Application Data Sheet - Copper Alloys

Brass is an alloy made from a combination of copper and zinc to produce materials with a wide range of engineering uses. Brass composition gives the metal a melting point suitable for many applications, including suitable for joining using the brazing technique. The melting point of brass is lower than copper at around 920~970 degrees Celsius depending on the amount of Zn addition. Brass melting point is lower than that of copper because of the added Zn. Brass alloys can varying in Zn composition from as little as 5% (more commonly referred to as Gilding Metals) to over 40% as used in the machining brasses. An uncommonly used term is brass bronze, where some additions of tin are used.

Brass composition and the addition of zinc to copper raises the strength and gives a range of characteristics, which makes the brasses are a very versatile range of materials. They are used for their strength, corrosion resistance, appearance and colour, and ease of working and joining. The single phase alpha brasses, containing up to about 37% Zn, are very ductile and easy to cold work, weld and braze. The dual phase alpha-beta brasses are usually hot worked.

There are many brasses with different compositions and characteristics tailored for specific applications by the level of addition of zinc. The lower levels of Zn addition are often called Guilding Metal or Red Brass. While the higher levels of Zn are alloys such as Cartridge Brass, Free Machining Brass, Naval Brass. These later brasses also have the addition of other elements. The addition of lead to brass has been used for many years to aide the machinability of the material by inducing chip break points. As the risk and dangers of lead have been realised it have more recently been replaced with elements such as silicon and bismuth to achieve similar machining characteristic. These are now know as low lead or lead free brasses.

Yes, minor amounts of other alloying elements may also be added to copper and brass. Commons examples are lead for machine-ability as mentioned above, but also arsenic for corrosion resistance to dezincification, tin for strength and corrosion.

As the zinc content is increased, the colour changes. The low Zn alloys can often resemble copper in colour, while the high zinc alloys appear golden or yellow.

C22000, 90/10 Gilding metal, combines a rich golden colour with the best combination of strength, ductility and corrosion resistance of the plain Cu-Zn alloys. It weathers to a rich bronze colour. It has excellent deep drawing capability, and resistance to pitting corrosion in severe weather and water environments. It is used in architectural fascias, jewellery, ornamental trim, door handles, escutcheons, marine hardware.

C26000, 70/30 Brass and C26130, Arsenical brass, have excellent ductility and strength, and are the most widely used brasses. Arsenical brass contains a small addition of arsenic, which greatly improves corrosion resistance in waters, but is otherwise effectively identical. These alloys have the distinctive bright yellow colour normally associated with brass. They have the optimum combination of strength and ductility in the Cu-Zn alloys, coupled with good corrosion resistance. C26000 is used for architecture, drawn and spun containers and shapes, electrical terminals and connectors, door handles, plumbers hardware. C26130 is used for tube and fittings in contact with water, including potable water.

C26800, Yellow brass, is the single phase alpha brass with the lowest content of copper. It is used where its deep drawing properties and lower cost give an advantage. When welded particles of beta phase may form, reducing ductility and corrosion resistance.

C35600 and C37000, Engraving brass, are 60/40 alpha-beta brasses with different levels of lead added to give free machining characteristics. They are widely used for engraved plates and plaques, builders hardware, gears. They should not be used for acid etched work, for which the single phase alpha brasses should be used.

C38000, Section brass, is a readily extrudable leaded alpha/beta brass with a small aluminium addition, which gives a bright golden colour. The lead gives free cutting characteristics. C38000 is available as extruded rods, channels, flats and angles, which are typically used in builders hardware.

C38500, Free cutting brass, is a significantly improved form of 60/40 brass, with excellent free cutting characteristics. It is used in the mass production of brass components where maximum output and longest tool life are required, and where no further cold forming after machining is required.

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Our supply scope covers a comprehensive range of high-performance copper and copper alloy products tailored to diverse industrial applications. We provide precision-engineered copper tubes for HVAC and refrigeration systems, sheets and plates for architectural cladding and electrical components, rods and bars for machining and fabrication, wires for conductive and mechanical purposes, as well as strips and foils for electronic and automotive industries. All products are available in various alloys - including pure copper, brass, bronze, phosphor bronze, copper-nickel, and specialty alloys - and can be supplied in standard sizes or customized dimensions, tempers, and finishes to meet your exact specifications. 

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