How much zinc is in brass - Metals and their processing

Differences between brass and bronze, copper and silumin

The most ancient alloys used by people are bronze and brass. They differ significantly in their composition, but their scope of application is similar. Modern alloys differ significantly from those used by our ancestors. The colors and composition of current metal compounds have undergone significant changes over time.

Archaeologists have found samples of bronze objects made about 25 centuries ago. These are sculptures, various decorations, armor, weapons, numerous household utensils, dishes, and coins.

Along with them, brass products were also actively used, which are sometimes very difficult to distinguish from things made of bronze. You can see the appearance of the materials in the corresponding photos.

To understand how to distinguish bronze from brass or other materials, you need to familiarize yourself with their parameters.

Characteristics of brass

Brass alloy is produced by combining zinc with copper, to which nickel, iron, manganese, tin, and lead are sometimes added. Typically the material consists of 70% copper component, with 30% zinc component. Almost half of the produced alloy consists of recycled zinc. Technical metal contains about 50% zinc part with 4% lead.

There is also a special type of brass connection called “tompak”. The copper component in it reaches 97%, and the zinc component ranges from 10 to 30%. This compound makes excellent jewelry, various artistic products, insignia, and fittings.

A couple of centuries ago, brass alloys were often used as fake gold, which was achieved by using pure zinc rather than ore. This connection was very difficult for inexperienced users to recognize. It has become actively used in various industrial fields due to its unique properties. These alloys have high ductility, abrasion resistance and good corrosion resistance.

The difference between copper and brass

Copper has features that make it popular in the manufacture of various decorative elements. In addition, it has good electrical parameters, as a result of which it is used in the manufacture of electrical devices. At home, you can distinguish copper elements from brass by several criteria:

color;
hardness;
marking;
area of use.

Color

To determine the metal, it must be cleaned. The metal surface is freed from contamination using a solution of ordinary water and vinegar. This removes not only dirt, but also oxidative film. The product being tested is carefully examined under a white light source.

A brass item differs from copper by simple visual observation. A copper item will have a brownish-red color with a uniform appearance, while brass will appear lighter, with multi-colored shimmers. This heterogeneity indicates the presence of several metals in the composition, which determine the color shade.

It is practically impossible to detect copper under a yellow lamp or in daylight.

Hardness

To understand how to distinguish copper from brass, you should lightly tap them. When a copper product hits a hard surface, it produces a muffled sound. This is due to the special softness of the metal. Brass objects are characterized by a sharp, ringing sound of impact. This check is used for large items.

Marking

Some items have special markings on their surface. For brass products, the letter “L” is used. Copper elements are practically not marked. Some parts may be marked with the letter "M" with a numerical addition. In this case, special reference books are used to determine the specific composition of the material.

Application area

These materials are also distinguished by area of use. Brass alloys are often used for the manufacture of various components and parts. Copper is an ideal element for the production of electrical wires and other electrical parts. This is due to its excellent electrical parameters.

The difference between bronze and brass

Bronze, like brass, has a copper component at its core. Some brands of these alloys are similar in color, but have completely different properties. The bronze item has a coarse-grained structure with a dark brown or reddish tint, in contrast to the yellowish brass with a fine-grained shape.

It should be taken into account that the presence of tin in large quantities in the bronze alloy gives it an almost white color. Modern compositions contain an alloying component of tin or any other (beryllium, lead, aluminum, silicon with zinc).

Numerous things made of brass and bronze have differences, which can be determined by knowing their technical parameters.

Metal objects made of brass and bronze are distinguished by weight. A bronze item is heavier than a brass item, however, before determining the alloy, it is necessary to take items of approximately the same size for comparison.

To determine what material a thing is made of, you need to try to bend it. A brass object may give in slightly, but a bronze object may break. You can try to make a small cut with a hacksaw, in which the bronze part will produce small shavings.

It will not change its characteristics when heated.

To understand how to distinguish brass from bronze, you can use the chemical method. A small amount of shavings of both alloys is placed in various glass containers with dilute nitric acid (parts 1 to 1). It is necessary to wait some time so that the bulk of the metal has time to dissolve in the chemical composition. The liquid, which does not reach a boil, is kept on low heat for half an hour. When combined with bronze shavings, a whitish tin precipitate is formed.

