What alloy is called brass

Brass

 Brass is an alloy of copper and zinc (from 5 to 45%). Brass with a content of 5 to 20% zinc is called red (tompak), with a content of 20–36% Zn - yellow. In practice, brasses with a zinc concentration exceeding 45% are rarely used.

Zinc is a cheaper material compared to copper, so its introduction into the alloy, while simultaneously increasing the mechanical, technological and anti-friction properties, leads to a reduction in cost - brass is cheaper than copper.

The electrical and thermal conductivity of brass is lower than that of copper.

STRUCTURE

Copper and zinc form, in addition to the main α-solution, a number of phases of the electronic type β, γ, ε. Most often, the structure of brasses consists of α- or α+β'- phases: the α-phase is a solid solution of zinc in copper with an fcc crystal lattice of copper, and the β'-phase is an ordered solid solution based on the chemical compound CuZn with an electron concentration of 3/ 2 and a primitive unit cell.

At high temperatures, the β phase has a disordered arrangement ([bcc]) of atoms and a wide range of homogeneity. In this state, the β phase is plastic. At temperatures below 454–468 °C, the arrangement of copper and zinc atoms in this phase becomes ordered, and it is designated β'. The β' phase, in contrast to the β phase, is harder and more brittle; The γ phase is an electronic compound Cu5Zn8.

PROPERTIES

Density - 8300-8700 kg/m³. Specific heat capacity at 20 °C is 0.377 kJ kg−1 K−1. Electrical resistivity - (0.07-0.08)·10−6 Ohm·m. Diamagnetic, since copper and zinc are diamagnetic. The melting point of brass, depending on the composition, reaches 880–950 °C.

As the zinc content increases, the melting point decreases. Brass is welded quite well (however, brass cannot be welded by fusion welding - you can, for example, by contact welding) and rolled.

Although the surface of brass, if not varnished, turns black in air, it resists the action of the atmosphere better as a mass than copper. It has a yellow color and is highly polished.

Bismuth and lead have a detrimental effect on brass, as they reduce the ability to deform when hot. However, lead alloying is used to produce free-flowing chips, which makes them easier to remove during cutting.

Source: http://mineralpro.ru/minerals/brass/

Brass: composition, classification, application, structure

The metal alloy called brass is a multicomponent or dual material, where the main component is copper and the alloying substance is zinc.

Lead, tin, aluminum, nickel, manganese, as well as iron and other metals can be added to this composition. Brass is a substance similar to gold, but its value is much lower than the precious metal.

The color and its properties directly depend on the percentage of the incoming components. However, according to the metallurgical classification it does not belong to bronze.

Composition, structure

The basis of the copper alloy is zinc, which has been used for three centuries. Depending on the chemical composition, it can be:

• two-component;
• multicomponent.

Two-component

This composition contains zinc and copper components in varying amounts. In accordance with GOST, it is designated by the letter “L” and digital designations. The numeric value indicates the percentage of copper. For grade L63, the copper component will be 63%, and the zinc component will be 37%.

Multicomponent

This is brass, the alloy composition of which contains alloying substances. These include aluminum, lead, and other metals. This brand is designated depending on the incoming components, and the share of the zinc component is obtained by subtracting the parts of other components from 100%.

The composition of a brass alloy marked LS60-5 means, when deciphered, that copper is 60%, lead is 5%, and zinc is 35%. The share of additional impurities usually does not exceed 10%. The ratio of incoming components may vary slightly. In this case, the zinc part usually does not exceed 35%.

To fully understand the composition, it is necessary to understand what technical brass is? These are special alloys where the share of zinc reaches 50%.

Red brass contains zinc ranging from 5 to 20%, while yellow brass contains more than 20% zinc.

Application area

Brass alloy is one of the most common alloys used in a wide variety of applications. It is practically not subject to wear.

A two-component copper-zinc alloy with a zinc component of no more than 20% is excellent for the manufacture of heating devices, auto parts, and plumbing equipment. Materials with a zinc content of up to 40% are used to create stamped parts and accessories.

Multicomponent brass alloys are used much more widely than two-component ones. They are found in aircraft, ships, pipes, watches and other equipment.

Brass is widely used by jewelers to make beautiful jewelry. They call these metallic colored compounds yellow, gold, and also green. The most interesting is the chemical version, which contains 5% aluminum and 15% zinc. This jewelry metal alloy has a high resemblance to gold, which is often used by scammers.

The brass used in these products can show that such “gold” is in no way inferior in beauty to real precious metal. The alloy is very malleable during mechanical processing, which allows jewelers to create unique jewelry that only a specialist can distinguish from gold. Such jewelry masterpieces are cleaned with oxalic acid.

Young jewelers are trained on materials marked L62, L68, since these compositions are most similar in quality to gold.

A special kind of brass alloy with good deformation is called tompak. The zinc component of the metal material does not exceed 10%. This brass composition is characterized by rust resistance, high ductility, and very low friction force.

This material welds well with steel and other noble metals. Thanks to its golden hue, tombac is used to make various medals, accessories, and artistic items. It is perfectly processed under pressure, can be plated with gold and enameled.

Foundry type material is used in the production of shaped products and semi-finished products by casting. Cast brass is distinguished by the presence of additional thinners from manganese, aluminum, lead, as well as iron, tin with copper and zinc.

It is difficult for a non-specialist to determine the brand from the available photos. The casting material does not rust, has excellent mechanical parameters, is resistant to friction and is easy to handle.

