Brass Alloys and Their Chemical Compositions

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. Brass Alloys 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 ÃŽ ± and ÃŽ ²' phase; the ÃŽ ²'-phase is body-centered cubic and is harder and stronger than ÃŽ ±. 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