The brass parts have different applications. Brass is such versatile which can be customized or created especially for clients. The wide range of brass can include:
- Machine parts
- Electrical and plumbing parts
- Accessories like nuts, bolts, screws, etc.
- Decorative items
- Furnishing fixtures
- Instruments and parts
Brass can be an ideal choice for the customization of the above-mentioned parts because of its known properties like resistance to wear and tear under high temperatures, tensile strength, and resistance to rust etc. The versatility of brass allows the manufacturers to create custom brass products which can be effective for different industries which value the properties of brass. The brass is used in the following industries:
- Plumbing
- Milling and drilling
- Machine manufacturers
- Electronic and electrical
Properties
- Malleability – It has higher malleability than Zinc or Bronze.
- Melting Point – It relatively has a low melting point (900 to 940 °C, 1,650 to 1,720 °F, depending on composition).
- Density – Brass has a density of 8.4 to 8.73 grams per cubic centimeter (0.303 to 0.315 lb/cu in).
- Recyclable – Almost 90% of all brass alloys we are using are recycled. Brass turned parts are not ferromagnetic and hence, it can be separated from ferrous scrap easily.
- Recast – A scrap of brass can be collected and after that transported to the foundry, where the Brass is usually melted and recast into the billets. These billets thereafter can be heated and turned into the desired size and form.
- Softness – Generally, The softness of Brass means that we can machine it out without the use of cutting fluid.
- Aluminum as an alloy – By using aluminum as an alloy, we can make brass stronger and much more resistant to the corrosion. The Aluminum Oxide layer formed above the metal is highly beneficial to it.
- Tin as an alloy – Tin has a similar effect to that of aluminum but it works best when it is especially used in seawater applications (naval brasses).
- Note – The Combinations of aluminum, silicon, iron, and manganese helps the brass in attaining the wear and tear
Brass types
| Class | The proportion by weight (%) | Notes | |
| Copper | Zinc | ||
| Alpha brasses | > 65 | < 35 | Alpha brasses are usually malleable. They can be used in pressing, forging or other similar applications. |
| Alpha-beta brasses | 55–65 | 35–45 | This type of Brass contains both α and β’ phases; the β’-phase is harder and stronger than α and it is body-centered cubic. |
| Beta brasses | 50–55 | 45–50 | Beta brasses are suitable for casting and they can only be worked Harder, stronger and in hot conditions. |
| Gamma brasses | 33–39 | 61–67 | They can also be referred to as Ag-Zn and Au-Zn gamma brasses, Ag 30–50%, Au 41%. |
| White brass | < 50 | > 50 | It may also refer to the certain types of nickel silver alloys |
USES
- Decoration – The Brass is used in decoration just because of its bright gold-like appearance.
- Used in low friction applications – The brass is used in the object where low friction is required such as bearings, doorknobs, ammunition casings, locks, gears, and valves.
- The brass is used in plumbing and electrical applications.
- Brass musical instruments such as horns and bells where a combination of high workability (historically with hand tools) and durability is desired.
- Brass is also used in zippers.
- Safety product – We can say that custom brass products are often required in the conditions where fittings are required in such a way that it reduces the chances of explosions and fires. Just because of its property that it does not strike