitted}}{{Approved}}{{Paid}}
-'''Brass''' is the term used for [[alloy]]s of [[copper]] and [[zinc]]; the proportions of zinc and copper can be varied to create a range of brasses each with unique properties<ref>''Engineering Designer, v 30, n 3, May-June 2004, 6-9</ref>. Note that in comparison [[bronze]] is principally an alloy of copper and [[tin]].<ref>''Machinery Handbook'', Industrial Press Inc, New York, Edition 24, page 501</ref>.  Despite this distinction, some types of brasses are called [[bronze]]s. Brass is a substitutional alloy.
-[[Image:Brass.jpg|right|thumb|250px|A decorative brass paperweight, left, along with zinc and copper samples.]]
+ [[Image:Brass.jpg|right|thumb|250px|A decorative brass paperweight ''(left)'', alongside samples of zinc and copper.]]
-Brass has a yellow color, somewhat similar to [[gold]]. It is relatively resistant to [[tarnish]]ing, and is often used as decoration.
-Brass has been known to humans since prehistoric times, long before zinc itself was discovered. It was produced by melting copper together with [[calamine (mineral)|calamine]], a zinc ore. During this process, the zinc is extracted from the calamine and mixes with the copper. Pure zinc, on the other hand, is too reactive to have been produced by ancient metalworking techniques. Brass is mainly used for decorative, plumbing and electrical applications.
+'''Brass''' is the term used for [[alloy]]s of [[copper]] and [[zinc]]. It has a yellow color, somewhat similar to [[gold]]. The proportions of zinc and copper can be varied to create a range of brasses, each with unique properties.<ref>''Engineering Designer'', v 30, n 3, May-June 2004, 6-9.</ref> By comparison, [[bronze]] is principally an alloy of copper and [[tin]].<ref>''Machinery Handbook'', Industrial Press Inc, New York, Edition 24, page 501.</ref> Despite this distinction, some types of brasses are called bronzes.
+{{toc}}
+Brass is relatively resistant to [[tarnish]]ing and is often used for decorative purposes. Its malleability and acoustic properties have made it the metal of choice for [[brass instrument|brass]] [[musical instrument]]s. It is also used for plumbing and electrical applications.
+== Prehistoric usage ==
+Brass has been known to humans since prehistoric times, long before zinc itself was discovered. It was produced by melting copper together with [[calamine (mineral)|calamine]], a zinc ore. During this process, the zinc gets extracted from the calamine and mixes with the copper. Pure zinc, on the other hand, is too reactive to have been produced by ancient metalworking techniques.
 == Properties ==
-The malleability and acoustic properties of brass have made it the metal of choice for [[brass instrument|brass]] [[musical instruments]] such as the [[trombone]], [[tuba]], [[trumpet]] and [[euphonium]]. Even though the [[saxophone]] is classified as a [[woodwind instrument]] and the [[harmonica]] is a [[free reed aerophone]], both are also often made from brass. In organ pipes designed as "reed" pipes, brass strips are used as the "reed".
-Brass has higher malleability than copper or zinc.  The relatively low melting point (900–940 °C depending on composition) of brass and its flow characteristics make it a relatively easy material to cast.  By varying the proportions of copper and zinc, the properties of the brass can be changed, allowing hard and soft brasses.
+Brass has higher malleability than copper or zinc. The relatively low [[melting point]] (900–940 °C, depending on composition) of brass and its flow characteristics make it a relatively easy material to cast. By varying the proportions of copper and zinc, the properties of the brass can be changed, allowing the production of hard and soft brasses.
+[[Aluminum]] makes brass stronger and more corrosion resistant. It forms a transparent, self-healing, protective layer of [[aluminum oxide]] (Al<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub>) on the surface. [[Tin]] has a similar effect and finds its use especially in seawater applications (naval brasses). Combinations of iron, aluminum, [[silicon]] and [[manganese]] make brass resistant to wear and tear.
+== Recycling ==
+Today, almost 90 percent of all brass alloys are recycled. Brass scrap is collected and transported to the foundry where it is melted and recast into billets. Billets are later heated up and extruded into the right form and size.
+== Applications ==
+* Based on its attractive color and resistance to tarnishing, brass is used for making decorative items.