Bronze is used to make large items, as it is more resistant to abrasion. In addition, a variety of marine accessories are also made from this alloy, which is not affected by salt water, is not susceptible to oxidation and does not rust.

The difference between silumin and brass

Silumin material consists of an aluminum base with the addition of silicon, as well as a small amount of copper, iron, and manganese. It has good wear resistance and strength compared to aluminum things. The difference between silumin and brass is the fragility of this material and the features of its application.

They are used for casting many products used in a variety of fields, including household goods, as well as for the manufacture of costume jewelry. A silumin object is characterized by high porosity and low strength. During processing, silumin begins to crumble, which clearly distinguishes it from brass things.

Source: https://oxmetall.ru/metalli/latun/otlichiya-ot-bronzy-medi-i-silumina

Brass is the metal of the sun

Brass is a special copper-based alloy. The main additive of this alloy is zinc. According to the amount of zinc content in the alloy, brass is yellow - if 25-35% zinc is added, and red - if the alloy contains 5-15% zinc.

If you compare copper and brass, brass is more durable. Brass has higher corrosion resistance. This alloy has high mechanical and technological properties. Brass is a relatively cheap alloy. It is easy to process (cut, forge).

The ancient Romans smelted brass from copper and zinc ore (galmaea). They were the first to use brass to make various household utensils - dishes, vases, statues, figurines of gods. It was from Ancient Rome that brass utensils began to spread throughout this world.

First it was brought to China, India, then to Europe and Russia.

Brass is associated with the Sun, and in alchemy is designated by the solar symbol. This alloy has a wide range of applications: in jewelry, in the watch industry, in the automotive industry, in instrument making.

Brass, like any other metal, has magical properties. If there were children in the family who were difficult to teach and had difficulty mastering literacy, then the parents turned to magicians, sorcerers, and witches. They, in turn, undertook to help the mountain - the students and did this with the help of brass.

Brass has a positive effect on the learning process , brings harmony and tranquility to the development of new material, awakens interest in literacy and science, in understanding the world around us.

If a special ritual is performed on a child using this miraculous alloy, then in the future he will show an undiminished interest in learning.

Brass is able to reconcile people , eliminate conflict situations, and smooth out disputes. Brass makes people more sociable, sociable, tolerant, responsive and merciful.

Brass has powerful protective properties . But it not only protects a person from damage, the evil eye, envy and other negativity, but also sends all the negativity back to the sender.

Many psychics and clairvoyants always carry pieces of brass with them. In this way, they maintain and develop their telepathic and psychic abilities.

Healing properties of brass

In addition to magical properties, brass also has healing properties . Brass effectively eliminates headaches and fights migraines. Vases and figurines made of brass, located in the house, will contribute to enlightenment and strengthening of mental abilities. It is advisable to have such products in your offices at your workplace. Then performance will increase, its quality level will increase. Brass will facilitate soft, non-conflict communication with colleagues and the boss.

If you apply a piece of yellow or red brass to the sore spot, the pain will gradually go away. Thus, radiculitis, neuritis, arthritis, sore joints, damaged tendons, bruises, ingrown nails, bruises, and abrasions can be treated. Hematomas resolve faster, and abrasions and small wounds or cuts heal faster.

Brass can be used to charge water . After all, the alloy contains copper. A piece of brass should be thrown into a container of water and left. Water charged in this way cleanses the body of toxins, normalizes the functioning of the small and large intestines; kills pathogenic microbes. Brass water can rid the human body of parasites and putrefactive bacteria. Therefore, such water should be given to young children as a preventive measure in the fight against helminthic infestations.

Connection of brass with astrological signs of the zodiac

Brass has long been considered the metal of Truth, Truth and Justice. Products made from this amazing alloy can be worn by all signs of the zodiac circle, except Virgo and Capricorn. Brass is especially suitable for Aquarius (Air element).

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Brass will give all representatives of the zodiac signs true love, interest in life, creativity, and science.

Brass is especially suitable for those signs of the zodiac circle who are waiting for changes in life for the better, who want to radically change their lives for the better.

