How to tell if it's brass

Properties of brass, characteristics of the alloy and areas of application

Often, to improve the properties of metals, as well as to improve the appearance, metallurgists make an alloy from several materials. The resulting metal thus acquires the properties and advantages of its components, which often makes such an alloy more popular than using the metals separately. Brass is an example of such an alloy. Among other things, it has been known to mankind since ancient times.

Main characteristics of the alloy

The official appearance of brass as a compound of copper and zinc became possible after the discovery of the latter in the 16th century. Alloying the metal zinc with copper was first carried out in Great Britain by James Emerson in 1781. Nevertheless, in ancient times an alloy of zinc ore and copper was quite common, which was the prototype of the modern alloy. Modern brass is an alloy of copper and zinc in a ratio of 70% to 30%.

In ancient Rome, “copper gold” was known, which was used to make coins. After Emerson's discovery, brass became an object of interest for counterfeiters - the material has a color and some properties similar to gold, which made it possible to use it for various kinds of counterfeits of the precious metal.

Physical and chemical properties

The density of the copper alloy is 8300-8800 kilograms per cubic meter; the difference in values ​​is due to one or another ratio of metals in the alloy, as well as the presence or absence of additional materials.

The properties of brass include low current conductivity; the electrical resistivity value is about 0.08 * 10 to the minus sixth power of Ohm, and the heat capacity value (at room temperature 18−20 degrees) is equal to 0.377 kilojoule per kilogram.

The alloy begins to melt at temperatures of 890−940 degrees; As the proportion of zinc in the compound increases, the melting point increases. This copper alloy is convenient for welding work (including both arc and conventional gas welding).

As a rule, the surface of brass after receiving it is coated with a special varnish that prevents its oxidation and darkening. However, the stability of the alloy before oxidation is higher than that of copper and zinc separately. You should also list in detail other, both positive and neutral, properties of the final material, which include:

• Corrosion resistance. This indicator for brass is higher than for copper, however, it should be borne in mind that as the temperature rises, the corrosion process will also accelerate. This is especially true for brass products that have thin walls. To prevent this process, it is necessary to process the product only using low-temperature firing.
• High malleability and ductility make brass a more convenient material for processing (compared to copper), and its strength characteristics are quite comparable with original metals.
• A decrease in temperature does not lead to brittleness of the alloy - brass remains elastic and resistant to plastic deformation. These qualities make the alloy a good structural and building material. However, brittleness can appear when heated to 400-500 degrees, since brass components such as lead or bismuth begin to form microcavities or layers in the material.

Source: https://kamen.guru/svoystva/svoystva-latuni

How to check the authenticity of copper at home

Copper is a widespread metal, because man was one of the first to master it. Due to its ductility, malleability and high strength, copper has long been used to make weapons, kitchen utensils, jewelry, coins and art objects. Today, since it is also the best conductor of heat and electricity, it is most often used in the production of electrical products.

In nature, it can be found both in nuggets and in the form of compounds. In order to correctly determine the authenticity of copper at home, it is important to remember that its properties are greatly influenced by the content of any impurities. In its pure form, it has a number of characteristic features; you just need to figure out how it differs from other metals.

• Main settings
• Distinguish copper from brass
• Distinguish copper from bronze

Color

First, copper is reddish-pink in color. Over time, it can change from a red-brown to a reddish-orange hue. If the metal has been lying around for a long time and has oxidized, then it is better to look at the color on a fresh cut. Or the surface should be lightly cleaned with a file so that the original texture is better visible.

Plastic

This is a very soft plastic material. An object made of copper (for example, wire) bends easily without breaking or crumbling. It is not at all necessary to bend or wrinkle the product. You can apply a little force, apply pressure and understand how malleable the metal is in front of you.

Corrosion

Copper is a very photosensitive metal and has high anti-corrosion properties. If it is exposed to the open sky or in a humid environment for a long time, it changes color. It is covered with a green film, which protects copper products from rust. And further spread of corrosion in depth.