It is used in the production of bearings, cast fittings, bushings, cages, automotive fittings and many other elements.

Numerous fasteners, elements for watches, as well as other mass-produced parts are made from sheets of automatic brass (LS59-1). This type of alloy consists of lead, zinc, copper. It withstands high-speed processing of parts well, hence its name. The automatic material is produced in rods, strips, sheets, and also tapes.

Methods of obtaining

Brass is produced in crucibles made of fire-resistant clay, as well as using special reflective heaters. The crucibles themselves are heated in flame or shaft furnaces. The casting of the mixed alloy is carried out using special sand molds. In this case, a certain proportion of zinc evaporates, which is taken into account during the alloy formation process.

The main difficulty in obtaining brass is the difference in the melting points of the main components. This process is facilitated by adding a small amount of ready-made material to the molten mass. Depending on the desired final result, further processing of the composition is carried out. You can add additional components, stamping, alloying, or give the desired shape.

Classification of brasses

Brass compositions are divided into casting and deformable. Casting with various components allows us to produce a variety of parts for all areas of industrial use. Wrought materials have a high copper content and are used for the manufacture of small products.

Depending on the content of various additives in the alloy, it is called silicon, aluminum, ferromanganese, which determines the grade. Additional substances allow the composition to obtain new qualities or improve existing characteristics.

Foreign manufacturers use different labeling of compositions and different content of impurities. In addition, brass material is distinguished according to its main application. It can be “watch”, “marine” or other specific brass.

Tombacs (with zinc up to 10%) are widely used, as well as semi-tompacs, where the zinc content ranges from 10 to 20%.

Main properties and characteristics

Copper-zinc material has the qualities inherent in its constituent metals. The color of the brass composition directly depends on its components and varies from light yellow to reddish.

The melting point of the material ranges from 880 to 950 °C, and the density is 8500 kg/m3. It is well processed under pressure at various temperatures.

In addition, the brass alloy with various components is practically not affected by the external environment, has high wear resistance and high strength.

Brass products have good mechanical properties. Unlike copper, it is more viscous and malleable, less refractory, which is very convenient for industrial processing.

As the ambient temperature decreases, brass products do not lose their plastic properties, which is attractive for the manufacture of structural materials. Over time, the surface of the composition may darken slightly, but this does not in any way affect the characteristics of the material.

The higher the copper content in a brass alloy, the higher its electrical and thermal conductivity. To prevent corrosion, brass parts are fired after processing at low temperatures.

Source: https://oxmetall.ru/metalli/latun/sostav-klassifikatsiya-primenenie-struktura

Brass is an alloy of copper with the composition of brass

This is an alloy similar to gold, but much cheaper. Known back in Ancient Rome, but rediscovered in the 18th century. Combining the excellent properties of two chemical elements, brass has found a wide field of application.

Compound

Despite its noble color and appearance, brass is an alloy of copper and zinc; there is no gold or other precious metals.

In addition to these two components, other substances are used to improve the physical and chemical properties: manganese, tin, iron, silicon, nickel, lead, etc. As a rule, the proportion of these impurities is no more than 10%.

Otherwise, the composition of brass is more or less constant, although the ratio of components may vary. Typically, the zinc content does not exceed 30-35%, but in technical alloys its share can reach up to 50%.

Properties

Since brass is an alloy of copper and zinc, its characteristics overlap with their qualities. Depending on the ratio of components, its color can vary from reddish to light yellow. Its density is 8500 kg/m3, and its melting point reaches 880-950 degrees Celsius.

Brass can be easily processed by pressure both hot and cold, has good mechanical characteristics, resists the effects of the external environment, but without coating it turns black over time. Brass and copper are not always easy to distinguish from each other for a non-specialist, however, the former has hardness, wear resistance, it is less refractory, but more malleable and viscous, and therefore more convenient to process.

Depending on the content of the base metal, the thermal and electrical conductivity of brass differs - the higher its proportion, the more pronounced these properties are.

Although the best known and most important copper alloy is bronze, brass has also played a role in history. Despite the fact that its second main component, zinc, was discovered only in the 16th century, it was known in ancient times.

The Romans smelted copper with galma ore, but this method has long been outdated. Brass was rediscovered in England in the 18th century and very quickly gained popularity, since it was very reminiscent of gold, for which it was often passed off. In Rus', this alloy was often called “yellow copper.”

Even now, in some places you can find such a name.

After the “second birth”, crucibles were used to produce brass, in which temperatures reached 1000 degrees Celsius. Zinc vapor saturated the copper, and if there were no impurities in it, then the desired result was obtained. Products made from this alloy began to be used everywhere, since its cheapness and properties allowed it.

By the way, despite the fact that for a long time it was written in history textbooks that the monument to Minin and Pozharsky in Moscow was cast from bronze, restorers stated that in fact it was made of another copper alloy - brass.

Today, this substance still has many areas of application, so a replacement worthy of accessibility and versatility will probably not be found soon.

As has already become clear, brass is an alloy of copper with zinc and (if necessary) some other components, but there is one small problem. This difficulty is especially problematic in industrial production. The fact is that the melting temperatures of zinc and copper separately differ too much, so to facilitate the task of obtaining the alloy, an alloy is added - a small amount of a ready-made composition.

Further processing depends on the desired result. Other components are added to the alloy, alloyed, stamped, shaped, etc. Despite all the difficulties, global production and consumption of this product remains at a high level.

