What is the difference between copper and brass

How to distinguish copper from brass: their difference and which is more expensive? | Hand over Metal

Brass alloys are almost always made with a copper content of over 70%. This composition affects the external and physicochemical parameters of metals. Copper and brass are difficult to distinguish with similar compositions. They have the same color, properties and a number of characteristics.

It is important to identify the type of metal before selling it to the secondary market - the difference in cost reaches 150-200 rubles per kg. When considering copper and brass, differences can be identified in six ways.

Some methods can be done at home; others require special equipment and experience.

Basic similarities and differences between metals

Even taking into account that brass alloys contain 80% copper, there are differences in the metals:

Brass:	Copper:
· comparatively lighter; · hard, difficult to bend; · has a yellowish-golden color; · when planing, it produces needle-like residues.	· the product is heavier; · soft and plastic; · has a red-brown color; · the chips twist into a spiral when cut.

The differences are noticeable when comparing products with a similar set of components. Often, additives change the color and characteristics of copper, making the alloys look similar. So common properties can be:

metallic shine;
corrosion resistance;
same color and shade;
high thermal conductivity.

Alloys with similar compositions must be tested using special methods - visual inspection, tactile properties or analysis equipment.

Visual identification of differences

Considering brass and copper, the difference in external parameters is visible only in three ways:

Color. Noticeable when studying alloys with different components. Brass compounds always have a golden or yellowish tint. Copper may be brownish, reddish or pinkish. The shade of brass alloys is influenced by the percentage of zinc content, and of copper alloys by its own proportion.
Weight. The content of zinc and non-metallic substances in the composition of brass reduces the weight of products. Copper is heavier because it is made with a higher proportion of metal components. However, the indicator directly depends on the brand, so it does not provide accurate information.
Shavings. When cutting a layer from copper, the waste will curl, since the metal is soft. There will be splinters flying off the brass.

These features do not allow us to give an accurate assessment of similar alloys, but they make it possible to easily identify the desired metal of different grades.

Inspection is usually required before selling metals on the secondary market. We will identify and evaluate products free of charge, guaranteeing fair prices. To find out the conditions, go to the “Acceptance of brass for scrap” page.

Differences in "sound"

Not many people know how to distinguish copper from brass by the sound they make when struck. This type of testing requires experience. A beginner needs to find one of the metals to compare with products to determine its type. The sound when hitting alloys is different:

Brass has a more ringing and high-pitched sound. The reason is the hardness of the alloy. It increases vibrations during mechanical action.
Copper produces a low and muffled sound - the metal is softer and more ductile, so some of the vibrations are absorbed by the product.

To strike, you need to use a metal object - preferably iron. This will help amplify the sound, which will give a clearer result.

Hardness and density of metals

If you want to determine whether copper or brass is heavier, you need to know about the density of the metals. Copper alloys are lighter and therefore have lower densities. Considering the physical properties, mechanical effects on products help to identify differences. By hitting metal, you will achieve a difference in the degree of deformation:

Copper will bend more - it is a soft metal. A clear trace of the impact will remain on the surface, repeating the shape of the object impacted.
Brass is more difficult to deform. Depending on the alloy, there may not be significant changes left on the product. Upon impact, a faint trace of mechanical impact will be noticeable.

To check, it is necessary to use substances with a harder structure - steel, cast iron. It is also worth using items 1.5–2 times heavier than those being tested.

Chemical way to find differences

Among the alloys there is the L-96 grade. It contains 96% copper. How to determine brass or copper in this case? Physical manipulation will not achieve results, so it is necessary to conduct a chemical analysis. For this you will need hydrochloric acid. The result of the impact will be:

No reaction for copper. If you place the alloy in hydrochloric acid, the element will simply purify without reactions.
Brass is affected by hydrochloric acid. The composition of the alloy undergoes reactions - it contains zinc, which is easily decomposed. The interaction of brass products with acid will lead to the formation of white oxide - as a result of the reaction, zinc chloride is formed.

This method is effective, however, not safe. Hydrochloric acid affects most objects and easily corrodes skin. However, it is not easy to find it in the public domain. It is not recommended to check using this method unless absolutely necessary.

By drilling

The simplest method. This method is carried out using a drill or milling equipment. The cut part of the product will allow you to determine the type of metal:

when drilling copper, long solid chips will come from the point of impact, which will twist into a spiral;
Brass begins to crumble under the influence of cutting tools, so needle-like particles become waste.

This method is only suitable for determining the alloy of products that will not be used in the future. Typically, drilling is used for scrap metal with subsequent delivery of products to the secondary market.

Professional determination of differences between copper and brass

Even after carrying out all the above methods, owners are not always able to determine the type of metal. Similar compositions and characteristics sometimes make it difficult to identify the alloy at home. The only accurate option is spectral analysis. This method is carried out by professionals using equipment that creates electromagnetic radiation. The method has a number of advantages:

high accuracy of identifying alloy components;
checking as quickly as possible - it takes 2-3 minutes;
preservation of the product - the check does not damage the integrity of the metal.

However, testing equipment is difficult to rent and expensive to purchase. You can determine the type of metal by spectral analysis at our collection points. We provide free pre-purchase metal valuations and can also offer metal identification services separately.

What is more expensive: copper or brass?

The composition largely influences the cost. However, even the worst copper products are purchased at a higher price. The reason is the demand for metal and an easier recycling process. Our company accepts copper alloys from 275 rubles/kg.

To find out more about prices, go to the “Sell Copper Scrap” section. Before contacting, you can get a free consultation by phone or in the chat window.