If visual inspection isn't enough to determine authenticity, there are a few other tricks you can use to check the authenticity of the copper.

Heating

Using a gas torch, stove, or a simple lighter (it all depends on the size of the object), thoroughly heat a piece of metal. Copper first tarnishes, then becomes progressively darker and eventually turns completely black as a layer of copper oxide forms.

Magnet

An ordinary magnet can also help determine the authenticity of a copper product; pure copper does not react to it at all.

Nitric acid

If nitric acid is dropped onto pure metal, it turns blue-green.

There are many alloys based on copper. How to distinguish one from the other?

Distinguish copper from brass

Brass is an alloy of copper and zinc.
Not surprisingly, visually they are very similar. The more zinc in the alloy, the lighter the brass. So copper is definitely redder. In addition, brass is a harder metal; it is difficult to bend without additional heat treatment (casting). So we try to bend it or check for a tooth.

Brass is also lighter. Electrodes for the plug of any electrical household appliance are made of brass. So at home there is always something to compare with.

Distinguish copper from bronze

Bronze is an alloy of copper with tin and other elements, most often has a reddish-brown color. These two metals are also very similar in appearance. Remember that all its alloys, compared to copper, are always much harder.

To determine, you need to prepare a hot saline solution. Then either pour it onto a previously cleaned surface, or dip copper wire into the solution for a while. The same should be done with a bronze product. When exposed to hot salt water, the shade of copper will become much darker compared to bronze.

Source: http://HozInfo.ru/hozyajke-na-zametku/opredelit-podlinnost-medi

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.

What is copper and brass?

Both alloys are very similar, so many people pay attention to the peculiarities of their evaluation. Brass is similar in color to copper, as it is also found in the brass composition. The first alloy can be characterized as follows:

1. Brass is a multicomponent copper-based alloy, with zinc used as the main alloying element. In some cases, tin, iron, lead and some other components are added to the composition to change various performance properties. It can be determined by these indicators.
2. A similar composition is used in the manufacture of a wide variety of products, in most cases conductive elements. By changing the chemical composition, the alloy can be given special performance characteristics.

Copper is considered one of the most common metals, which is included in a wide variety of alloys. It is extracted from certain ores and minerals. Conductive properties determine that such a metal is ideal for the manufacture of electrical products. Brass or copper have similar performance characteristics, but there are still differences, and they are significant.

Similarities and differences

Copper is a pure alloy that can be used for alloying metals or manufacturing products. The most important differences are:

1. The color allows you to identify the material. Changing the chemical composition causes the color of the alloy to be slightly different. As a rule, pure material is characterized by a reddish tint, while reducing its concentration in the alloy results in a yellowish tint. This is why some methods involve visual inspection.
2. Weight is also used to define both materials. Pure metal is characterized by greater weight, while other metal becomes lighter due to the addition of various components.
3. Hardness. Pure material is characterized by high ductility. At the same time, the surface is characterized by a lower hardness index than brass. The hardness index can be increased by adding special components.
4. Density is determined by squeezing liquid out of a container. A change in structure leads to a difference in density. For the first metal the indicator is 8920 kg/m 3, for the other it varies from 8300 to 8700 kg/m 3.

A rather important point is that both materials do not react to the influence of a magnet. Therefore, it is difficult to determine the alloy yourself at home. There are quite a large number of different methods, the use of which can determine the type of material.

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:

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. In some cases, the sound detection method is used. It is worth considering that it is only suitable for large product sizes.
4. 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.
5. By drilling, the type of chip is determined. If surface modification can be done, then drilling can be done.
6. 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: 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.

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.