Varieties and standards

First of all, a distinction is made between wrought and cast brass. GOST provides separate numbers for them: 15527-07 and 17711-93, respectively. In Russia, the alloy is marked as “L” with a number that indicates the proportion of copper. If there are many components, then the resulting marking may look something like this: LAZHMts66-6-3-2.

This would mean that, in addition to 66% copper, this grade contains 6% aluminum, 3% iron and 2% manganese. The proportion of zinc is calculated as the difference between 100% and the amount of other elements. In this case it is 23%. Other brands of brass are named similarly. Such additives allow the alloy to acquire new properties and improve existing ones.

Depending on the input of certain substances into the composition of brass, it is commonly called aluminum, silicon, ferromanganese, etc.

In Europe and the USA, other brand designations are accepted, such as CuZn37 or C27200. The ratio of impurities also varies slightly, but in general the composition of brass from different manufacturers is quite homogeneous.

In addition, depending on the zinc content in the alloy, tombacs (up to 10%) and semi-tompacs (from 10% to 20%) are also distinguished. Sometimes certain brands acquire names in accordance with the area of ​​their main use. This is how they distinguish between “marine”, “watch” and some other brass.

Application

The areas of use of this alloy are countless. The relative cheapness and ease of processing, as well as its properties, have allowed brass to become almost universal. It is drawn into wire and rods, stamped into sheets, and even the thinnest foil is made from it.

Pipes, small and large parts, fittings, fittings - it is used in the automotive industry, instrument making, chemistry, and it is also used in the manufacture of various decorative elements, insignia, etc. This is just a short list. It surrounds us everywhere, but brass is an alloy of copper and zinc - quite common elements. So, perhaps, its versatility and accessibility are to everyone’s advantage.

In jewelry

It is usually believed that jewelry should be made of precious metals: gold, silver, platinum. But fashion has its own rules, and for some time now, during the daytime, many women have preferred discreet jewelry. Brass, the color of which is close to gold, is irreplaceable in this case.

In addition, it lends itself well to polishing, so with the proper composition and talent of the jeweler, jewelry made from the alloy can look very beautiful and expensive. So that non-specialists will not even suspect that it is not gold, but brass.

Photos usually simply do not convey the beauty of skillfully crafted items, so it is better to choose such jewelry in person.

It happens that fashionistas suffer from allergies and irritation. At first glance, it may seem that brass is to blame for everything. But, as a rule, this is not the case. In most cases, the pathological reaction is caused by nickel, which makes the color and overall appearance of the alloy much more beautiful. If you are prone to allergies to metals, it is better to choose jewelry that does not contain this component. Manufacturers usually indicate this separately.

Analogs

Since brass is an alloy of copper and zinc, and there is more of the former, it may seem that pure metals (each separately) have better properties, and such complexities are used to reduce the cost of the material. In fact, everything is not like that.

Copper in its pure form has such disadvantages as instability to corrosion, lower ductility compared to alloys, and zinc is extremely fragile.

Brass organically combines the best properties, mutually compensating for the shortcomings of both components.

Other copper alloys - bronze, cupronickel, etc. - also cannot be fully called analogues. The first is less plastic and more coarse-grained, while the second substance is quite refractory and, due to the nickel content, can cause skin irritation. In addition, external characteristics also put brass first. The color, similar to gold, compares favorably with the not very attractive brown bronze and silver cupronickel.

World market

Industrial production of brass began almost immediately after its rediscovery. Having assessed its unique properties, metallurgists began to develop a new direction in the industry. Today, the production and consumption of brass mainly depends on the state of the global copper market.

Its stable growth gives reason to believe that the demand for alloys is not falling yet.

Moreover, forecasts for the future of these industries are more than favorable, despite problems such as declining ore quality, insufficient infrastructure development, and social and political tensions in the largest copper suppliers - Chile and some African countries.

The main consumers of copper, and therefore brass, are the economically developed countries of Europe, as well as the USA, China, Japan and some others. In recent years, the demand for these substances has only been growing, primarily due to Asians. Having made a giant leap in the mid-2000s, Cu prices remain at their previous record highs. However, a peak in supply is expected in 2016, which is likely to trigger a decline in prices.

Source: https://FB.ru/article/143264/latun---eto-splav-medi-s-sostav-latuni

Brass is an alloy of which metals

BRASS - (German Latun, from Italian latta tin). Alloy of copper and zinc, yellow copper. Dictionary of foreign words included in the Russian language. Chudinov A.N., 1910. BRASS German. Latun, Spanish Iaton, alaton, French. laiton, Iceland. latun, copper, from it Dictionary of foreign words of the Russian language

BRASS - (from the German Latun), an alloy of copper with zinc (up to 50%), often with additions of aluminum, iron, manganese, nickel, lead and other elements (totaling up to 10%). Brass was smelted even before our era. Brass is well processed by pressure, characterized by Modern Encyclopedia

brass - and, f. laiton m., > German Latun, Messing. An alloy of copper and zinc, sometimes with an admixture of other metals (tin, manganese, aluminum, etc.). BAS 1. There are tons of copper and brass. Tariff 1724. Brass of all kinds. Tariff 1731. 20 pounds to the leton, which is called Historical Dictionary of Gallicisms of the Russian Language

BRASS - (from German Latun) an alloy of Cu (base) with Zn (up to 50%), often with additions of Al, Sn, Fe, Mn, Ni, Si, Pb and other elements (in total up to 10%). Due to good workability by pressure, a wide range of properties, beautiful color and comparative cheapness Big Encyclopedic Dictionary