Source: https://sdaymetall.ru/stati/kak-otlichit-med-ot-latuni/

Differences between copper and brass and bronze, their characteristics

For those who collect and sell scrap metal, it is very important to be able to distinguish copper from brass. After all, the price of metal is much higher. The main thing is to know some of the physical and chemical properties of pure copper and its alloys. There are also several techniques that allow you to easily understand this issue.

Characteristics of copper, brass and bronze

In appearance, copper, brass and bronze are quite similar. But they also have significant differences:

Copper is a non-ferrous metal with a characteristic reddish tint. It is soft, so it is easy to work with. In addition, the metal conducts heat and electricity well, which is why it is used for the manufacture of electrical wires, parts of radiators and electrical appliances. Another distinctive feature of it is the ability to become quite covered with a green coating (patina) in conditions of high humidity.
Bronze is an alloy of tin and copper. It also contains aluminum, beryllium, silicon and lead. It happens that instead of tin, nickel or zinc is added to a non-ferrous metal. But in this case, the quality of the alloy suffers greatly. Therefore, bronze is divided into tin and tin-free. The color of the alloy depends on which element it contains more. Shades can be different - from yellow-pink to brown and gold. Bronze, unlike copper, is very hard; a plate of the alloy cannot be bent by hand. But just like copper, bronze products are strongly oxidized under the influence of the external environment, becoming covered with a patina.
Brass is an alloy of copper and zinc to which tin, silicon, lead or manganese are added. Depending on the copper content, brass alloy can have shades ranging from golden yellow to red-brown. Brass is much stronger and harder than non-ferrous metal and has less ductility. In addition, the alloy is not so susceptible to oxidation, so it is almost not covered with plaque.

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These common characteristics help differentiate copper from brass and bronze. To achieve a more accurate result, quite often you have to resort to special methods.

There are several methods to distinguish non-ferrous metal from its alloys. This can be done both without the use of special means and with the help of chemical reactions and tools.

The best experts in metals are the people who work with them, as well as those who are well aware of their properties. So, a person who knows the difference between copper and brass is a foundry worker, a chemistry teacher, a scrap metal acceptor with extensive experience, a pawn shop worker, or a jeweler. All of them, to one degree or another, work with metals and know a lot about them.

Definition of color and sound

The main difference between a metal and its alloys is color. To determine what a product is made of, you need to:

Clean it from the layer of dirt and patina.
Examine carefully under daylight or under a white fluorescent lamp. Under no circumstances should the product be examined under the light emanating from an incandescent lamp.
The best option would be to compare a brass or bronze product with a copper one. A piece of wire, which is always made of non-ferrous metal, is suitable as such an example.

Copper always has a reddish tint, brass is yellow or golden , and the color of bronze can be from yellow-pink to brown.

The main thing in this method is to take your time and carefully examine the sample. But if brass contains more than 80% bronze, then the color of the alloy will not differ much from the color of the metal.

A characteristic feature that allows you to distinguish brass from bronze is the sound heard when a metal object hits the sample under study. The difference will be fairly easy to hear. A copper object has a muffled and low sound, while a brass object, on the contrary, has a ringing and high-pitched sound. This is a very effective method, but is only used when testing large samples.

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Application of chemical solutions

To check whether the person in front of you is copper or brass, you can use a small amount of hydrochloric acid solution. This chemical is dropped onto the test sample and the reaction is monitored. Nothing will happen to pure metal, but a white substance will be released on the surface of the brass - zinc oxide.

But a salt solution helps to distinguish copper from bronze. It needs to be heated and poured over the sample being studied. The metal will darken when exposed to a hot saline solution, unlike bronze, which will not change at all.

Drill Usage and Marking

Using a drill you can easily identify brass. But it is important to remember that the tool will damage the metal object. The fact is that during operation of the drill, chips come out from under the drill, which for copper are quite long and ornate, while for brass they are, on the contrary, short and needle-shaped. After all, the metal is much softer than its alloy.

Sometimes on a piece of the material being examined you can see markings that can easily tell you what is in front of a person. So, the mark on copper begins with the letter “M”, and on brass - with “L”. But in other countries, product labeling is somewhat different from Russian:

In the USA you can see C2, C3, C4 badges on brass alloy.
In the European Union, the letter C is placed on copper and brass, but after it on the metal you can see A, B, C, D, and on the alloy - L, M, N, P, R.

This method makes it quite easy to distinguish pure copper from brass. If markings are present, then you should not resort to other recognition methods.

Sample hardness and weight difference

If the sample is small and thin-walled, then you can try to bend it. The metal is soft and easily deformed, while its alloy is much harder and less susceptible to external influences.

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If the inspector has two pieces of the same shape and volume in front of him, then determining whether it is a metal or an alloy will not be difficult . The fact is that copper and bronze are much heavier than brass. When comparing samples of different weights and shapes, the use of this method becomes much more difficult.

These methods make it possible to fairly accurately distinguish pure metal from its alloys without the use of expensive special means. The main thing is to follow the recommendations. And then, when selling scrap metal, expensive copper will not be mistaken for cheaper brass and bronze.

Source: https://vtothod.ru/othody/otlichiya-medi-ot-latuni-i-bronzy-ih-harakteristiki

How to determine what we have in front of us: brass or copper, their main differences

Anyone who searches for and sells non-ferrous metal sometimes has doubts about the type of scrap and, accordingly, its true value upon delivery.

Copper is a non-ferrous metal, and brass is an alloy that is typically 70% copper, so it often resembles it.

A mistake can be quite costly. For copper at collection points they give 285-300 rubles, for brass - about 150 . There are many ways to find out what kind of metal we see - copper or brass, and we will tell you how to distinguish them from each other in this article.

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What is copper and brass

Copper is a non-ferrous metal. Its color is reddish-pink, it is pliable when working, soft and malleable. It has high thermal and electrical conductivity, so copper is often used to produce:

parts of electrical appliances;
cables;
radiators.