Source: http://ZonaTigra.ru/publ/magicheskie_i_celebnye_svojstva_metallov/latun_metall_solnca/23-1-0-478

Brass: formula and chemical composition of the alloy, types, grades and properties

Brass is the oldest alloy, as its production dates back to the times of the Roman Empire. At that time, it was the first metal in value after silver and gold. Thanks to its composition, it has an attractive appearance and at the same time high strength. Copper gives a golden-yellowish color that is pleasant to the eye, and the addition of zinc and other components makes it a strong material.

Brass composition

In the brass formula, two components will always remain unchanged - copper and zinc. Copper is a natural resource, zinc is mined by recycling waste. In the finished material, the mass of zinc is kept in the range from 5 to 50%.

Copper is number 29 on the periodic table, has high ductility, and has a beautiful yellowish-golden color. When exposed to open air, an oxide film appears on the metal, causing the copper to turn red.

Zinc, number 30 on the periodic table, is a brittle metal and has a light blue color; when an oxide film appears, it darkens.

Copper-zinc alloy is divided into single-phase and two-phase:

The single-phase alloy contains about 30% zinc. This is a common composition, which is characterized by plasticity and at the same time hardness. If the percentage of zinc increases, the ductility decreases while the hardness of the brass increases. After zinc reaches the 40% mark, the hardness indicator immediately drops. Single-phase brass is a ductile alloy and can be processed both at low and high temperatures, however, at a temperature of 400C a brittle zone appears.
The two-phase alloy consists of 30−50% zinc and contains impurities of other metals within 10%. This is a technical or special alloy. It does not differ in plasticity; only when heated above 700C does it acquire plastic properties.

Types of brass

Brass can be simple or special:

Simple - it contains only two components, copper and zinc. Marked with the letter “L” and numbers. The numbers in the marking indicate the percentage of copper to the total mass of the alloy. Based on this, it is clear that the alloy marked “L68” contains 68% copper and 32% zinc.
Special - consists not only of copper and zinc, but other metals are added to it, which change the properties of the alloy depending on their characteristics. The marking of this material carries information about the percentage of copper to zinc and other elements called alloying elements. For example, the marking “LA70−3” indicates that the composition used 70% copper, 3% aluminum and 27% zinc. In special brass, additional metals can be:

Tin.
Lead.
Iron.
Manganese.
Nickel.
Silicon.
Aluminum.

Brass production, types and properties

Brass is produced at high temperatures in special clay containers. When making the alloy, it is necessary to take into account that part of the zinc evaporates.

The alloy is divided into several types:

Tompak is an alloy containing no more than 13% zinc. Tompak is characterized by increased elasticity, high resistance to rust and abrasion. This type of brass is used when welded with stainless steel to obtain a valuable alloy, from which medals, fittings, costume jewelry, art items and tools are subsequently made.
Semi-tompak is an alloy in which zinc varies between 10-20%. The scope of application of semi-tompak is similar to tombac, but it is a less valuable alloy.
Cast brass is an alloy containing 50-80% copper, as well as admixtures of other metals. Due to its flowing properties, it is used in the manufacture of semi-finished products and shaped products by casting. It has low rates of material degradation, is resistant to friction and rust and also has excellent mechanical properties. Cast brass is used in the production of bushings, fittings, nuts, bearings and other rust-resistant fittings.
Automatic brass is an alloy containing lead in a percentage not exceeding 0.8%. Lead allows you to increase the processing speed of products due to the formation of short chips. It is produced in the form of sheets, strips and rods; later they are used to turn watch mechanism parts, hardware and nuts.

Quite often, brass is confused with bronze, and many even believe that they are the same material - this is completely wrong. You can distinguish these two metals at home; to do this, you need to go through the following algorithm of actions:

It is good to clean both materials and examine them in sunlight. The color of bronze will fade to red, and brass to yellow, sometimes even white.
By placing the product in a container of water, you can analyze it for density. The molar mass of brass is in the range of 8350−8750 kg/m3; if the mass is higher, then it is bronze.