BRASS - BRASS, an alloy consisting mainly of copper (55% 95%) with the addition of zinc (5% 45%). The color of the alloy is yellow or reddish, it is easily stretchable and amenable to forging, machining and casting. Its properties can be varied by changing the ratio of copper and Scientific and Technical Encyclopedic Dictionary

BRASS - BRASS, brass, many. no, female (German: Latun) (special). An alloy of copper with tin and zinc. Wire brass, sheet. Ushakov's explanatory dictionary. D.N. Ushakov. 1935 1940 Explanatory Dictionary of Ushakov

brass - similor, tompak Dictionary of Russian synonyms. brass noun, number of synonyms: 4 • semi-tompak (2) • Dictionary of synonyms

BRASS - BRASS, and, female. An alloy of copper with zinc and other elements. Leaf l. | adj. brass, oh, oh. Ozhegov's explanatory dictionary. S.I. Ozhegov, N.Yu. Shvedova. 1949 1992 Ozhegov’s Explanatory Dictionary

BRASS - female yellow, green copper, a mixture of copper and zinc; b.h. used about sheets, about leafy green copper. Brass, made of brass, related to Dahl's Explanatory Dictionary. IN AND. Dahl. 1863 1866 Dahl's Explanatory Dictionary

BRASS - yellow copper (Brass) is an alloy of red copper with zinc in various proportions. Those brass castings which are exposed to sea water, especially in the presence of iron or steel, must still contain at least 1% tin, otherwise zinc will be in the alloy Nautical Dictionary

BRASS is an alloy of copper and zinc, sometimes with the addition of other metals (lead, tin, aluminum, nickel, iron, etc.). According to technology properties of L. is divided into two main groups: a) alpha L. with a copper content above 63%, characterized by high viscosity and Technical Railway Dictionary

Perhaps the most interesting, based on the variety of qualities, brands, characteristics and applications, is a brass alloy. And, despite the fact that its price is lower than, say, copper, it is used even in the manufacture of jewelry. The composition of brass is simple, but different proportions give such diverse qualities that it needs to be discussed in detail.

Composition and classification of brasses

The classic composition assumes the presence of copper and zinc in the alloy in a ratio of 2:1, respectively. The Ancient Romans knew such brass. Skeptics will remember that zinc in its pure form was discovered in the 16th century. But in the case of Ancient Rome, we are talking about zinc-containing rock, which at that time was already being processed.

At that time, it was believed that it was the presence of zinc that determined the color, and only later did it become known that the sunny shade of the brass alloy is obtained due to the fact that the presence of zinc dilutes the copper redness.

• Brass is divided into two-component (simple) and multi-component (special).

One of the markings for products made from brass indicates the percentage of components. So the letter L indicates the type of alloy - brass. and the adjacent numerical index indicates the copper content in the composition. For example, “L80” stands for “brass consisting of 80% copper and 20% zinc.”

Two components are not a mandatory requirement. If there are more of them, then each component introduced into the brass composition is displayed in the marking using the corresponding letter symbol following the letter L. Tin, nickel or lead can be used as additives. At the same time, brass changes its properties.

Additives are introduced into the alloy to achieve certain purposes. For example, brass in classical proportions cannot be used in shipbuilding. All thanks to the instability of brass to the effects of saline solutions (sea water). Additives introduced into the alloy solve this problem while maintaining the basic characteristics.

• According to the degree of processing, alloys are divided into: wrought (brass strip, wire, pipe, brass sheet) and cast (fittings, bearings, instrument parts).

Wrought two-component brass

Deformable multi-component brasses

Foundry brasses

Additives in alloys

Alloying elements are used in brasses. These are substances introduced into the alloy in order to change the structure, and as a result, the characteristics. These elements include:

1. Aluminum. The presence of aluminum in the alloy reduces the volatility index. As a result of interaction with oxygen, a layer of aluminum oxide is formed on the surface of the product, which eliminates the volatility of the material.
2. Magnesium. This additive is most often introduced in combination with iron and aluminum. Thus, the structure changes, and the alloy becomes stronger, wear-resistant, and corrosion-resistant.
3. Nickel. This type of additive is introduced to neutralize the effects of oxidative processes.
4. Lead. The presence of this alloying element provides plasticity to the material. It becomes more malleable, easier to mechanically influence, including cutting. Used for products that do not have a load-bearing function during operation.
5. Silicon. The additive is introduced to increase the strength of the metal and its rigidity. If lead is added in parallel, the anti-friction properties will improve. Again, alloys of copper, zinc, silicon with lead and bronze with tin are becoming competing. The cost of the latter is higher.
6. Tin. This metal is added to eliminate the risk of corrosion pockets. This is especially important in shipbuilding. With the addition of tin, salt water is not harmful to the metal.

Source: https://vi-pole.ru/latun-splav-kakih-metallov.html

Brass: what it is, composition and properties of the alloy, areas of its application

Brass is a metal alloy based on copper (Cu) and zinc (Zn), to which nickel, lead, tin, aluminum, and manganese can be added. Depending on the composition, the alloy acquires different properties and colors.

Despite the discovery of zinc, which is the main component of brass, only in the 16th century, it was known to man before our era. For example, the Romans alloyed copper with galma (zinc ore) and made various jewelry and thin-walled utensils from the alloy.