Copper is not hardened because it becomes hard even after cold forging. It tends to become covered with patina - a green coating that occurs when the ambient humidity is high.

To increase strength, improve a number of other indicators and reduce the cost of the material, impurities are added and an alloy is obtained.

One such alloy is brass .

In the classic version it contains a third of zinc.

Brass is golden yellow, stronger and harder. It does not oxidize so intensively , and is not so plastic.

Sometimes, depending on the purpose of the alloy, they add:

tin;
silicon;
lead;
manganese.

Similarities and differences

Brass alloy consists mostly of copper, so it is natural that they are similar not only visually, but also in some properties. The more copper in the alloy, the more similar their colors will be. This is where the exact coincidences end.

Visually, less than 80% copper are easily distinguished . They are slightly similar to gold, as they have a pronounced yellow tint. The more zinc, the lighter the shade.

Because of this, brass is even used to counterfeit or imitate gold . Copper has a main shade of reddish, which often has a pink tint.

With a strong decrease in temperature, brass does not lose its relatively limited ductility and does not become brittle . Conducts electricity and heat worse.

They differ in such a way as hardness .

Copper is softer and more ductile , while brass, on the contrary, is hard and it is difficult to give it any shape without annealing.

The shavings are also different: for brass they are needle- shaped , for copper they are twisted into a spiral .

Let's look at the properties that brass and copper have and whether they have any differences:

Copper	Brass
Plastic, soft	Solid
Reddish-brown-pink tint	Golden tone
Lower sound on impact	Alt
Heavy	Easier
The shavings are twisted into a spiral	Needle shavings

Most often you can distinguish by:

mind;
weight;
degree of hardness

without the use of any tools or equipment.

But there are situations when, for accuracy, it is necessary to use :

reagents,
tools,
devices.

Before assessing the scrap that you are going to take to the collection point, you need to clean it of dirt, otherwise you won’t be able to accurately determine it by eye.

Both metals, although to varying degrees, can develop a patina .

Therefore, do not forget to clean the scrap well.

If an object has been in the open air or in water for a long time, the patina layer is difficult to remove.

Sometimes it will be justified to purchase a special cleaning product .

It is advisable to inspect the scrap under a powerful white light.

This implies that one can view either under the sun on a fine day or under a bright fluorescent lamp . Incandescent lamp is not suitable.

Pure copper will have a reddish-brown tint, sometimes with a pink tint. Keep in mind that brass can be red or orange. This type is commonly used for decorations and water pipes.

If the material has an orange, yellow or golden tint, you can be almost sure that it is brass.

Source: https://rcycle.net/metally/cvetnye/kak-opredelit-latun-ili-med-ih-osnovnye-otlichiya

Unmistakable determination of copper from brass

Working with metals and alloys requires knowledge of the physical and chemical characteristics of elements and methods for recognizing them at home. We suggest you understand in more detail how to distinguish copper from brass on your own and with the assistance of specialists.

How to distinguish copper from brass

For the first time we learn about the composition and physical and chemical characteristics in chemistry lessons. Copper or cuprum (Cu) is a pure metal, and if it contains a zinc alloy, it is called brass. The main physicochemical differences are as follows:

color – reddish for cuprum, yellowish for brass;
weight – indicators of the mass of the first element are slightly heavier than the alloy;
hardness – Cu has a soft consistency compared to the second element;
density - the density of cuprum is 8920 kg/m3, for the second material they are slightly lower.

The most popular methods for recognizing copper from brass are independent (at home) and laboratory.

Conclusion

Knowledge of the physical and chemical properties of elements will tell you how to distinguish and determine the qualitative composition of an alloy. Many of the determination methods are available for use at home. Consultations with specialists followed by an examination guarantee maximum accuracy and 100% effectiveness of the research.

Source: https://anexmetall.ru/articles/kak-otlichit-med-ot-latuni/

How to distinguish copper brass tubes. Difference between brass and copper. Basic properties and parameters of copper - Legal advice

Anyone who searches for and sells non-ferrous metal sometimes has doubts about the type of scrap and, accordingly, its true value upon delivery.

Copper is a non-ferrous metal, and brass is an alloy that is typically 70% copper, so it often resembles it.

Difference between brass and copper

Understanding the difference between brass and copper is sometimes really necessary. This applies, for example, to cases where you plan to make money from selling scrap, because copper is a more expensive raw material. To better navigate the issue, let’s find out how brass differs from copper.

articles

Brass takes its place among copper-based alloys. It contains significant amounts of zinc. Sometimes brass also contains a small proportion of other elements, such as nickel or manganese.

Brass

Copper is one of the non-ferrous metals. Extracted from ores and minerals. Conducts current, so it is often found in electrical products.

Copper

Comparison

A color sign will help you understand what is in front of your eyes - an alloy or pure metal. In this respect, the difference between brass and copper is quite clear.

Let us immediately make a reservation that the study is best carried out by making a cut, especially if the object has been lying around or is heavily soiled. It should be noted that brass has a yellowish tint. And the more zinc it contains, the lighter the product looks.

Brass often resembles gold and is sometimes even used to counterfeit the precious metal.

Copper's main color is reddish. Additionally, it can cast pink, brown or orange - it all depends on the time the copper object is in the environment. Copper also often turns green. This usually occurs under prolonged exposure to moisture.

However, sometimes the alloy is almost indistinguishable in color from pure copper. This means that the percentage of copper in brass is very large. How to recognize the substance in this case? Here one cannot do without special analysis. You will need a drop of hydrochloric acid. If it comes into contact with brass, it will react with zinc and release a white substance. And copper will simply be cleaned after such contact.