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:

1. Spectral.
2. "Wet chemistry".
3. On an electron microscope.
4. 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

How to distinguish copper from brass

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 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:

1. 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.
2. 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:

1. Pure material is characterized by higher ductility, so it can bend without breaking. It can only be determined when a high load is applied.
2. 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:

1. 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.
2. The technology can be used for determination at home.
3. The first stage involves determining the exact weight. For this you should use electronic scales.
4. 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:

1. A thin metal drill is selected.
2. During processing, a small hole will remain, which is worth considering.
3. 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:

1. This liquid is often used to clean various contacts. That is why there will be no problems with purchasing such a substance.
2. 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:

1. 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.
2. Copper decorative elements have become widespread. This is due to the fact that such a metal melts well.
3. 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:

1. First you need to remove all contaminants. The work can be done using a regular cleaning agent.
2. 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

Copper

Copper is used to make various products: jewelry, coins, kitchen utensils or simply decorative elements. Electrical products also cannot do without such metal. It is one of the best conductors of heat and electricity.

To determine that it is copper in front of you, you need to pay attention to the following qualities:

• color. The metal has a reddish tint, which can change over time and acquire a slightly brownish sheen;
• plastic. The material is quite soft in structure and can bend easily;
• corrosion resistance. Copper is not susceptible to rust, as it is covered with a special green protective film;
• heating. To check the authenticity of the metal, hold it briefly to the fire (the material becomes darker).

Another way to determine whether the copper in front of you is real is with a magnet. The material does not react to it at all.

Nitric acid can also be another test method. To do this, just drop a drop onto the surface. The copper should take on a blue-green color.

Brass

The material can be used for industrial purposes. Often used for the manufacture of various decorative elements.

A material such as brass is not a pure metal. It is an alloy of copper and zinc. Sometimes other elements may be added to these components. It is quite easy to distinguish brass from copper.

Some people believe that both materials are red in color, but this is not true. The shade can only be the same if the brass contains 95% copper.

To check, you can use hydrochloric acid. When it hits the surface, a material such as copper is cleared of various oxides.

Brass reacts completely differently. An active reaction of the components begins, during which white oxides are released.

If we talk about the color of these two materials, then the metals can be easily distinguished. Copper is more reddish while brass has a yellowish sheen.

How to determine the type of metal? We look at ferrous and non-ferrous metals in the video:

Source: http://glavspec.ru/kak-otlichit-med-ot-latuni.html

Which is better than copper or brass? How to distinguish between brass and bronze - proven methods. How to distinguish scrap copper from bronze and brass - Legal advice

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.

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://zaksovet.ru/chto-luchshe-medi-ili-latuni-kakie-kak-razlichat-latun-i-bronzu-proverennye-sposoby-kak-otlichit-lom-medi-ot-bronzy-i- latuni.html

What is Brass

Brass - An alloy of copper and zinc (sometimes with an admixture of other metals: tin, manganese, aluminum, etc.).

The meaning of the word Brass according to Ozhegov:

Brass - An alloy of copper with zinc and other elements

Brass in the Encyclopedic Dictionary:

Brass - (from German Latun) - an alloy of Cu (base) with Zn (up to 50%), often with the addition of Al, Sn, Fe, Mn, Ni, Si, Pb and other elements (in total up to 10%). Thanks to good workability under pressure, a wide range of properties, beautiful color and comparative cheapness, brass is the most common copper alloy.

The meaning of the word Brass according to Ushakov’s dictionary:

BRASS
brass, pl. no, w. (German: Latun) (special). An alloy of copper with tin and zinc. brass , sheet.

The meaning of the word Brass according to Dahl's dictionary:

Brass
_ yellow, green copper, a mixture of copper and zinc. bol. used about sheets, about leafy green copper. Brass, made of brass, related to it.