The production of the alloy spread to Central Asia, from where the products reached Rus', where the strength and brilliance of the material were also appreciated. And only after the discovery of zinc in 1746, it became possible for the appearance of brass in the form familiar to modern people. This happened on July 13, 1781 , when James Emerson registered the corresponding patent, so they say that brass was discovered 2 times.

Brass composition

The classic formula for brass is the ratio of copper and zinc as 1:2. It is this ratio that was mentioned at the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries in the encyclopedic dictionary of Brockhaus and Efron.

In modern conditions, the amount of zinc added to copper can be significantly less, but, as a rule, does not exceed 30%, with the exception of technical alloys, in which the presence of 50% zinc is allowed.

The more zinc is added, the lower the cost of the final material, since zinc itself is cheaper than copper.

Based on the composition of the alloy, they are distinguished:

• Two-component, the formula of which is quite simple and is a combination of copper and zinc in various proportions. Such an alloy, in accordance with GOST, is marked with the letter “L”, followed by a number indicating the percentage of copper content. For example, “L80”, that is, the alloy consists of 80% copper and 20% zinc.
• Multicomponent, containing additional elements called alloying elements, for example, tin, lead, aluminum, etc. The marking of such alloys depends on the elements contained in their composition, and the amount of zinc is calculated by subtracting the share of other elements from 100%. For example, a brass alloy consisting of 63% copper, 3% lead and 34% zinc would appear as "LS63-3".

Depending on the zinc content in the brass alloy, there are:

• Red, the zinc content of which is in the range of 5–20%
• Yellow, containing more than 20% zinc

Properties of brass

The melting point of brass is 880–950 °C , and the higher the zinc content, the lower the melting point. It is perfectly amenable to pressure treatment, has high mechanical properties, and good corrosion resistance.

However, for example, bronze outperforms brass in strength and corrosion resistance. It is also unstable in sea water, carbon dioxide solutions and organic acids. An unpleasant property of the alloy is its darkening in the open air; to prevent this, brass products are coated with varnish.

Brass parts do not lose their ductility when the temperature drops, which makes them a good structural material.

Brass and copper are very similar in appearance, and it will be difficult for a non-professional to differentiate between them. The first has increased hardness and wear resistance, but is less refractory . At the same time, brass alloy is much more convenient to process due to its high malleability and toughness.

It is also superior to copper in terms of corrosion resistance, and higher temperatures increase the rate of corrosion formation, the source of which can be high humidity, high levels of ammonia and sulfur dioxide in the air.

To prevent this, brass products must be fired at low temperatures after processing.

Properties of individual types of brass

Wrought brasses are alloys in which the zinc content is less than 10% ; they are also called tombak. Tompak is plastic, does not rust and has low friction force. Tompak welds well with steel and has a golden hue.

Foundry brass is intended for creating products by casting. copper in it varies from 50 to 80%. Such an alloy is not subject to rust, is not subject to deformation through friction with other materials, has good resistance to external force (high mechanical properties), and has no tendency to disintegrate. And also, due to its liquid state, the metal is easy to process, which allows you to pour it into any shape.

Automatic brass is an alloy in which lead is a mandatory element, which makes it possible to obtain short chips when processing a product in an automated mode, which reduces wear on the separating mechanism, increasing the speed of work.

The influence of alloying elements on the properties of the alloy

An alloying element is an element that is added to a metal to change its structure and chemical composition.

• Due to aluminum, a decrease in the volatility of the alloy is achieved, since a protective layer of aluminum oxide appears on the surface of the molten brass.
• Magnesium is usually used in combination with iron and aluminum to achieve increased strength and corrosion resistance of the product.
• Nickel protects the alloy from the negative effects of oxidation processes
• Lead is the most common alloying element, which increases ductility and malleability, as well as the quality of metal cutting.
• Silicon affects the strength and hardness of the alloy, and in combination with lead it increases anti-friction properties, which makes such an alloy competitive even with tin bronze.
• The addition of tin is due to the use of brass in sea water, as it increases the strength and anti-corrosion properties of the metal.

Application of brass

The alloy is one of the most used in the world, it is even called an eternal metal , since it is practically not subject to wear.

Two-component alloys containing up to 20% zinc are used to create coils, spare parts for machines, and thermal equipment. Compounds containing up to 40% zinc are used, for example, to create fittings and stamped products.

The use of multi-component brasses is much wider. They are used in the creation of pipes, ships, aircraft, clocks, springs, etc.

All kinds of insignia and artistic products are made from tombac. Various types of fittings, separators, bearings , and rust-resistant products are made from cast brass. The use of automatic brass is manifested in the creation of fasteners (nuts, bolts, screws, self-tapping screws, etc.), into which brass sheets, strips, and rods are cut.

Brass, which has the property of not being subject to magnetic attraction, is used to create compasses. Due to its high heat capacity, samovars were made from brass back in Tsarist Russia, which are still made from this material to this day.

Church items are also made from it.

Despite its low cost, the alloy is used to create prestigious things , for example, the popular Zippo lighters, the bodies of which are made of brass and then coated with other metals of various colors.

Brass in jewelry

The brass alloy has also found application in jewelry. Jewelers distinguish yellow (medium zinc content), golden (low zinc content), and green brass (high zinc content).

If the alloy consists of 15% zinc and 5% aluminum, then it closely resembles gold, and thanks to its excellent flexibility in polishing, a good craftsman will be able to make jewelry that a non-specialist will never be able to distinguish from a gold product.