Another convincing sign is hardness. This quality is inherent to a greater extent in brass. It is difficult to change the shape of a product made from it without annealing. Copper is ductile and does not break when bent. Having a soft structure, this metal produces spiral-shaped chips. In turn, brass shavings look like needles.

You can notice the difference between brass and copper by trying to extract sound from a stretched wire. A brass product will sound higher. And in conclusion, all of the above should be supplemented by the fact that brass is lighter compared to copper.

Table

Brass	Copper
Golden tone	Reddish tint
Solid	Plastic
Needle shavings	ornate shavings
Sounds higher	Sounds lower
Easier	Heavier

Source: https://TheDifference.ru/chem-otlichaetsya-latun-ot-medi/

How to distinguish copper from brass by chips, sound, hardness, weight

Brass is an alloy of copper and zinc. Other elements may be added. The more different components there are in brass, the cheaper it is. However, this alloy is stronger than pure metal. It does not oxidize so quickly and is not so plastic. And, most importantly, more affordable.

What is more expensive - copper or brass? The answer to this question is clear. Copper costs an order of magnitude higher than brass. The price may differ by two times. The reason is the composition on which the characteristics of these materials depend.

Comparative characteristics

The appearance of brass depends on how much copper it contains. If more than 80%, then it will be very difficult to distinguish the alloy. However, the more zinc, the lighter the shade; it loses its reddish notes and becomes more yellow. Let's compare the general physical characteristics of these materials:

Index	Copper	Brass
Weight	Heavier	Easier
Color	Pinkish brown	Golden yellow
On impact	Low sound	Alt
Density	Plastic	Solid
Shavings	Spiral	Needle

As follows from the table, despite their similar composition, copper and brass are very different in both chemical and physical characteristics.

How to tell - copper or brass?

Before starting a comparative analysis, it is necessary to clean the metal from dirt and patina. There are ways to tell the difference at home without using tools. But it is better to reliably determine whether it is an alloy or a metal, using a number of possible methods.

Color

As for the shade, the difference may be small for materials such as copper and brass. It all depends on the level of metal content in the alloy. However, there are still differences. First of all, you need to completely clean the object under study from dirt. Studying should be done under bright, white lighting. Either sunlight or fluorescent light will do.

Copper will have a brown tint with a red or pinkish tint. The color range of brass lies in yellow tones. However, to be completely sure, it is better to take an item that is definitely made of copper and visually compare its color with the shade of the object being studied.

Sound

How to identify copper or brass by sound? If the object is large enough, then this is one of the simplest and most accurate methods of analysis. You need to hit the object with some metal thing and listen carefully to the pitch of the sound. Copper, as a softer material, will produce a lower, even dull sound. Brass, on the contrary, will sound loud and high.

Hardness

How to test brass at home? It is enough to hit it with a hard object. Metal without impurities is softer and will be deformed. The alloy, on the contrary, will withstand all blows. After all, brass was created in order to give rigidity to flexible copper.

Source: https://punktpriema.ru/articles/kak-otlichit-med-ot-latuni.html

How to distinguish copper from brass: methods and means, which is more expensive

How do you distinguish copper from brass? Copper is redder and brass is a harder material; bronze is an alloy of Cu with alloying elements. Externally, the metals are similar. Copper items have a reddish-brown color, while bronze items have a yellow-pink tint. What is more valuable, copper, brass or bronze? To answer this question, we need to compare the properties of the materials.

What is copper and brass?

Copper is a widespread metal. Brass is a copper-based alloy. Visually, these two elements are similar.

Copper is a ductile metal that has a high density, specific gravity - 8.93 g/cm3, melting point - 1083 ⁰C.

Copper

How to distinguish brass from copper? In air, Cu has a yellow-red tint.

Basic physical properties of metal:

electrical conductivity;
thermal conductivity;
corrosion resistance;
easy to process.

In dry air, the metal does not oxidize. Impurities in copper should not exceed 0.0065%. Acceptable additives in the production of technical copper:

Alloys with aluminum, zinc, silver, gold, tin, and titanium are most often used. Less often - with phosphorus, oxygen, sulfur.

They produce different grades of bronze and copper. There are the following methods of ore mining:

lumber-metallurgical;
hydrometallurgical.

Areas of application of metals and alloys:

mechanical engineering;
electrical engineering;
instrument making;
radio electronics;
medicine.

There are two groups of alloys - with brass and with bronze.

How to identify metal?

Visually distinguish brass alloys from copper. To do this, the object is cleaned of oxides using table vinegar, which is added to the aqueous solution. Compare two products, their main differences and determine the metal.

Brass

By color

Copper has a red tint, while brass has a golden tint. Brass can appear in a variety of colors. It depends on the amount of zinc. If the alloy contains 5–20%, the tint will be reddish.

The composition contains 20–36% of the element, brass has a yellow tint. Typically, the alloy contains a large amount of Zn.

When a brass object is struck, the sound is loud, while a copper object is muffled.

By labeling

Metal is easy to distinguish if you know its markings. Brass can be two-component or multi-component. Alloying elements affect the properties of brass.

If the alloy contains tin, the strength and resistance to corrosion increases. Manganese increases the strength of the product. Lead impairs mechanical properties. At the same time, the material is easy to process. Silicon negatively affects the strength of the alloy with brass.

If lead is added in addition to Si, the alloy becomes durable. This is due to the low coefficient of friction. This property of alloys is used for the manufacture of shafts and bearings.

Two-component brass is marked with the letter “L”, which indicates the type of alloy. Then they write two numbers that indicate the amount of copper. For example, L80 means that the alloy contains 80% copper, 20% zinc.

Marking of multi-component brass. “L” comes first, followed by letters and numbers. They indicate the amount of additive in the alloy. First there is metal, of which there is more.