+* Given its malleability and tonal qualities, it is used for [[brass instrument|brass]] [[musical instruments]] such as the [[trombone]], [[tuba]], [[trumpet]], and [[euphonium]]. Although the [[saxophone]] is classified as a [[woodwind instrument]] and the [[harmonica]] is a [[free reed aerophone]], both are also often made from brass. In organ pipes designed as "reed" pipes, brass strips are used as the "reed."
+* Brass is also used for plumbing and electrical applications.
-Today almost 90% of all brass alloys are recycled. Brass scrap is collected and transported to the foundry where it is melted and recast into billets. Billets are later heated up and extruded into the right form and size.
+* A well-known alloy used in the automotive industry is 'LDM C673', where the right combination of manganese and silicon lead to a strong and resistant brass.
-Aluminum makes brass stronger and more corrosion resistant. Aluminum also causes a highly beneficial hard layer of [[aluminium oxide]] (Al<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub>) to be formed on the surface that is thin, transparent and self healing. Tin has a similar effect and finds its use especially in sea water applications (naval brasses). Combinations of iron, aluminum, silicon and manganese make brass wear and tear resistant. A well known alloy used in the automotive industry is 'LDM C673', where the right combination of manganese and silicon lead to a strong and resistant brass.
+* The so-called [[dezincification]]-resistant (DZR) brasses (brasses that resist the leaching out of zinc), such as alloy 'LDM G563' (brand name 'Enkotal'), are used where there is a large corrosion risk and when normal brasses do not meet the standards. Applications with high water temperatures, presence of chlorides, or deviating water qualities (soft water) play a role. DZR brass is excellent in water boiler systems. This brass alloy must be produced with great care, with special attention placed on a balanced composition and proper production temperatures and parameters to avoid long-term failures. Drunen, Netherlands, has the only active production facility that makes these high-grade brass alloys.
-The so called [[dezincification]] resistant (DZR) brasses, like alloy 'LDM G563' (known for its brand name 'Enkotal'), are used where there is a large corrosion risk and where normal brasses do not meet the standards. Applications with high water temperatures, chlorides present or deviating water qualities (soft water) play a role. DZR-brass is excellent in water boiler systems. This brass alloy must be produced with great care, with special attention placed on a balanced composition and proper production temperatures and parameters to avoid long-term failures. Drunen, Netherlands, has the only active production facility which makes these high grade brass alloys.
+* Brass can be used for [[cryogenic]] containers.
-Brass was used to make fan blades, fan cages and motor bearings in many antique fans that date before the 1930s. Brass can be used for [[cryogenic]] containers. {{fact}}
+* It was used to make fan blades, fan cages, and motor bearings in many antique fans that date before the 1930s.
 == Brass types ==
-* '''Admiralty brass''' contains 30% zinc and 1% [[tin]] which inhibits [[dezincification]] in most environments.
-* '''Alpha brasses''' ([[Prince's metal]]), with less than 35% zinc, are malleable, can be worked cold, and are used in pressing, forging, or similar. They contain only one phase, with [[face-centered cubic]] [[crystal structure]].
+* ''Admiralty brass'' contains 30 percent zinc and one percent [[tin]], which inhibits dezincification (leaching out of zinc) in most environments.
-* '''Alpha-beta brass''' ([[Muntz metal]]), also called '''duplex brass''', is 35-45 % zinc and is suited for hot working. It contains both α and β' phase; the β'-phase is [[body-centered cubic]] and is harder and stronger than α. Alpha-beta brasses are usually worked hot.
+* ''Alpha brasses'' ([[Prince's metal]]), with less than 35 percent zinc, are malleable, can be worked cold, and are used in pressing, forging, or similar work.
-* '''Aluminum brass''' contains aluminum, which improves its corrosion resistance.
+* ''Alpha-beta brass'' ([[Muntz metal]]), also called ''duplex brass'', is 35-45 percent zinc and is suited for hot working.
-* '''Arsenical brass''' contains an addition of [[arsenic]] and frequently aluminium and is used for [[boiler]] [[Firebox (steam engine)|firebox]]es.
+* ''Aluminum brass'' contains aluminum, which improves its corrosion resistance.
-* '''Beta brasses''', with 45-50 % zinc content, can only be worked hot, and are harder, stronger, and suitable for casting.
+* ''Arsenical brass'' contains an addition of [[arsenic]] and frequently aluminum, and is used for [[boiler]] [[Firebox (steam engine)|firebox]]es.