This fact is also known to scammers who counterfeit gold. Oxalic acid is used to clean such jewelry.

Alloys marked “L62” and “L68” are the material on which novice jewelers are trained, since in terms of its mechanical characteristics it is as close as possible to gold.

Source: https://kamni.guru/ukrasheniya/metally/latun-chto-eto-takoe-ee-svoystva-i-primenenie.html

Brass alloys and their applications 2020

Brass is a general term for a set of copper-zinc alloys, which may include additional metals such as lead. Different types of brass have different properties, but all brass is strong, workable, durable, conductive, and corrosion resistant. This, along with its beauty and ease of production, makes brass one of the most widely used alloys.

Brass has been the metal of choice for many musical instruments for centuries.

It is an ideal alloy for transporting water through pipes and fittings. It is also suitable for use in marine engines and pump parts. Not surprisingly, one of the first commercial uses of brass was on naval ships.

Another common use of the metal comes from its non-magnetic nature. Watch and clock components, electrical terminals and ammunition require metal that will not be affected by magnetism.

While compiling a complete list of all brass applications would be a monumental task, we can get an idea of ​​the breadth of industries and product types in which brass is found by categorizing and summarizing some end uses based on the brass used.

Free cutting brass

Alloy C-360 brass, also called "free cut brass", is alloyed with copper, zinc and lead. Loose cutting brass is very easy to process, but also has the same toughness and corrosion resistance as other types of brass.

Some uses for loose brass include:

• Nuts, bolts, threaded parts
• Terminals
• Jets
• Bends
• Injectors
• Valve bodies
• Libra scales
• Pipe/water fittings

Metal gilding (red brass)

Gold plated metal is a form of brass that is made up of 95% copper and 5% zinc. Soft brass alloy, gold plated metal can be hammered or easily formed into desired shapes.

Its unusual deep bronze color and ease of use make it ideal for craft projects. It is also widely used for artillery shells. Some other uses include:

• Architectural fascias
• Grill
• Jewelry
• Decorative finishing
• Badges
• Door handles
• Marine equipment
• Primer caps
• Pen, pencil and lipstick tubes

Engraving Brass

Engraving Brass, also called alloy C35600 or C37000, contains either 1% or 2% lead. Its name, not surprisingly, comes from its use in creating engraved plaques and tablets. It can also be used for:

• Device nozzle
• Watch components
• Equipment for construction workers
• Gear reducers

Arsenic brass

Arsenic brass (C26000, C26130 or 70/30 brass) contains approx. 03% arsenic to improve corrosion resistance in water. Like other forms of brass, arsenic brass is bright yellow, strong, and easy to work. It is also a suitable metal for use in plumbing. Other uses:

• Heat exchangers
• Threaded and molded containers
• Radiator Cores, Tubes and Reservoirs
• Electrical terminals
• Fittings for plugs and fixtures
• Locks
• Cartridge housings > High strength brass

High-strength brass is an especially strong alloy that contains a small percentage of manganese. Due to its durability and non-corrosive properties, it is often used for products subject to high stress

Some examples include:

Marine engines

• Fittings for hydraulic equipment
• Boxes for locomotives
• Injection molding
• Heavy Rolling Mill Housing Nuts
• Heavy duty wheels
• Valve Guides > Bushing Bearings
• Sliding plates
• Battery clamps

Source: https://ru.routestofinance.com/brass-alloys-and-their-applications

Chemical composition of brass: alloys, their compositions, types and differences - SibNovStroy

Brass alloys lend themselves well to pressure processing. The mechanical properties are quite high, but the corrosion resistance is satisfactory.

If we compare the distinctive features of brass with bronze, then its anti-friction properties, corrosion resistance and strength are lower.

The alloys are not very stable in salt water, air, solutions of most organic acids and carbon dioxide solutions.

Brass, unlike copper, has better corrosion resistance . But as the temperature increases, the corrosion rate also increases. Moreover, such a process is noticeable in products with thin walls.

Corrosion can be caused by: high humidity, traces of sulfur dioxide and ammonia in the air. To prevent this phenomenon, products made from this composition are subjected to low-temperature firing after processing.

Almost all alloys when the temperature decreases and remain elastic, which allows them to be used as an excellent structural material. Due to the higher recrystallization temperature, in contrast to copper, at elevated temperatures the creep of brass is lower.

At a temperature of 300-600 C, the property of brittleness appears due to the fact that additions insoluble at low temperatures (for example: bismuth, lead) create fragile layers between the crystals. As temperature increases, impact strength decreases.

Unlike copper, the thermal and electrical conductivity properties of brass are worse.

Composition of brass in percentage

The main components - zinc and copper - are used in ratios of 30% and 70%, respectively.

More than 50% of the zinc used in brass comes from recycled waste. Technical brass alloys are made of 47–50% zinc. According to their composition, alpha and beta brass are distinguished:

• Two-phase compositions consist of 48–50% zinc and contain less than 5% lead.
• Single-phase alpha compounds have about 30% zinc.

Chemical composition

Brass is made from copper and zinc. It is often compared to bronze . since the alloy of brass and bronze shares the same component - copper. Brass, which differs in composition from bronze, has zinc rather than tin as its second component.

Zinc is a chemical constituent element of the minor subgroup of the second group of the fourth period of the Mendeleev periodic table. Under normal conditions, a rather brittle transitional material of a bright blue color (in open air it becomes covered with a small layer of zinc oxide and darkens). In nature, zinc does not exist as a separate metal.