Application of brass

This copper-zinc material is malleable and tough; thanks to these qualities, it is actively used in forging, mechanical engineering and other fields. Under the blows of an anvil or hammer, brass takes any shape. Depending on the scope of application of brass, the composition of the alloy as a percentage varies in accordance with the following markings:

L80, L85, L90, L96 - instrument elements, chemical and thermal mechanisms, coils, etc.
L68 - stamped parts.
L70 - quill for the chemical industry.
L60 - thick-walled fittings, machine springs and nuts.
L63 - elements for the automotive industry, condenser tubes.
LAZH60−1−1 - spare parts for sea vessels.
LA77−2 - capacitor devices for sea vessels.
LAN59−3−2 - elements of chemical equipment, sea vessels and electrical machines.
LN65−5 - condenser and manometric pipes.
LZhMa59−1−1 - spare parts for aircraft and marine vessels, bearing shells.
LMts58−2 - hardware, nuts, fittings.
LO90−1, LO62−1, LO70−1, LO06−1 - condenser pipes for heating equipment.
LMtsA57−1−1 - elements and spare parts for river and sea vessels.
LS74−3, LS63−3 - bushings and clock mechanisms.
LK80−3 - corrosion-resistant products.
LANKMts75−2−2.5−0.5−0.5 - springs and pressure tubes.
LMsh68−0.05 - capacitor collectors.

Brass remains the most sought after and popular alloy, whatever its composition. If the production technology is followed, it will not rust, blacken or oxidize.

Source: https://obrabotkametalla.info/splavy/ximicheskij-sostav-latuni-svojstva-primenenie

Properties and differences between gold and brass - Glitter Gem

Bronze and brass are very similar in appearance. However, they differ significantly in their chemical composition and characteristics.

The metallurgical industry clearly distinguishes one alloy from another.

But in everyday life it can be very difficult for a buyer to figure this out, especially when purchasing a rather expensive bronze item. Therefore, it is extremely important to know how to distinguish bronze from brass.

Characteristics of metals

Bronze is an alloy of copper and tin, silicon, beryllium, aluminum, lead and other elements. However, only tin is often used to obtain high-quality bronze. There are also alloys that use nickel and/or zinc. They are called spiater and are a cheap analogue of bronze.

Depending on what metal is present in the alloy, bronze is distinguished:

tin;
beryllium;
aluminum;
silicon

Thanks to this variety, the material is divided into two large groups - tin and tin-free. Previously, arsenic bronze also existed, but it was not widely used.

Brass is also an alloy, but here the main element is zinc combined with copper , to which nickel, tin, lead, manganese, iron or other elements may sometimes be added. Already in Ancient Rome, methods for producing this alloy were known.

The Romans learned to smelt copper with zinc ore. It was only in 1781 that zinc in its pure form began to be used in England to produce brass.

In the nineteenth century, due to its special color, this metal began to be used as counterfeit gold, and this quickly spread to many countries.

Currently, such an alloy is used to produce steel-brass bimetal. It is resistant to corrosion and abrasion, and is also quite flexible. In addition to the fact that brass is used in industry, its variety, called tombak, is quite often used for the manufacture of fittings, artistic products and insignia.

Comparison of two metals

As mentioned above, copper is used to make bronze and brass. However, its combination with tin or zinc produces alloys that have different properties and are used in different fields.

For example, bronze is considered a material that sculptors like to use to create busts, fences, monuments and other solutions that require durability and beauty.

Brass is practically not used for such purposes; it is only occasionally used to create some kind of artistic products.

The reason is the plasticity of the metal; it wears out quite quickly, while bronze monuments can stand for centuries.

An interesting fact is that bronze products have been used in maritime affairs since ancient times. They remarkably withstand the negative effects of salt water , while pure brass is completely incapable of this. To achieve certain properties, alloying with aluminum, lead or tin is required.

The appearance of these alloys is also slightly different. Bronze has a coarse-grained dark brown structure. Brass is much lighter; due to its characteristic yellowness, it resembles gold, and its structure is fine-grained.

In addition, both alloys are divided into different groups:

brass can be two-component or multi-component;
bronze - tin and tinless.

