Brass metal is composed of copper and zinc. Industries obtain this metal to design various components, including brass-turned components and wires. Since the copper is the main component, brass is usually classified as a copper alloy.
The metal brass color varies from a dark reddish brown to a light silvery yellow, depending on the zinc content amount present in it. The more zinc gives the metal lighter color.
Brass is stronger and harder metal when compared with copper, yet it cannot match the strength carried by steel. Manufacturers of auto parts and industrial wires find brass to be a perfect metal because it is easy to form into distinct shapes. It is a great heat conductor and resists corrosion from salt water.
These properties are enough to construct pipes and tubes with brass metal. Manufacturers also make weather-stripping and other architectural pieces, radiators, screws, casings, musical instruments, fasteners, turned components, etc.
Raw Materials Needed For Brass
Copper is the main component of brass. The copper amount varies between 55% and 95% by weight, depending on the type of brass and its purpose. Brasses having high percentage of copper are constructed from electrically refined copper that is 99.3% pure to lower the amount of other materials.
Brass-turned components with a lower percentage of copper can also be constructed by manufacturers using the same refined copper, but most of the time they use inexpensive recycled copper alloy scrap.
While using the recycled scrap, manufacturers need to calculate the percentages of copper and other materials present in the scrap. This will help them in adjusting the material amount to achieve the desired component of brass.
Zinc is the second component of brass. Its amount varies between 5% and 40% by weight depending on the brass type.
Brass metal with high amount of zinc is harder and stronger, but they are also tougher to form and have less resistance to corrosion. Iron makes the internal grain structure smaller and hardens the brass, and this helps in shaping the metal with repeated impacts in a process known as forging foundry.
Process Steps For Making Brass
- Melting
- Hot rolling
- Annealing and cold rolling
- Finish rolling
These steps are performed at foundry under supervision of professionals. Once the brass is obtained, experts make distinct quality checks to ensure that the brass they made from scratch is premium and can be used for making different products, like brass-turned components.
