Brass

Brass is the term used for alloys of copper and zinc in a solid solution. more...

Typically it is more than 50% copper and from 5 to 20% zinc, in comparison to bronze which is principally an alloy of copper and tin.. Despite this distinction, some types of brasses are called bronzes.

Brass has a yellow colour, somewhat similar to gold. Because of this, and its relative resistance to tarnishing, it is often used as a decoration.

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

Properties

The malleablity and acoustic properties of brass have made it the metal of choice for brass musical instruments such as the tuba. Higher malleability than copper and zinc.

In some environments, brasses with higher content of zinc are prone to a selective leaching corrosion known as dezincification. In some territories, plumbing fittings designed to resist dezincification are embossed "CR" (corrosion resistant). A dezincified fitting has the pink appearance of pure copper and will easily crumble, being reduced to a weak sponge-like matrix. Brass is a versatile manufacturing material because of its hardness and workability.

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