There are the following grades of copper: M00; M0; M06; M1; M1p; M2; M2p; M3; M3p; M4.

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Copper and bronze, what are the differences? Bronze can be tin or tinless. The second contains:

aluminum;
silicon;
beryllium;
lead.

An analogue of bronze is obtained with the addition of zinc and nickel. This alloy is called spiater.

Bronze markings begin with the letters “Br”. Next, indicate the alloying elements that are part of the alloy.

By density

Metal can be identified by its density. First you need to weigh the product. After this, determine the volume of the specimen by measuring an object of the correct shape.

If the product has an irregular shape, the volume is determined by measuring by displacement. The body is immersed in a vessel, first fixing the water level. The change rate is then recorded. Then the difference between the levels is calculated. The result is multiplied by the area of water and the volume of the object is obtained.

The density of the metal is calculated by dividing the mass of the object by the volume (ρ = m/V).

By heating

Elements are recognized when copper and alloys are heated. Cu reacts with hydrogen and acids. Brass is covered with an ash-colored film, but bronze does not change.

Heat treatment can make the ore soft or hard. The material becomes pliable if the product is first heated to 600 °C and immersed in water.

Drilling

For drilling, the product is fixed. The main rotational movement of the drill is designated by the letter V. The translational movement is directed along the axis. When drilling, determine the type of metal. Copper is soft and ductile, so the shavings are twisted and long. With brass it is small and crumbles.

Differences between copper and brass

Analyzer check

How to test copper? The Delta Professional analyzer can be used to determine metals. The device comes with a description in Russian. The consumer is concerned about X-ray radiation. What danger does the device pose?

The instructions tell you how to use the unit to protect yourself. The device determines all elements from magnesium to plutonium. The speed of metal analysis is one to two seconds. The device is compact and lightweight, weighing 1.5 kg.

The analyzer is connected to a computer. Temperature operating conditions: from −20 to +50 ⁰С. The device can simultaneously detect 25 elements.

What to do if there is no analyzer and no opportunity to visit the laboratory? There are proven methods for this.

In saline solution

How to distinguish copper from brass and bronze? If you put copper in a hot saline solution, it will become darker. The color of the bronze will not change. If copper has been exposed to the air for a long time, it becomes covered with a green coating. This process is called natural patination.

We use ammonia

The method is called patination in ammonia vapor. To do this, take a plastic container, ammonia and salt. The item is well cleaned of dirt. 1/3 cup of ammonia is poured into the container. Add half a teaspoon of salt.

Close the container and shake it until the salt dissolves. The object is dipped into the solution. Patination of copper is also done by fire, heating in the oven.

Chemical analysis

You can check the presence of alloys in the metal in a certified laboratory. There are institutions that perform analysis on the day the sample is received. Laboratory research methods:

Spectral.
"Wet chemistry".
On an electron microscope.
Steelscoping of welded joints.

The instruments are used to perform spectral and chemical analysis of the metal. Specialists test the material for tension, bending and hardness. By measuring the parameters, the type of metal is determined. The result is sent by email.

How much do non-ferrous metals cost?

Prices for non-ferrous metals in May 2018 show positive dynamics. Copper rose in price by $53, the price is $6879 per ton. Metal reserves increased by 9375 and amounted to 300.2 thousand tons.

Cu consumption in the world is growing, despite existing problems with mining and processing; in 2017 it increased mainly in China.

Price of non-ferrous scrap as of May 21, 2018

Let's compare the cost of metal from 300 kg.

Copper scrap	360 rubles per kg
Scrap brass	238 rubles per kg
Scrap bronze	241 rubles per kg

It is relatively easy to distinguish copper from brass and bronze. Moreover, sometimes this can be done at home using improvised means.

Source: https://DedAntikvar.com/interesnoe/chem-otlichayutsya-med-i-latun

Methods for determining copper and brass yourself at home

Copper is a metal that, due to its characteristics, is suitable for making decorative items. Copper is also a component of metal alloys used for the same purpose. The most popular alloy is brass, which contains copper, as well as tin and zinc. Many people wonder how to distinguish copper from brass, because outwardly they are practically indistinguishable.

Copper and brass

Brass is characterized by the following composition: copper accounts for 70%, and zinc - 30%. As for the last component, 50% of the brass alloy is made from recycled zinc. Technical brass contains up to 50% of this zinc, and up to 4% of the alloy composition can be lead.

Product made of brass

How to test copper and brass?

If you know the fundamental differences between brass and copper, then the test can be carried out at home. What they do for this:

To distinguish brass from copper, you must first clean the item being tested from dirt. For this, a solution of vinegar and water is suitable, which you need to soak a cloth and wipe the product being tested. This product will remove not only dirt, but also oxides.
To identify copper and differentiate it from brass, you need to find a white light source. Copper is characterized by a uniform red-brown color, while brass has iridescence of several colors on its surface. The heterogeneous shade of brass is explained by the fact that the alloy consists of several metals, which determine its color. As for checking brass and copper under daylight or yellow lamp light, it will not be possible to evaluate the color of the metals in this way.
Copper is a soft metal that will produce a muffled sound when struck against a hard surface. Brass is characterized by a ringing and sharp sound when it hits the surface. It is advisable to apply this verification method to large items.
You need to take the product and carefully examine its surface, namely, check for any marks. Brass is an alloy, products from which are marked (this is the letter “L”). As for copper, in most cases there are no marks on products made from it. But if a marking is still found, you need to pay attention to it. In Russia, copper is marked with the letter “M”, followed by a code of numbers and letters, the decoding of which can be read in special reference books.
Copper may differ from brass in its area of application. The first metal is rarely used in the manufacture of tools and spare parts. At the same time, copper is an ideal raw material for the manufacture of electrical wires, since the metal perfectly conducts electric current.