Copper is a chemical constituent element of the eleventh group of the fourth period of the Mendeleev periodic table. This is a plastic transition material of a bright golden color (when an oxide layer appears, copper becomes red-yellow).

Due to zinc and copper (except for the main α-solution), a whole list of electronic stages of the β, γ, ε type appears. As a rule, the composition of brass has α- or α+β' phases:

• α-phase is a stable material of copper and zinc with a face-centered crystalline copper cubic lattice.
• β'-phase is a structural material based on the chemical combination of CuZn with a 3/2 ratio and an elementary and simplest cell.

Dependence on heat treatment :

• If the temperature is high . then the β-phase has a chaotic arrangement of atoms and an increased volume of a homogeneous composition. In this state, the phase becomes quite plastic; if the temperature is less than 453–469 C, then the atomic structure of copper and zinc becomes orderly and is indicated as β'.
• β' is more brittle and rigid, the γ-phase contains the electronic combination Cu5Zn8.

Compositions with one phase are characterized by increased plasticity; The β' phase is less plastic and more durable.

Separation taking into account the zinc content in the alloy:

• When a brass alloy contains up to 35% zinc . At the same time, both ductility and hardness increase. Then the ductility decreases, initially due to the compaction of the α-hard composition. Afterwards, its immediate decrease occurs, this is explained by the presence of a fragile β'-phase in the composition. Then the hardness increases to a level of zinc no more than 40%. Then it decreases sharply.
• Many compounds lend themselves well to processing under pressure. The single-phase composition is especially characterized by its plasticity. Brasses change structure at low and high temperatures. Although at temperatures of 400-700 C a “fragile zone” appears. Deformation does not occur under these temperature conditions.
• Two-phase alloys are quite elastic when heated above the temperature of the β'-transformation phase (above 700 C). To increase chemical resistance and technical characteristics, additional components are often added to them, for example: manganese, aluminum, silicon, nickel, and so on.

Brass production

Brass lends itself well to forging, is malleably deformed, is quite tough, takes different shapes under the blow of a hammer, is stamped into various parts or stretched into wire. The alloy is relatively malleable and melts at temperatures below the melting temperature of copper.

The manufacturing process is carried out:

• In crucibles made of fire-resistant clay. Crucibles are heated in flame or shaft furnaces.
• In reverberatory furnaces.

While mixing zinc and copper, the composition is cast into pre-prepared sand molds. Some of the zinc evaporates . what must be remembered during the formation of a metal alloy.

Brass derivatives

Tompak is a type of wrought alloy. It contains zinc and copper at 2%-13% and 87-98%, respectively.

• reduced friction force;
• resistance to rust;
• high elasticity.

Copper compositions consisting of 11-22% zinc are called semi-compositions.

Tompak lends itself well to welding with stainless steel and other noble metals. Tompak is used for the manufacture of a combined composition of brass and steel. Due to its golden color, tombac is used to make accessories, various medals and artistic items. Tompak lends itself perfectly to enameling, gilding and pressure processing at low and high temperatures.

Foundry brass – used for the manufacture of shaped products and semi-finished products using casting. Has 51–80% copper. The following additional elements are used: aluminum, silicon, manganese, iron, lead and tin. Main differences:

• has resistance to friction with other elements;
• reduced propensity for elemental breakdown;
• does not rust;
• easy to handle due to its liquid consistency;
• excellent mechanical properties.

Often, cast brass is used for mass production :

• worm screws;
• fittings;
• reinforcement elements;
• corrosion-resistant parts;
• clamping bolt nuts;
• separators;
• bushings;
• parts that are operated at temperatures above 250C;
• bearings.

Automatic brass is a type of lead alloy.

The addition of lead during machining promotes the appearance of loose and short chips, which reduces wear on the separating mechanism and makes it possible to use high-speed processing of parts.

The mechanical characteristics of automatic brass directly depend on its state of aggregation and components.

At the same time, from sheets they make:

• watch parts;
• bolts;
• nuts and other mass produced items.

How can you tell the difference between a brass alloy and a bronze alloy?

You can distinguish brass from bronze and, in addition, find out the exact composition only in a chemical laboratory (for example, using spectroscopic analysis).

Alas, at home (especially if you cannot make scratches or otherwise deform the product), the range of possibilities is quite limited.

However, there is an algorithm that shows, albeit not very accurate, results.

You will need:

• calculator;
• precision scales;
• transparent container with water;
• samples of brass and bronze with chips;
• microscope or strong magnifying glass.

Start with visual analysis . The product must be thoroughly cleaned and placed under sunlight. Usually bronze is darker than brass, and if we consider the color, bronze goes into the “red” spectrum (from red to brown), and brass goes into “yellow”, sometimes even to white. But this method is not very inaccurate, so proceed to the second step.

Do a composition analysis for density . You will need a transparent container of water and an accurate scale. By lowering the product into water, we find out the volume, then determine the mass.

Density is the ratio of the mass of an object to its volume, converted to kg/cubic meter. m. Most often, bronze is denser than brass, while the division line is at 8700 kg/cubic meter. m. So, 8400-8700 kg/cu.m. m - most likely brass. 8750-8900 – most likely bronze.

And finally, the composition structure . It must be said that samples are needed here - objects where both brass and bronze can be accurately identified in the composition, and the samples must have chips.