The meaning of the word Brass according to the Brockhaus and Efron dictionary:

Brass (yellow copper) is one of the most useful and most commonly used alloys. Its composition varies over a fairly wide range according to its purpose, but the main components - copper and zinc - are usually in the ratio of about 2 parts of copper and 1 part of zinc [Although zinc was discovered in the 16th century, L.

was already known to the ancient Romans and was prepared by them using the reduction smelting of copper (or oxygen copper ores) with galma (see Zinc), which was believed to have the property of coloring copper yellow. This method of preparing L. was also practiced in the Middle Ages and survived until our century, but is now completely abandoned]. L. sometimes contains small amounts of tin and lead. L.

harder than copper and therefore more difficult to wear. it is very malleable and tough and therefore easily rolled into thin sheets, flattened under the blow of a hammer, drawn into wire or stamped into a wide variety of shapes. it melts and casts relatively easily at temperatures below the melting point of copper. Although the surface of L., if not varnished, turns black in air, but in bulk it is more resistant to the action of the atmosphere than copper.

Finally, it has a beautiful yellow color and polishes well. The degree of malleability of L. changes with composition and temperature. the presence of even traces of certain metals also has a significant influence in this regard. Some modifications of L. are forged only in a cold state, while others are heated or not forged at all. At a temperature slightly below the melting point, L., like copper, becomes so brittle that it can be crushed. L.

They are prepared either in crucibles made of refractory clay, heated in furnaces of the appropriate design, shaft or flame, or directly in reverberatory furnaces without crucibles. Crucibles are round, approx. 12 inches, and holds approx. 84 fn. metal First, copper is placed in the crucibles and, when it begins to melt, zinc is added in pieces. Copper ingots are preheated to red heat.

The fuel is coke, charcoal and coal (the latter in fiery furnaces). When copper and zinc are well fused and mixed, the alloy is cast into sand molds, or, if the metal is intended for rolling into sheets, into closed iron molds. Some zinc always evaporates, which must be taken into account when preparing a mixture of metals. When melting in reverberatory furnaces, the same order is followed. Copper is first smelted and then zinc is added.

To prepare button L. take 8 parts of copper with 5 parts of zinc. or, for the cheaper article, 25 parts copper, 20 parts zinc, 3 parts lead and 2 parts tin. The latter alloy has a paler shade. the best quality L., the ratio of copper and zinc should be 2:1. both metals are melted separately, quickly merged and mixed vigorously. If you take 7 parts of copper and 3 parts of zinc, you get a bright yellow and malleable alloy.

For thin castings, an alloy of 62 parts copper, 35 parts zinc, 2 parts lead and 1 part tin is used. This alloy is somewhat brittle and pale. For the same purpose, a dark yellow alloy is used, consisting of 90 parts of copper, 7 parts of zinc, 2 parts of tin and 1 part of lead. For malleable L. best ratios: 33 parts copper, 25 parts zinc or 3 parts copper and 2 parts zinc. These alloys are forged in a heated state. For finishing on a lathe - 98 tsp of the best quality and 2 tsp.

lead, or 65 parts copper, 33 parts zinc and 2 parts lead. For wire, an alloy of 72 parts copper and 28 parts zinc is usually used. This alloy requires repeated hardening during processing. When stamping, stretching, etc. L. is also often hardened, and it loses its characteristic color due to the formation of a layer of oxides on the surface. These oxides are easily removed by immersing the object in nitric acid and rinsing with water.

This way, you get a shiny metal surface, completely ready for varnishing. Objects can be coated with L. galvanoplastically. For this purpose, different solutions are used. one of the best is a solution of equal parts of wine-ammonium salt and potassium cyanide, to which are added copper and zinc syneride salts and a certain amount of oxides of these metals. The anode is made of copper.

If hydrogen is released near the cathodes, then add a little copper nitrate. Such a solution, at a fairly strong current, produces a dense metallic deposit of any thickness. Yu. Kamensky. Δ.. L. is generally not used in coin production as an independent coin metal. Only in Bukhara were pools of this alloy in circulation.

Definition of the word "Brass" according to TSB:

Brass (from German Latun)
is a copper-based alloy in which the main additive is zinc (up to 50%). L. was smelted even BC. e., and until the end of the 18th century. it was obtained by smelting copper with zinc ore mixed with charcoal. Only in the 19th century. this method was widely replaced by direct alloying of copper and zinc. Due to good workability under pressure in hot and cold states, high mechanical properties (see.