This is what copper looks like

How are metals not tested?

As for such a popular method of testing metals as a magnet, it is not suitable in the case of brass and copper. The thing is that both brass and copper are attracted to a magnet. Testing metals based on their flexibility will also not bring results, since copper and brass bend well.

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Source: https://DedPodaril.com/lityo/kak-otlichit-med-ot-latuni.html

Learning to identify copper and distinguish it from other metals and alloys

Chemically pure copper has three distinctive characteristics. It is a colourful, ductile and corrosion resistant metal. The latter property is due to the formation of a thin oxide film. This layer makes the copper chemically inert in a non-corrosive environment and also adds a red tint to its golden pink color.

The best way to accurately identify copper is spectral analysis, which requires expensive equipment - a metal analyzer, while identifying copper at home is a task with a limited set of tools. Here the best instruments are the senses, easily accessible chemicals, fire and improvised devices.

How to distinguish copper from other metals by eye?

Visual perception is the simplest, but not always quite accurate method. However, in most cases it works and it is not difficult to distinguish copper scrap from other non-ferrous metal scrap. Indeed, despite the name of the category non-ferrous metals, only the following are equally colored:

The remaining metals are characterized by a gray tonality and differ mainly in the intensity of their shine. Therefore, color is an excellent “means of identification” in such matters as distinguishing copper from aluminum, zinc or nickel.

Pure copper with a characteristic copper color

The natural color of the pure element Cu is red-pink. It is recommended to look at metal in natural light. Artificial lighting, with the exception of LED lamps with warm color temperatures, changes the hue towards a yellow-green tone.

The second rule for visual identification of copper is that the surface oxide film must be removed. Oxidation creates a greenish-blue coating on the metal surface. Therefore, to determine by color that you have copper, preferably by fresh sawing or by processing the material with a file. The situation with copper alloys: brass and bronze is much more complicated. It is also visually difficult to distinguish between Cu and copper-plated aluminum.

How to distinguish copper from brass and bronze

The first metal is a Cu-Zn alloy. zinc varies in the range of 4 – 45%. When an alloy is characterized by a high addition of a major impurity, it is easy to distinguish it from pure metal by color. The color of copper is pink-red, brass is lighter, but scrap brass may have a dirty surface.

The more zinc in the alloy, the more its color shifts from red to yellow. Therefore, visual perception is unacceptable for high-copper brasses, where the presence of impurities is at the level of 10%.

In this case, there are 3 options left for how to distinguish copper from brass without using a tool:

By sound. It is advisable to have an ear for music here. When struck against metal, soft copper sounds muffled, while brass sounds loud. The method works well for massive, oversized products - pipes, for example.
Along the fold. The ductility of copper allows the metal to be easily bent. Harder brass is not as malleable.
By weight. The density of Cu9 g/cc is higher than that of Zn (7.1). The resulting characteristic value for brass is on average 8.6 g/cc. The difference is small, but if you have accurate scales, it is possible to distinguish metals.

Visual difference between copper and bronze and brass

A good identifier of copper, relative to brass, is shavings. In pure metal it is spiral-shaped. On the contrary, the brass shavings are straight and needle-shaped.

A more complex approach involves the use of chemicals, namely hydrochloric acid. Chemically inert copper does not react in solution, whereas when brass is immersed, a white coating forms on the surface of the metal. This is zinc chloride, the result of the reaction of this metal with an acid.

Copper shavings

copper and brass:

How to distinguish copper from bronze

It is not always possible to determine which metal is in front of you by color. Bronze is an alloy of copper and tin, also characterized by a pink-red hue; scrap bronze can be found in anything. In this case, the main distinguishing characteristic is the ductility of the pure metal. By pressing on the copper with a hard object, we get a notch on the surface. Deforming bronze is much more difficult.

Products made of bronze are very difficult to distinguish visually from copper

An alternative way to distinguish copper from bronze at home is a saline solution. Add 200 grams of table salt to a metal container containing 1 liter of water. The solution is heated to a temperature above 50 °C. Next, the metal is placed in the heated liquid and kept for about 15 minutes. The color of copper changes. Bronze remains insensitive to the effects of saline solution.

The next method is patination of copper. Oxidation of pure metal over time in air is an inevitable process, leading to the formation of a greenish-blue coating. Bronze is not subject to patination.

How to distinguish copper from aluminum

Naturally, metals are easy to distinguish by color. The situation becomes more complicated when it is necessary to determine what the cable cores are made of. Tinned copper takes on a silvery tint, while copper-plated aluminum takes on a yellow tint. The result is that it is extremely difficult to distinguish metals from each other by color.

Tinned copper in cables

The best option is to measure the resistance. For a copper twisted pair cable about 100 meters long, the parameter value reaches 4–8 ohms. The resistance of a similar aluminum cable is significantly higher: 12 – 20 Ohms. This method is good because there is no mechanical impact on the metal.

The second method is bending/extension of the vein. The aluminum conductor will break quickly. The next option is a flame test. The melting point of aluminum is 600 °C, that of copper is much higher.

Other cases of fire and acid testing

Exposure to flame is used not only to identify metal relative to aluminum. For these purposes, a gas stove, lighter or fire is sufficient. Heating copper leads to the formation of its oxide, which affects the color change. The surface of the metal gradually becomes dull until it acquires a completely dark shade.

Nitric acid is another identifier for copper at home. It is also important to be careful here. It's better to just drip the liquid onto the metal. Pure copper at the point of contact will turn blue-green.

How to distinguish aluminum from copper:

Finally

Before you begin to determine the material for making a part, you can carefully examine its surface. Many products are marked. It will help determine not only the type of metal, but also the brand.