The difference between the two metals

The difference between these two alloys is as follows:

Bronze is obtained by alloying copper with tin. In addition, this alloy contains impurities of metals such as lead, aluminum, beryllium, silicon, etc. Brass is obtained by fusing copper with zinc. Iron, nickel, manganese, lead, etc. are also added to this alloy.
Bronze is a dark brown metal with a coarse grain structure, while brass is yellow in color and is quite smooth and fine grained.
When interacting with sea water, bronze products do not deteriorate at all, but brass products may suffer. This property of alloys is taken into account in the construction of ships and the manufacture of various fishing accessories.
Bronze is divided into tin and tin-free groups, and its opponent is divided into two-component and multi-component.
Bronze products are much stronger than brass and they are much more resistant to wear.
Bronze is often used to make fences, monuments and a variety of metal interior decorations. Brass is also used to make various jewelry and decorative elements, but quite rarely. But it is used to create steel-brass - a fairly practical bimetal that is not prone to rust.

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Thus, it is not so easy to distinguish bronze from brass. It’s not easy to do this at home, but it’s possible. You just need to carefully examine both alloys , which are located in the same place. If you pick them up, bronze will be much heavier than brass, and its color will be much darker.

Source: https://kabirski-store.ru/vidy/svojstva-i-razlichiya-zolota-i-latuni.html

Brass is an alloy of copper and zinc. Main properties, composition and areas of application

Brass is one of the most popular and widely used materials. It is used to make plumbing and construction parts, jewelry and exquisite decorative items. Its composition is an alloy of copper and zinc, with various admixtures of other elements. The components of brass affect its characteristics and determine the applications in which it is used. Let's find out what it is like.

Copper alloy

Copper is a soft red-pink metal with good thermal conductivity, ductility, malleability and resistance to oxidation in air. But due to a number of disadvantages, it is rarely used in its pure form and, as a rule, is alloyed with other metals.

An alloy of copper and zinc makes it possible to obtain a brass material that is easy to cut and has high mechanical strength and castability. It is cheaper and more versatile in use, and is also the second most common after bronze.

Brass is 55-95% copper and 5%-45% zinc. If it includes only these two components, then it is called simple or double. Brass, which includes other alloying elements, is multicomponent or special.

Depending on the chemical composition, the alloy comes in different shades - from dark yellow to yellow-red and white. In any case, it has good fluidity, slight shrinkage and segregation, and lends itself well to rolling, forging and other types of processing. Its corrosion resistance is higher than that of pure copper, but its electrical conductivity is slightly lower. Melting temperatures also strongly depend on the composition and range from 880-950 degrees Celsius.

Brass is prepared in low frequency induction furnaces. First, heat the copper to red heat, and then drop solid zinc into it. To prepare a special alloy of zinc and copper, pieces of other metals are also added secondarily, after the main component.

Copper to Zinc Ratio

There are more than 30 varieties of brass. Their characteristics can vary greatly, depending on the composition and proportions of the elements of a particular alloy. The main component is always copper. The more it is, the more ductile the brass and the higher its ability to conduct heat and electricity. With an increase in the amount of zinc, the alloy becomes harder and stronger, but its ductility is lost. When its content exceeds 45%, brass becomes brittle and is easily destroyed during processing.

The most ductile alloys consist of copper and zinc in a ratio of 70%/30%, 69%/31% or 68%/32%. When the amount of copper reaches 88-97%, and zinc - up to 10%, this mixture is called tompak. It is characterized by high antifriction properties, good ductility and resistance to oxidation in air. Alloys where zinc makes up 10-30% are called semi-solid alloys.

Often a simple alloy of copper and zinc contains minor impurities of other elements. However, their number is very small, so this is not reflected in its characteristics. But it happens that other components are added to the alloy specifically to change its properties and make it more suitable for certain types of processing.

The alloying elements of brass, as a rule, are aluminum, iron, tin, manganese, nickel, lead, and their content ranges from 0.5% to 3%. When combined with nickel, the alloy of copper and zinc becomes very light and acquires significant resistance to high humidity.

The tin makes it resistant to salt water and allows it to be used in the sea or ocean. Thanks to lead, it lends itself well to cutting, forming even, very brittle chips, but it becomes less ductile.

Silicon makes the alloy less hard and durable, but it increases its anti-friction properties.

All products made from an alloy of copper and zinc have markings that help determine its composition. Its principle is quite simple: letters indicate the elements present, and numbers indicate their percentage.