-* '''Cartridge brass''' is a 30% zinc brass with good cold working properties.
+* ''Beta brasses'', with 45-50 percent zinc content, can only be worked hot, and are harder, stronger, and suitable for casting.
-* '''Common brass''', or '''rivet brass''', is a 37% zinc brass, cheap and standard for cold working.
+* ''Cartridge brass'' is a 30 percent zinc brass with good cold working properties.
-* '''DZR brass''' is Dezincification resistant Brass with a small percentage of Arsenic.
+* ''Common brass'', or ''rivet brass'', is a 37 percent zinc brass, cheap and standard for cold working.
-* '''High brass''', contains 65% copper and 35% zinc, has a high tensile strength and is used for [[spring (device)|springs]], [[screw]]s, [[rivet]]s.
+* ''DZR brass'' is dezincification-resistant brass with a small percentage of arsenic.
-* '''Leaded brass''' is an alpha-beta brass with an addition of [[lead]]. It has excellent machinability.
+* ''High brass'', contains 65 percent copper and 35 percent zinc, has a high tensile strength and is used for [[spring (device)|springs]], [[screw]]s, [[rivet]]s.
-* '''Low brass''' is a copper-zinc alloy containing 20% zinc with a light golden color, excellent ductility and is used for flexible metal hoses and metal [[bellows]].
+* ''Leaded brass'' is an alpha-beta brass with an addition of [[lead]]. It has excellent machinability.
-* '''Naval brass''', similar to admiralty brass, is a 40% zinc brass and 1% tin.
+* ''Low brass'' is a copper-zinc alloy containing 20 percent zinc with a light golden color, excellent ductility and is used for flexible metal hoses and metal [[bellows]].
-* '''Red brass''' is an American term for CuZnSn alloy known as [[gunmetal]].
+* ''Naval brass'', similar to admiralty brass, is a 40 percent zinc brass and one percent tin.
-* '''White brass''' contains more than 50 % zinc and is too brittle for general use.
+* ''Red brass'' is an American term for CuZnSn alloy known as [[gunmetal]].
-* '''Yellow brass''' is an American term for 33% zinc brass.
+* ''White brass'' contains more than 50 percent zinc and is too brittle for general use.
+* ''Yellow brass'' is an American term for 33 percent zinc brass.
 == See also ==
-*[[Calamine brass]] &mdash; brass alloy and manufacturing process from discovery until the late 18th century
-*[[Corinthian brass]] &mdash; an alloy of gold, silver and copper, known to antiquity
-*[[Pinchbeck (alloy)|Pinchbeck]] &mdash; a brass that closely resembles gold in appearance.
-*[[Bronze]] &mdash; an alloy of [[copper]] with [[tin]] and optionally [[zinc]], [[silicon]], [[nickel]] and other metals
-*[[Cupronickel]] &mdash; an alloy of copper with nickel
-*[[Tombac]] &mdash; an alloy of copper with zinc
-*[[Brass instrument]] &mdash; a musical instrument usually made of brass
-*[[Brass rubbing]] &mdash; reproduction of ''[[Monumental brass|brasses]]'', commemorative plates laid down in British and European churches from the 13th Century onwards'''
-*[[Brass bed]] &mdash; history of the usage of brass in beds and bedframes
-==External links==
+* [[Alloy]]
-*[http://www.npi.gov.au/database/substance-info/profiles/27.html National Pollutant Inventory - Copper and compounds fact sheet]
+* [[Bronze]]
-*[http://www.copper.org The Copper Development Association] also maintains a [http://www.brass.org web site dedicated to brass].
+* [[Copper]]
+* [[Zinc]]
+==Notes==
+<references/>
 == References ==
-<references />
-[[Category:Copper alloys]]
+* Davis, J.R., editor. ''ASM Specialty Handbook: Copper and Copper Alloys''. ASM International, 2001. ISBN 0871707268
+* Flinn, Richard Alfred. 1961. ''Copper, brass, and bronze castings: Their structures, properties, and applications''. Non-ferrous Founders Society. {{ASIN|B0007EHBWO}}
+* Maynard, H.B. ''Brass and Alloy Founding''. Lindsay Publications, 2005. ISBN 1559183160
+[[Category:Physical sciences]]
+[[Category:Materials science]]
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