Source: http://xlom.ru/vidy-metalloloma/uchimsya-opredelyat-med-i-otlichat-ee-ot-drugix-metallov-i-splavov/

7 Ways to Tell Copper from Brass

27.09.2017 17:15

To accurately distinguish brass from copper at home, it is enough to know the composition and some characteristics of these materials.

Copper is a pure metal, and its alloy with zinc is called brass. Due to their different compositions, these materials have several important differences:

Color . Copper has a reddish tint, while brass is yellow.
Weight . Copper is slightly heavier than brass.
Hardness _ Copper is softer, brass is harder.
Density _ For copper it is 8920 kg/m3, for brass it is from 8300 to 8700 kg/m3.

It should be noted right away that it is not possible to recognize at home that what we have in front of us is a metal or its alloy using a magnet. Both materials are not attracted to them.

However, there are several ways to distinguish copper from brass without resorting to spectral analysis in the laboratory. All of them are described below - from the simplest to the most complex.

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1. Contact a specialist

The easiest way to identify metal is to show it to a specialist with a trained eye. This task can be easily handled by a person working in metallurgy - a foundry worker, and so on. The difference between copper and brass can also be determined by a jeweler, a pawnshop worker, a chemistry teacher, or an experienced scrap metal acceptor.

2. Determination by color

The easiest way to determine whether a product is copper or brass is by its color. For accuracy, it is recommended to thoroughly clean the metal surface from dirt and oxide film. As mentioned earlier, copper has a reddish tint, sometimes brownish or pink.

If the product under study has a yellowish color, reminiscent of gold, then this is most likely brass. And the more pronounced the yellowness, the greater the proportion of zinc in the alloy.

You can determine the metal by color by comparison with a known product. In everyday life, as a copper sample, you can use an electrical wire, cleared of insulation and protective varnish. Brass can be seen on the plugs of electrical appliances - their pins are made from this alloy.

3. Identification by sound

This method is only suitable for large items. If you hit a copper product with any metal tool, you will hear a muffled low-frequency sound. When performing similar actions with a brass object, the sound turns out to be more ringing and high-frequency.

This feature occurs because copper is slightly denser and heavier than its alloy with zinc. The described method is not suitable for small objects.

4. Determination by hardness

If the product is thin-walled, then the composition can sometimes be determined by its compliance with mechanical loads. So, copper bends much easier, but it does not crack or break. Brass is a harder and more brittle material, so a product made from it is easier to break.

This method is not suitable for thick-walled or monolithic products, since they cannot be bent.

5. Determination using chemistry

This method is one of the simplest and most accessible, and at the same time quite accurate. To determine the composition of the metal, you will need a solution of hydrochloric acid. Such liquids are often used to clean contacts when soldering in radio electronics. Accordingly, acid can be bought at any radio store. And it's inexpensive.

Without going into details and without resorting to chemical formulas, the essence of the test is as follows. A few drops of acid must be applied to the surface of the metal being tested. If it is copper, then it will simply be cleaned and acquire its natural reddish or pinkish tint. If we have brass in front of us, then a chemical reaction will take place on its surface with the release of a white substance - zinc oxide.

6. Determination by drilling

If the product is scrapped, that is, it would not be a pity to damage it, then its composition can be determined using an ordinary drill and a thin metal drill. When processing copper, due to its softness and ductility, long curling chips will come out from under the drill.

In the case of drilling brass, you will see how the metal crumbles and the chips have sharp corners. Its length, however, will be small.

7. Determination by density

This is the most complex method described, and rarely anyone adopts it. However, it is quite effective and accurate, and most importantly, it can be performed at home.

The bottom line is that first the exact mass of the product under study is determined, and then its volume. Knowing the density of copper and brass, using the identified parameters it will be possible to determine the composition of the material. If an object has a complex shape, then its volume can be calculated by immersing it in a container of water. To determine weight, it is better to use scales with high accuracy.

Source: https://metallomcity.ru/stati-o-metallolome/otlichit-med-ot-latuni

How to distinguish copper from brass at home

One of the main problems for those wishing to sell non-ferrous metal scrap is determining its type. In this article we will tell you how to distinguish copper from other non-ferrous metals at home. Copper is one of the oldest metals discovered by man. Due to its properties, it is widely used in a variety of fields, but is most widespread in electrical engineering.

Copper is mined in both nuggets and ore. When it comes to waste and scrap, copper alloys are often found. There are several ways to tell whether a metal is pure or an alloy. Let's look at each one separately.

Check color

Almost everyone knows the copper shade, but it's worth using a wire to test. It is made without impurities, which allows you to compare colors. It is better to do this in daylight or under warm artificial light. When viewed under a cool bluish color, the tint of copper will be yellow-green.

Please note that old metal oxidizes. There will be a greenish-bluish layer on top. In this case, it is better to check the color on the cut.

Test with a magnet

Copper does not have magnetic properties. If a metal reacts to a magnet, then it is an alloy. The only point: aluminum may be hidden under the copper layer. It also does not respond to magnets. Therefore, it is recommended that after the magnetism test, you make sure that the metal on the cut is clean.

Apply Heat

If you heat a copper plate or wire, the pure sample will first fade and then turn black-brown. It should not smoke or emit strong odors. If the reaction is different, you have an alloy on your hands.

How to distinguish copper from brass or bronze

Brass alloys vary in zinc content. If there is a lot of it (up to 45%), the metal will be much whiter, and it can be easily distinguished by color from copper wire. If the zinc content is no more than 10%, it will be more difficult to determine the composition. The first option is to check for bending. The plate will be harder than pure copper. But a more reliable way is to remove the chips. At the shallows it is in the shape of a curl. Brass has needle-like straight strips.