Absolutely always the first letter is the capital letter “L”, indicating that this alloy is brass. If the composition is two-component, then only one number follows, indicating the amount of copper. In this case, zinc is determined by the remainder of 100%.

In a multicomponent alloy, the letter “L” is followed by the letters of the alloying elements. Next come the numbers: the first indicates the amount of copper, and the rest, separated by a hyphen, show the content of other components, in the same order in which the letters are located.

Application

Several centuries ago, merchants successfully passed off brass as real gold by selling jewelry made from it. Today the range of its application is much wider. Thanks to its beautiful dirty yellow hue, it looks very attractive and even noble, so it is used to make jewelry, decorative items, various souvenirs, lamps, washbasins and basins for the bathroom, consoles, and door handles.

Alloys of copper and zinc grades L62 and L68 are very close to gold in their mechanical properties, so they are used in jewelry for training. Medals and various awards are made from tombaks, covering them with a layer of gold on top. They are also suitable for musical wind instruments, the manufacture of parts for watch movements and accessories. When combined with steel or rare metals, bimetallic products are obtained from them.

In industry, brass is used for fittings, radiator tubes, generator bushings, faucets and other parts that are used in the automotive industry. In the form of sheets, wires, circles and rods, it is also used in printing, instrument making, machine tool production and electrical engineering.

Source: https://www.nastroy.net/post/latun---splav-medi-i-tsinka-osnovnyie-svoytva-sostav-i-oblasti-primeneniya

What is the density of brass alloy: physical properties and application of brass - SibNovStroy

Brass, as you know, is an alloy of copper and zinc, to which other chemical elements can be added in small quantities. The chemical composition determines the properties of brass, which must be taken into account when selecting a material to solve specific technological problems.

General properties

Adding zinc to copper (which is how brass is made) produces an alloy that differs from the base metal not only in its properties and color, but also in lower cost.

At the same time, the density of the final alloy, in which zinc can be contained in an amount of 5–45%, differs slightly from the similar parameter of the base metal – copper.

To increase the hardness of brass, as well as improve its anti-friction and other mechanical properties during the production process, it is subjected to various types of additional processing.

If we talk about the most significant properties of brass, then these include:

high resistance to corrosion under normal operating conditions;
fairly good resistance to aggressive media, such as water-salt solutions, carbon dioxide, organic acids;
beautiful light golden color, which allows this material to be used for making decorative items (which even look very attractive in the photo);
susceptibility to processing by plastic deformation methods both in hot and cold conditions (and, importantly, the color of the finished product practically does not change);
low electrical and thermal conductivity;
simplicity and low cost of production;
the ability to use soldering using both soft and hard solders.

Certain brands of brass, in particular those whose chemical composition contains more than 20% zinc, do not tolerate high humidity well: in such conditions, the surface of products made from them may crack.

The situation is further aggravated if the humid atmosphere in which such products are operated contains a significant amount of ammonia.

Then the brass not only becomes cracked and loses its original color, but also loses its good performance characteristics.

Meanwhile, it is possible to improve the properties of brass alloys of this category if, after production, products made from them are subjected to annealing at a temperature of 240–260° using one of the plastic deformation methods. This procedure, often called cold hardening, increases the strength and hardness of the brass, as well as relieving residual stresses in its internal structure.

Improved performance

To improve such properties of brass alloys as density, color, hardness, anti-corrosion resistance and others, in addition to copper and zinc, alloying elements are added, which include tin, iron, arsenic, aluminum, nickel, manganese, etc.

The amount of such elements added to brass is very small. As a rule, it does not exceed a few percent.

The most significant properties that can be improved by alloying brass are cavitation density, wear resistance and corrosion resistance.

Alloying elements added to the chemical composition of brass have different effects on its properties. Thus, silicon, when its content in the alloy is exceeded, reduces its density and, accordingly, worsens its strength characteristics. If, in addition to silicon, lead is added to brass, it will be painted a beautiful color, and its anti-friction properties will increase.

To improve the tensile strength properties of brass, tin, aluminum or manganese are added to its composition.

