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Brass

For other uses, see Brass (disambiguation).

Brass is the term used for alloys of copper and zinc in a solid solution. Typically it is more than 50% copper and from 5 to 20% zinc[1], in comparison to bronze which is principally an alloy of copper and tin.[2]. Despite this distinction, some types of brasses are called bronzes.


(L-R) Decorative brass paperweight, along with zinc and copper samples

Brass has a yellow colour, somewhat similar to gold. Because of this, and its relative resistance to tarnishing, it is often used as a decoration.

Brass has been known to man since prehistoric times, long before zinc itself was discovered. It was produced by melting copper together with calamine, a zinc ore. During this process, the zinc is extracted from the calamine and instantly mixes with the copper. Pure zinc, on the other hand, is too reactive to be produced by ancient metalworking techniques.

Properties

The malleablity and acoustic properties of brass have made it the metal of choice for brass musical instruments such as the tuba.

In some environments, brasses with higher content of zinc are prone to a selective leaching corrosion known as dezincification. In some territories, plumbing fittings designed to resist dezincification are embossed "CR" (corrosion resistant). A dezincified fitting has the pink appearance of pure copper and will easily crumble, being reduced to a weak sponge-like matrix. Brass is a versatile manufacturing material because of its hardness and workability.

Brass types

  • Admiralty brass contains 30% zinc and 1% tin which inhibits dezincification.
  • Alpha brasses (Prince's metal), with less than 35% zinc, are malleable, can be worked cold, and are used in pressing, forging, or similar. They contain only one phase, with face-centered cubic crystal structure.
  • Alpha-beta brass (Muntz metal), also called duplex brass, is 35-45 % zinc and is 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.
  • Aluminium brass contains aluminium, which improves its corrosion resistance.
  • Arsenical brass contains an addition of arsenic and frequently aluminium and is used for boiler fireboxes.
  • Beta brasses, with 45-50 % zinc content, can only be worked hot, is harder, stronger, and suitable for casting.
  • Cartridge brass is a 30% zinc brass with good cold working properties.
  • Common brass, or rivet brass, is a 37% zinc brass, cheap and standard for cold working.
  • High brass, contains 65% copper and 35% zinc, has a high tensile strength and is used for springs, screws, rivets.
  • Leaded brass is an alpha-beta brass with addition of lead. It has excellent machinability.
  • Low brass is a copper-zinc alloy containing 20% zinc with a light golden color, excellent ductility and is used for flexible metal hoses and metal bellows.
  • Naval brass, similar to admiralty brass, is a 40% zinc brass and 1% tin.
  • Red brass is an American term for CuZnSn alloy known as gunmetal.
  • White brass contains more than 50 % zinc and is too brittle for general use.
  • Yellow brass is an American term for 33% zinc brass.

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Brass is a versatile manufacturing material because of its hardness and workability. Other uses:. A dezincified fitting has the pink appearance of pure copper and will easily crumble, being reduced to a weak sponge-like matrix. In religion:. In some territories, plumbing fittings designed to resist dezincification are embossed "CR" (corrosion resistant). Canon may mean:. In some environments, brasses with higher content of zinc are prone to a selective leaching corrosion known as dezincification. In many instances it could be a spelling error for "cannon", which has an entirely different meaning.

The malleablity and acoustic properties of brass have made it the metal of choice for brass musical instruments such as the tuba. Literary canon is also understood as the body of work attributed to an author that is widely accepted as genuine. . Geek canon. Pure zinc, on the other hand, is too reactive to be produced by ancient metalworking techniques. Chinese classic texts. During this process, the zinc is extracted from the calamine and instantly mixes with the copper. Western canon.

It was produced by melting copper together with calamine, a zinc ore. Literary canon, a body of literature which is widely considered to define a certain civilization, such as:

    . Brass has been known to man since prehistoric times, long before zinc itself was discovered. Canon Inc., a Japanese corporation that specialises in imaging and optical products. Because of this, and its relative resistance to tarnishing, it is often used as a decoration. Canon (fiction), the body of works that are considered to be "genuine" or "official" within a certain fictional universe. Brass has a yellow colour, somewhat similar to gold. Canon is another word for the Mediæval psaltery, a stringed instrument.


    . Canon (music), a contrapuntal composition that employs a melody with one or more imitations. Despite this distinction, some types of brasses are called bronzes. Canon (art), a set of rules and measurements used in creating a work of art. Typically it is more than 50% copper and from 5 to 20% zinc[1], in comparison to bronze which is principally an alloy of copper and tin.[2]. Tripitaka. Brass is the term used for alloys of copper and zinc in a solid solution. Taoist canon.

    Yellow brass is an American term for 33% zinc brass. Biblical canon. White brass contains more than 50 % zinc and is too brittle for general use. Canon, a collection of texts accepted by a religious community as authoritative or divinely inspired, such as:

      . Red brass is an American term for CuZnSn alloy known as gunmetal. Canon (hymnography), a type of Eastern Orthodox hymn. Naval brass, similar to admiralty brass, is a 40% zinc brass and 1% tin. Canon (priest), a form of Christian priest.

      Low brass is a copper-zinc alloy containing 20% zinc with a light golden color, excellent ductility and is used for flexible metal hoses and metal bellows. Canon law, all legislation adopted by an ecumenical council of the Catholic or Eastern Orthodox churches. It has excellent machinability. Leaded brass is an alpha-beta brass with addition of lead. High brass, contains 65% copper and 35% zinc, has a high tensile strength and is used for springs, screws, rivets.

      Common brass, or rivet brass, is a 37% zinc brass, cheap and standard for cold working. Cartridge brass is a 30% zinc brass with good cold working properties. Beta brasses, with 45-50 % zinc content, can only be worked hot, is harder, stronger, and suitable for casting. Arsenical brass contains an addition of arsenic and frequently aluminium and is used for boiler fireboxes.

      Aluminium brass contains aluminium, which improves its corrosion resistance. Alpha-beta brasses are usually worked hot. It contains both α and β' phase; the β'-phase is body-centered cubic and is harder and stronger than α. Alpha-beta brass (Muntz metal), also called duplex brass, is 35-45 % zinc and is suited for hot working.

      They contain only one phase, with face-centered cubic crystal structure. Alpha brasses (Prince's metal), with less than 35% zinc, are malleable, can be worked cold, and are used in pressing, forging, or similar. Admiralty brass contains 30% zinc and 1% tin which inhibits dezincification.