Copper plates are usually distinguished from bronze by pressing. Soft copper leaves marks. Not on bronze.

These are the main ways to distinguish copper from other non-ferrous metals at home. For an expert assessment and detailed advice on all types of color and ferrous metal, please call the numbers listed on our website.

There is simply a huge number of different alloys that can be characterized by different properties. An example is copper and brass - two compositions that are ideal for making various decorative items. It is worth considering that both compositions differ significantly from each other. Let's take a closer look at how these two compounds can be distinguished from each other.

How to tell the difference?

A fairly common question is how to distinguish copper from brass. There are quite a large number of different methods, among which we note:

Contacting a specialist allows you to determine the composition of the product with high accuracy. If you need to determine the cost of a product, it is recommended to entrust this procedure to professionals. Using various methods, they can determine the composition with high accuracy.
A visual inspection is often performed to determine color. As previously noted, due to changes in the chemical composition of the metal, some shade may appear.
In some cases, the sound detection method is used. It is worth considering that it is only suitable for large product sizes.
Using various chemical reagents, you can always determine the type of material. This method is considered quite simple, but at the same time accurate. Due to this, it became very widespread.
By drilling, the type of chip is determined. If surface modification can be done, then drilling can be done.
Determination of density. Both materials have different densities, which can be compared and determined.

Source: http://schemy.ru/info/kak-otlichit-med-ot-latuni-v-domashnih/

How to distinguish copper from brass

By sound

You can determine copper at home by using a method that is based on the type of sound produced. The features of this technology include the following points:

If you hit a large copper product with a metal object, you may hear a low-quality, muffled sound. This is how metal can be identified.
Brass reacts to impact somewhat differently, the sound becomes more sonorous, and it seems to grow.

This can only be determined when testing large products. The difference in the resulting sound is primarily due to the difference in the density of the metal.

By hardness

In some cases, it is possible to test the product by hardness. Such testing is carried out as follows:

Pure material is characterized by higher ductility, so it can bend without breaking. It can only be determined when a high load is applied.
Brass is considered a more brittle material, since the inclusion of alloying elements leads to an increase in surface hardness and fragility of the structure.

Bending Copper

This technology can only be used if the product is thin-walled. If you can bend it a little, then most likely it is made of copper.

By weight

The density indicator largely determines the weight of the product. As previously noted, brass is characterized by lower density, due to which the weight is reduced. The features of this technology include the following points:

It is considered quite complex in execution; it allows you to determine exactly which product is made of pure material and which with alloying elements.
The technology can be used for determination at home.
The first stage involves determining the exact weight. For this you should use electronic scales.
The next step is to determine the volume, which in some cases is possible only by the amount of fluid displaced.

This method is accurate and allows you to accurately determine the type of metal.

By chips

The type of chips produced also allows the identification of copper and brass. This technology is characterized as follows:

A thin metal drill is selected.
During processing, a small hole will remain, which is worth considering.
If the material is highly soft, the resulting chips will be thin and uniform, gradually coming out from under the drill. In the case of brass, it will be fine and crumbly.

This method can only be used if you have the appropriate experience.

Acid analysis

The chemical method allows you to accurately determine the type of metal. Among the features of the use of hydrochloric acid, we note the following points:

This liquid is often used to clean various contacts. That is why there will be no problems with purchasing such a substance.
A small amount of hydrochloric acid should be applied to the surface to be tested. In this case, the pure metal is simply cleaned and a reddish tint appears.

Chemical method for determining copper

Alloying components react slightly differently to acid. In most cases, a white substance appears on the surface, which is zinc oxide.

Analyzer

In some cases, they resort to the use of analyzers. They are designed to test the network for transmitting various information.

Such equipment is not intended to determine the composition of the metal, but can still indicate the parameters that are used in testing. This is due to the fact that ordinary copper is characterized by greater signal conductivity, unlike brass, which contains various alloying elements.

By product type

Pure metal is characterized by a low surface hardness. This moment determines the following points:

Brass is often used to make various instruments. This is due to the fact that the characteristics of the chemical composition of the alloy determine a higher surface hardness. Therefore, upon contact there are no dents or other defects. The alloy is used because it is highly resistant to high humidity and some chemicals.
Copper decorative elements have become widespread. This is due to the fact that such a metal melts well.
Many conductive elements are also made from pure material, since the inclusion of impurities in the composition leads to a decrease in this indicator.

Pure copper

However, such rules are not always followed. In some cases, decorative elements are also made from brass.

By heating

The pure alloy is characterized by having higher casting properties. In this case, copper melts at a lower temperature than brass. This is due to the chemical composition of both materials.

It is impossible to check using this method at home. If the product can be melted to produce another, then the method is ideal. In brass, alloying elements that begin to smoke when heated can also precipitate.

Determination by magnet

As previously noted, using a magnet cannot check the type of alloy. This is due to the fact that both versions do not respond to their influence.

The magnet is used exclusively for testing steel. In this case, the magnetic properties may disappear over time. Therefore, this technology should not be considered for testing at home.

Determination through chemical experiments

A fairly accurate characterization can be obtained by performing a chemical test. Often, high concentration hydrochloric acid is used for this. Among the features of the technology we note:

First you need to remove all contaminants. The work can be done using a regular cleaning agent.
The next step is to apply the acid. It is recommended to apply only a few drops, as an oxide film may form.

Other methods of chemical testing are used extremely rarely, since reagents are difficult to obtain. In addition, some reagents can damage the alloy.

In conclusion, we note that this procedure is carried out quite often. This is due to the fact that the alloyed material is characterized by a lower conductivity, that is, when an electric current passes, the product may heat up due to resistance.

Source: https://stankiexpert.ru/spravochnik/materialovedenie/kak-otlichit-med-ot-latuni.html