Brass Alloys and Their Chemical Compositions - Knowledge

Key Takeaways

Brass is mainly made of copper and zinc, sometimes including tin to create different variations.

Different brass alloys have unique properties, like strength or corrosion resistance, used in various applications.

Brass is used in many items, from jewelry to currency coins, due to its diverse properties.

Brass Alloys

Brass is any alloy consisting primarily of copper, usually with zinc. In some cases, copper with tin is considered a type of brass, although this metal historically has been called bronze. This is a list of common brass alloys, their chemical compositions, and the uses of the different types of brass.

Alloy	Composition and Use
Admiralty brass	30% zinc and 1% tin, used to inhibit dezincification
Aich's alloy	60.66% copper, 36.58% zinc, 1.02% tin, and 1.74% iron. Corrosion resistance, hardness, and toughness make it useful for marine applications.
Alpha brass	Less than 35% zinc, malleable, can be worked cold, used in pressing, forging, or similar applications. Alpha brasses have only one phase, with face-centered cubic crystal structure.
Prince's metal or Prince Rupert's metal	Alpha brass containing 75% copper and 25% zinc. It's named for Prince Rupert of the Rhine and used to imitate gold.
Alpha-beta brass, Muntz metal, or duplex brass	35-45% zinc, suited for hot working. It contains both α and β' phase; the β'-phase is body-centered cubic and is harder and stronger than α. Alpha-beta brasses are usually worked hot.
Aluminum brass	Contains aluminum, which improves its corrosion resistance. It's used for seawater service and in Euro coins (Nordic gold).
Arsenical brass	Contains arsenic and frequently aluminum and is used for boiler fireboxes
Beta brass	45-50% zinc content. It can only be worked hot, produces a hard, strong metal that is suitable for casting.
Cartridge brass	30% zinc brass with good cold-working properties; used for ammunition cases
Common brass, or rivet brass	37% zinc brass, standard for cold working
DZR brass	dezincification resistant brass with a small percentage of arsenic
Gilding metal	95% copper and 5% zinc, softest type of common brass, used for ammunition jackets
High brass	65% copper and 35% zinc, has a high tensile strength and is used for springs, rivets, and screws
Leaded brass	Alpha-beta brass with an addition of lead, easily machined
Lead-free brass	As defined by California Assembly Bill AB 1953 contains "not more than 0.25 percent lead content"
Low brass	Copper-zinc alloy containing 20% zinc; ductile brass used for flexible metal hoses and bellows
Manganese brass	70% copper, 29% zinc, and 1.3% manganese, used in making golden dollar coins in the United States
Muntz metal	60% copper, 40% zinc, and a trace of iron, used as a lining on boats
Naval brass	40% zinc and 1% tin, similar to admiralty brass
Nickel brass	70% copper, 24.5% zinc, and 5.5% nickel used to make pound coins in the pound sterling currency
Nordic gold	89% copper, 5% aluminium, 5% zinc, and 1% tin, used in 10, 20, and 50 cents in euro coins
Red brass	American term for the copper-zinc-tin alloy known as gunmetal considered both a brass and a bronze. Red brass usually contains 85% copper, 5% tin, 5% lead, and 5% zinc. Red brass may be copper alloy C23000, which is 14 to 16% zinc, 0.05% iron and lead, and the remainder copper. Red brass also may refer to ounce metal, another copper-zinc-tin alloy.
Rich low brass (Tombac)	15% zinc, often used for jewelry
Tonval brass (also called CW617N, CZ122, or OT58)	copper-lead-zinc alloy
White brass	Brittle metal containing more than 50% zinc. White brass may also refer to certain nickel silver alloys as well as Cu-Zn-Sn alloys with high proportions (typically 40%+) of tin and/or zinc, as well as predominantly zinc casting alloys with a copper additive.
Yellow brass	American term for 33% zinc brass

About us

GNEE is a leading international trader and supplier specializing in a comprehensive range of high-quality copper and copper alloy products. We serve a global clientele across various industries, including HVAC/R, automotive, electronics, construction, and industrial manufacturing.

Our Extensive Product Portfolio

We boast a vast inventory and robust supply chain for virtually all forms of copper products. Our expertise covers:

Copper Tubes & Pipes:

Copper Seamless Tube / Capillary Copper Tube

Copper Welded Tube / Copper Air Conditioning Tube

Copper Refrigeration Tube / Copper Water Tube

Deoxidized Copper Tube / Copper Coil Tube

Copper Sheets & Plates&Strips：

Copper Strip / Copper Thin Strip

Copper Heavy Duty Strip / Precision Copper Strip

Copper Foil Sheet / Copper Thin Sheet

Copper Thick Plate / Copper Chequered Plate

Copper Shim Stock / Copper Busbar

Copper Bars & Rods:

Copper Round Bar / Copper Square Bar

Copper Hexagon Bar / Copper Flat Bar

Copper Alloy Rod / C11000 Electrolytic Tough Pitch (ETP) Copper Rod

Copper Wires & Specialties:

Copper Wire / Bare Copper Wire

Copper Alloy Wire / Oxygen-Free Copper Wire

Copper Profiles / Copper Fittings

Material Grades & International Standards

We provide materials that conform to major international standards to ensure performance, reliability, and global acceptance. Commonly supplied grades and standards include:

Common Grades:

Pure Copper: C10100 (Oxygen-Free Electronic Copper), C10200 (Oxygen-Free Copper), C11000 (Electrolytic Tough Pitch - ETP Copper)

Copper Alloys:

Brass: C26000 (Cartridge Brass), C27200 (Brass), C36000 (Free-Cutting Brass), C38500 (Architectural Bronze)

Phosphor Bronze: C51000

Aluminum Bronze: C60800

Copper-Nickel: C70600 (CuNi 90/10)

Admiralty Brass: C44300

ASTM Standards:

B68 / B68M: Seamless Copper Tube

B75 / B75M: Seamless Copper Pipe

B111 / B111M: Copper and Copper-Alloy Seamless Condenser Tubes and Ferrule Stock