Common Industrial Applications of Brass

The Most Common Industrial Applications of Brass Brass is the name given to a very common alloy that is made from zinc and copper.

Certain properties of brass vary depending upon the percentage of zinc and copper used along with certain other metals in small amounts. No matter the percentage of composition, they are all strong metal alloys. Brass is tough, conductive, malleable, resistant to corrosion, and very useful in applications where low friction is necessary.

Three Main Industries That Use Brass The three main industries where brass is very commonly used is the automotive industry, music industry and metal working industry. Let’s dive deep into each of these sectors: 1. Automotive Industry Brass is commonly used in the automotive industry to manufacture auto parts like radiators. Radiators of trucks and cars were made from aluminum in the past but now they are made of brass because of its strength, malleability, and corrosion resistance properties. The copper-brass alloy that is used is much lighter, almost by 40%, and also cheaper. These radiators are also studied and shown to have a long-lasting life of ten years.

2. Music Industry Brass has been the first choice for the manufacturing of musical instruments for a very long time due to its strength, malleability, and resistance to corrosion.

This alloy is used to make a lot of instruments like trumpets, tubas, horns, and so on. The alloy provides the necessary resistance and has a very clean look.

Since it is easy to mold into any desired shapes, they are very suitable for making a lot of musical instruments and can also maintain their acoustic properties.

3. Metalworking Industry The metalworking industry commonly uses brass for the manufacturing of door knobs, door handles, door hinges and so on. It is reliable for its strength and can be easily molded which is why metal workers choose to use this alloy.

The Common Types and Uses of Brass 1. Free-Cutting Brass This alloy is also called C-360 brass and contains zinc, copper, and lead. It is easy to machine but is also quite tough and non-corrosive in nature. Brass parts manufacturers use this alloy to produce nuts, bolts, threaded objects, terminals, jets, taps, injectors, valves, weigh balances, and water pipe fittings.

2. Gilding Metal This alloy uses 95% copper and 5% zinc. It is a soft alloy which makes it easier to hammer it into desired shapes. It has a deep bronze color that makes it attractive for crafting projects. It is used in artillery shells, jewellery, grillwork, badges, door handles, ornamental trims, marine equipment, primer caps, and so on.

3. Engraving Brass This alloy is also called the C35600 or the C37000 and contains about 1% or 2% lead. It is commonly used in engraved name plates, plaques, and so on. It is also used for clock components, builders hardware, and gear meters, etc.

4. Arsenical Brass Arsenical brass is also known as C26000, C26130, or 70/30 brass, and contains .03% arsenic along with copper and zinc. This is used in manufacturing heat exchangers, radiators cores, tanks & tubes, plugs, locks, lamp fittings, and so on.

5. High Tensile Brass High tensile brass contains a small amount of manganese and is a strong alloy.

Its strength allows it to be used in situations where a lot of stress has to be borne.

The commonly manufactured objects out of this alloy include marine engines, hydraulic equipment fittings, heavy load wheels, bushes bearing, battery clamps, and so on.

6. Non-magnetic Applications Brass is also used in applications where the metal alloy has to be of non-magnetic nature. This is why it is commonly used in clock components, electrical instruments, and so on.