Copper alloys), beautiful color and comparative cheapness, are the most common of copper alloys.
They are used to produce sheets, strips, rods, pipes, and wire (deformable sheets), as well as castings (foundry sheets). With an increase in zinc content, the color of L. changes from reddish to light yellow. In contrast to red copper, L. in Russia was called yellow copper. Simple metals are alloys of copper and zinc only. L.

, containing up to 10% Zn, are called tompaks, and from 10 to 20% - semi-tompaks. These alloys, characterized by good corrosion resistance and increased ductility, are used for the manufacture of radiator and condenser pipes, sheets and tape for steel cladding. L., containing about 30% Zn and capable of deep drawing, is called cartridge and is widely used for the manufacture of products by cold stamping, as well as pressing and drawing.

To improve mechanical, anti-corrosion and other properties, aluminum, tin, iron, manganese, nickel, silicon, lead and other elements are added to double alloys of copper and zinc (in total up to about 10%). Multicomponent (or special) laminates are called aluminum, silicon, aluminum-nickel, ferromanganese, etc. Laminates containing about 15% Zn and 0.5% Al have a beautiful golden color and increased resistance to atmospheric corrosion.

This alloy is used as a gold substitute for insignia and artistic products.
L. with the addition of up to 1.5% Sn (so-called sea L.) have increased resistance to corrosion in sea water. The addition of lead (up to 3%) makes the chips brittle and makes it possible to obtain a highly clean surface during cutting (see Automatic brass). Lead-based lamps are used in the automotive and watch industries (so-called watch lamps). Many L.

, containing more than 20-30% Zn, are prone to corrosion cracking due to the simultaneous action of residual stresses in the product and the corrosive effects of ammonia, as well as sulfur dioxide in a humid atmosphere (see Corrosion).
This phenomenon is called seasonal L. disease, because increased corrosion cracking occurs in months with high air humidity. Cracking is prevented by using annealing to reduce residual stresses (at 250-300°C). L.

They are also used in general mechanical engineering, instrument making, heating engineering and many other industries.
Lit.: Smiryagin A.P., Industrial non-ferrous metals and alloys, 2nd ed., M., 1956.
I.I. Novikov.

Source: https://xn----7sbbh7akdldfh0ai3n.xn--p1ai/latun.html

How to distinguish brass from silumin

When buying a colored faucet, it is very difficult to determine from the shade of the surface what material it is made from.

However, this difficulty is also present for buyers of chrome-plated, nickel-plated and other models of plumbing fixtures; a colored coating simply hides the original material more reliably.

It is also not always possible to distinguish the base material of the mixer by weight, since some manufacturers have learned to make stampings from alloys specially weighted with lead and other similar metals.

How can you determine the quality of a colored faucet and find out what it is made of?

First of all, you should pay attention to the accuracy and correctness of the shape of the parts. Products made of brass are made exclusively by casting, and most often by centrifugal casting.

Due to this production method, the number of possible casting defects (sinks, cracks, surface irregularities) tends to a minimum, and accordingly, the quality of the mixer is very high.

Even if a piece of two halves is used for the mixer body, they must undergo mechanical processing, and it is impossible to find the joint under the coating. Cheap silumin mixers are made by stamping without subsequent mechanical processing, and the joint line of the stamps is clearly visible even under the coating.

When choosing, you can also focus on the wall thickness (if the design of the model allows you to determine this). Castings cannot be very thin-walled, this is contrary to the principles of the production method. Stamped parts, on the contrary, to save material, are made with minimal wall thickness.

The interior of the mixer, as a rule, is not galvanized and has the natural color of the original material. Therefore, the golden tint of brass on the internal surfaces will help the user determine the quality of the product, but there may be nuances here too - for example, a silumin alloy with the help of additives is given a color close to the color of brass.

So, when choosing a color mixer, you should pay attention to the following details:

• color of material on internal surfaces;
• product weight;
• Wall thickness;
• the presence of clearly visible joints of the halves of the parts.