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If brass is alloyed with manganese and iron, the amount of which should not exceed 2–3%, its elongation coefficient can be significantly improved.

Typically, other chemical elements used to alloy brass worsen this indicator.

To increase the corrosion resistance of brass, elements such as nickel, aluminum, tin and manganese are added to its composition. Particularly noteworthy is nickel-plated brass, which is called white because of its color. Due to the nickel content in their composition, the surface of products made from such alloys is not subject to cracking even when used in conditions of high humidity.

Adding tin to the composition of brass allows you to increase its density and, accordingly, its property such as strength. Products made from such alloys can be successfully used in salt water. Among the wide variety of brass brands, there are those specially created for use in conditions of constant exposure to sea water.

Lead is added to brass mainly to ensure good machinability.

This element ensures the formation of short and easily broken chips during processing on turning, milling or drilling equipment.

In addition, the lead content when processing brass with metal-cutting tools guarantees a surface with low roughness values.

A rather rare element with which brass is alloyed is arsenic.

Products made from such brass are successfully used in fresh, highly aggressive liquid environments at normal or elevated temperatures.

If iron and nickel are added to the chemical composition of brass alloyed with arsenic, then products made from it can be successfully used in acidic and alkaline environments.

Suitable for cutting, including laser cutting, of brass with a zinc content of less than 42%

Advantages and disadvantages of cast brass

Brasses belonging to the multicomponent category are divided into two large groups:

foundries;
processed by plastic deformation methods.

Copper-zinc alloys belonging to the casting category are actively used in modern industry.

The high popularity of such materials is due to the fact that they demonstrate a low tendency to gas saturation, which, in turn, makes it possible to obtain castings from them with high density and decent corrosion resistance.

Good deoxidation of such brasses, which occurs during the casting process, is facilitated by the fact that some of the zinc evaporates during melting.

The most significant properties of brasses belonging to the foundry category include:

high fluidity in the molten state;
slight shrinkage during the casting process;
mechanical characteristics that are in many ways similar to those of tin and aluminum bronzes;
simplicity and low cost of production when compared with the technology for producing bronze alloys.

Metals in this category also have some disadvantages.

During the casting process, crystallization cavities of quite large sizes can form in products.
Special fluxes must be added to brass to minimize the loss of zinc that occurs as a result of evaporation of this metal.

Correcting such deficiencies associated with melting brass is associated with significant financial costs. If you do not take such measures that increase the cost of the finished alloy, then most of it will have to be sent for recycling.

Wrought brass alloys

Brass, finished products from which and blanks for further processing are produced by plastic deformation methods, can be single- or two-phase. Alloys of the first category contain no more than 30% zinc in their chemical composition, the second – 40–45%.

Two-phase brasses lend themselves well to plastic processing only in a hot state, while the color of their surface remains unchanged. When cold they exhibit very low ductility. Brasses of the single-phase group, which are also distinguished by their color constancy, can be processed by plastic deformation methods in both cold and hot states.

Objects made of brass are distinguished not only by their attractive appearance, which can be judged even from the photo, but also by their excellent mechanical properties, which allows them to be successfully used not only for decorative, but also for practical purposes.

Source: https://sibnovostroy.ru/obrabotka/kakaya-plotnost-u-splava-latuni-fizicheskie-svojstva-i-primenenie-latuni.html

Brass is an alloy of copper and zinc. Main properties, composition and areas of application:

Alloying brass

The alloying elements of brass, as a rule, are aluminum, iron, tin, manganese, nickel, lead, and their content ranges from 0.5% to 3%. When combined with nickel, the alloy of copper and zinc becomes very light and acquires significant resistance to high humidity.

The tin makes it resistant to salt water and allows it to be used in the sea or ocean. Thanks to lead, it lends itself well to cutting, forming even, very brittle chips, but it becomes less ductile.

Silicon makes the alloy less hard and durable, but it increases its anti-friction properties.

7 Ways to Tell Copper from Brass

27.09.2017 17:15

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

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

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

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

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

1. Contact a specialist

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

2. Determination by color

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

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

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

3. Identification by sound

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

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

4. Determination by hardness

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

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

5. Determination using chemistry

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

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

6. Determination by drilling

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

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

7. Determination by density

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

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

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