A strong magnifying glass or microscope will be needed for analysis. Analysis occurs by placing both the sample and the subject of analysis in the field of view. What should you pay attention to? On the structure of the composition - namely, its grain. Bronze typically has a coarser, coarser grain than brass.

Source: https://sibnovostroy.ru/obrabotka/himicheskij-sostav-latuni-splavy-ih-sostavy-vidy-i-otlichiya.html

Brass: history, main components, properties and applications

Brass is a copper-zinc alloy in which its constituent elements are found in certain proportions. In some cases, to impart certain properties, other alloying components (tin, nickel, lead, iron, etc.) are also included in the composition. It is worth noting that the scope of its application is almost limitless.

Excursion into history

Brass was known to mankind even before our era, and this despite the fact that zinc as an element became known only in the 16th century. For example, in the Ancient Roman Empire, molten copper was mixed with zinc ore (galma). The resulting metal was used to make beautiful jewelry and elegant dishes. It was also known in Central Asia, and it was from there that it came to Rus'.

Main components

Initially, in the classic version, brass was made by mixing copper and zinc in a 1:1 ratio. Now, basically, the specific gravity of zinc in an alloy does not exceed the thirty percent threshold (the exception is technically alloys, in which the volume of zinc can reach up to fifty percent).

According to its composition, such non-ferrous metal is divided into two types:

• Two-component. The composition includes only two components - copper and zinc, their proportion depends on the purpose of the alloy. The alloy is designated by the letter “L” and a number. The number indicates the percentage of copper in the metal.
• Multicomponent. It is made by adding alloying metals (tin, aluminum, lead, etc.). The marking is made with two letters (“L” (brass) and the letter of the additional component), followed by numbers indicating the percentage of metals - copper, additional metal, zinc.

Based on zinc content, two types are determined:

• Red - specific gravity of zinc is less than 20 percent.
• Yellow - the amount of zinc exceeds the twenty percent threshold.

What properties does brass have?

The melting point of the compound varies from 880 to 950 degrees. The initial melting point depends on the percentage of copper zinc. The more of the latter, the correspondingly lower the melting point. In addition, it lends itself perfectly to both machining and forging. It also resists corrosion processes quite well. Due to its high degree of ductility at low temperatures, brass is a good structural material.

Along with positive qualities, it also has disadvantages:

• Afraid of sea water.
• Destroyed under the influence of carbon dioxide solutions and organic acids.
• It darkens when exposed to air, so it requires additional varnish treatment.

Depending on the purpose of the brass alloy, it is divided into three types, which, in addition to common properties, also have their own:

• Deformable metals (Tompak). In such a metal the amount of zinc does not exceed 10 percent. This alloy is distinguished by its ductility, high anti-corrosion properties and low friction force. Tompak is easily welded with iron.
• Foundry brass. It received this name due to its low melting point, which allows it to be poured into special molds. zinc ranges from 50 to 80 percent. This unique alloy is not subject to surface changes due to friction and has high strength characteristics.
• Automatic non-ferrous metal. Lead must be added to such a metal as an alloying component. The alloy tolerates machining well and the chips come off in small particles, which increases the processing speed and reduces wear on the cutters, which is very important for large volumes of work.

To impart special properties, alloying components are added to brass, each of which changes the structure of the composition and enhances its certain qualities:

• Aluminum. An oxide film is created on the surface of the product, reducing the “volatility” of the alloy.
• Magnesium. It is used in combination with aluminum and iron to impart increased strength characteristics and anti-corrosion properties.
• Nickel. Prevents oxidative processes from developing.
• Lead. Improves the malleability and ductility of the alloy, making it suitable for machining.
• Silicon. Improves the strength of the alloy.
• Tin. Thanks to tin, brass can be used in sea water.

Where is brass used?

Brass today is one of the most widely used non-ferrous metals created artificially. Depending on the quality characteristics, brass alloy is used in certain areas of industry. Thus, two-component brass with a zinc content of no more than 20 percent is used to create parts and assemblies of various machines and heat transfer devices. 40 percent zinc makes it possible to use it for stamping and the production of accessories.

Multi-component brass is used more widely. Pipes, parts of ships and aircraft are made from it; watches also cannot do without such an alloy.

 Decorative and artistic compositions, insignia for law enforcement agencies are made from this brand of non-ferrous metal. Products that need to be cast in special molds (fittings, separators, plain bearings) are made from cast brass.

Automatic brass has proven itself well in the production of fastener parts (nuts, screws, bolts, etc.).

For a long time in Russia, brass has been used, and is still used today, for the manufacture of such an original Russian household item as a samovar. Sometimes even the most expensive products are made from relatively cheap brass. For example, the body of the world-famous Zipo lighter is made of brass.

Jewelers didn't ignore brass either. In practice, they distinguish three types of it - yellow (zinc varies between fifty to fifty), golden (a small amount of zinc), green (zinc in the alloy is more than 50 percent). When the alloy contains 15 percent zinc and 5 percent aluminum, the metal becomes similar to gold.

A good craftsman can make a piece of jewelry from such brass that is almost completely reminiscent of gold, and the average person is unlikely to notice the difference. This is something scammers often take advantage of, passing off fake jewelry as gold.

Very often, students in jewelry workshops train on brass alloys, honing their skills.

Thus, we can safely say that brass is a truly important element for human economic activity and, at least in the next century, the need for it will only grow.

Source: https://SoproMats.ru/materialyi/metallyi/latun/