If the product seems heavy, has a characteristic golden hue inside, the walls are smooth or with traces of mechanical processing and have a thickness of at least 1 mm, it means you have a high-quality brass model in your hands.
If in doubt, it is better to compare several models from different price categories and ask the manager - savings in this matter can cause significant expenses later, when a fragile silumin faucet causes a “flood” in the apartment.

Types of Bathroom Faucets

Faucets are used both in the bathroom and in the kitchen. But not all of them are of good quality. No one should look at the beautiful and attractive design, one must first understand what material was used to make these devices. The most common materials are brass and silumin. Not everyone knows how to distinguish a brass faucet from a silumin one and what the difference is between them. Meanwhile, the durability and quality of work of such products depends on this.

Source: https://vi-pole.ru/kak-otlichit-latun-ot-silumina.html

How to distinguish a brass faucet from a silumin one

Faucets are used both in the bathroom and in the kitchen. But not all of them are of good quality. No one should look at the beautiful and attractive design, one must first understand what material was used to make these devices. The most common materials are brass and silumin. Not everyone knows how to distinguish a brass faucet from a silumin one and what the difference is between them. Meanwhile, the durability and quality of work of such products depends on this.

Knowledge on the topic is the key to success

To avoid making a mistake when buying a faucet, you need to be not only attentive, but also careful. Today on sale you can find many sanitary ware products from China, which are not of good quality.

It is very important to understand in advance how to distinguish a silumin faucet from a brass one, because it is unlikely to be determined by appearance. Not all buyers are specialists well versed in this issue.

And what criteria should one focus on here if there is no special knowledge?

In fact, to understand how to determine whether a brass or silumin faucet is a faucet, there is no need to graduate from a university or attend any courses. Even someone who has not purchased such products at all can figure this issue out. Here you only need attentiveness and some knowledge of which of the proposed materials is best. And the second thing, without which it will not be possible to make the right choice, is attentiveness. Every little detail must be taken into account to prevent an irreparable mistake.

Silumin or brass: which is better?

Each material has its own characteristics, so you can note both certain advantages and disadvantages. What is a definite advantage of silumin? Here we can highlight two main qualities - more reasonable cost and ease. Therefore, we can say that it is great for creating budget plumbing fixtures. But at the same time, its quality will not be very high. If we take into account what is stronger brass will be more reliable .

You can highlight several main disadvantages of silumin, and then everything will become clear which faucet for the bathroom or kitchen is better to choose.

1. It does not withstand maintenance, because even with minor repairs it can quickly break down.
2. Most often, floods in apartments occur due to the breakdown of situmin faucets.
3. They often try to pass off silumin as brass, which speaks in favor of the second option.
4. Does not withstand high pressure well.

The last point is very important, because silumin mixers can withstand pressure only up to 3 bar. But in new buildings, and also in the evening, the pressure in the water supply can rise to 10 bar.

Choosing the right mixer

Now it’s time to figure out how to distinguish brass from silumin, what should you pay attention to? Here you need to look at the following points:

• price;
• weight;
• surface of the material.

But all these are relative indicators, because the Chinese began to add heavy alloys to silumin, so it is not always possible to distinguish a silumin mixer from a brass one by weight. You need to make sure that the technical specifications indicate the letter “L” and not “AL” .

Silumin mixers are always cheaper. They are made by stamping. To understand how to distinguish brass from silumin in a mixer, you need to look at the material itself. Do not forget that brass faucets are made only by casting , so you don’t have to worry about their quality.

Our company produces only reliable brass faucets. We try to deal with dealers who purchase plumbing fixtures in bulk. It is profitable to cooperate with us because we are manufacturers of such sanitary products. You will be able to immediately purchase various components. In terms of quality, our brass faucets are no different from any European brand, but their price is much lower.

Source: https://profsan-psm.ru/statii/kak-otlichit-latunnyj-smesitel-ot-siluminovogo

How to distinguish brass at home

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.