Bronze vs. Brass: Learn How These Two Alloys Differ

Bronze is one of the many alloys out there, but it's made up of a specific mix of copper and tin, as well as smaller concentrations of other elements, like phosphorus, silicon, zinc, arsenic, aluminum, and manganese. Bronze provides a nice blend of good corrosion resistance, low metal-to-metal friction, and decent ductility.

There are a few perks to working with bronze:

Bronze tends to have better corrosion resistance when you compare it to brass-even when it's exposed to seawater.

It's hard and durable, especially more so than copper and iron on their own.

Its fatigue resistance is better than many steel types out there.

Brass is also an alloy, like bronze, but rather than having tin in its composition, it has a mix of copper and zinc. You'll also find various other elements and metals in the makeup of brass, including silicon, iron, aluminum, and manganese, which will impact its color and properties. As an example, if you have more zinc in your brass, you'll get a material with better ductility and strength, whereas if you have extra manganese, the brass will have improved corrosion resistance. To boost its workability, sometimes lead is added.

You'll find that brass has its own advantages as a material:

Brass has better workability, machinability, and malleability when you compare it to bronze.

Brass is also antibacterial, which can be useful in specific sectors.

It usually has a gold color that's more aesthetically pleasing than other metals and alloys.

The processes for making brass and bronze are relatively similar - the main difference you'll spot lies in their concentrations of elements and what metals are added. For bronze, you'll see about 88% copper and about 12% tin mixed together. For brass, you'll see around 55–95% copper and a range of 5% to 45% zinc. Once the mixture is just right, manufacturers will melt them down, then cast them into molds. The molds will cool and harden, then will be moved on for processing where they'll get prepped and ready for all kinds of applications.

Cost-wise, you'll find that bronze is more expensive than brass since tin has a higher price than zinc. Copper also tends to be expensive, and since bronze has more copper than brass, this puts its price higher. You'll find that making and purchasing bronze can be up to four times more expensive than brass.

Does copper turn to bronze?

No, although there is copper in bronze's composition, bronze also has other elements that make it an alloy. So, overtime, you won't find that copper turns into bronze-only if tin and other element traces are added to the mix.

Are bronze and brass weldable?

Yes, you can weld both bronze and brass, but because of how well they conduct heat, it can be tricky. We recommend using a tip that's larger (about one size bigger) than one you'd use for welding steel of a similar thickness, as this will make it easier.

Is bronze or brass more malleable?

Brass tends to be more malleable than bronze. Because bronze has tin in its makeup, it tends to have more hardness than its counterpart.

Are bronze and brass magnetic?

No, neither bronze nor brass are magnetic. That's because they're made up of metals and elements that aren't magnetic, like copper, zinc, and tin. Sometimes nickel gets added to a bronze mixture, which gives it a slight magnetic pull, but overall these materials aren't.

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

B152 / B152M: Copper Sheet, Strip, Plate, and Rolled Bar

B187 / B187M: Copper Bus Bar, Rod, and Shapes

B301: Free-Cutting Brass Rod

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