Brass

Brass www.columbiametals.com
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Brass is primarily an alloy of copper and zinc to which additions of other

elements such as tin, manganese, arsenic, aluminium, silicon and lead
are often made. These additions are usually small (less than 5%) but en-
hance the individual properties of the alloy, resulting in a material that is
ideal for specific application areas. The variety of compositions give spe-
cific benefits such as a good strength and ductility or an excellent corro-
sion resistance, high wear resistance, free machinability or a high con-
ductivity. With a grade to suit every industrial sector, brass is regarded as
one of the best starting points for designers during material selection
when long and cost-effective service is required.

There are over 40 standard types of brass, from naval brass to high tensile brass and dezincification re-
sistant brass (DZR brass) to free machining brass. The unique combination of properties available from
brass means it is the most commonly used of all the copper based alloys. Columbia Metals stocks a wide
range of brass in round bar, hexagon, tube, sheet and plate, all available for immediate delivery.

The zinc content of brass can vary from 5 - 40% dependent on the individual grade. Brasses with a higher
copper content (above ~63%) can be extensively deformed at room temperature and are widely used for the
manufacture of complex components by pressing, deep drawing, spinning and other cold forming processes.
These grades are generally produced by extrusion, cold rolling and drawing. When the copper content falls
below 63% and no other alloying elements are present, the ductility
• GOOD STRENGTH PROPERTIES and cold formability are reduced, but these alloys can generally be
• ATTRACTIVE COLOURATION readily hot worked by forging and stamping. These grades are usual-
• HIGH CORROSION RESISTANCE ly manufactured using hot working, either by extrusion or rolling.
• READILY MACHINABLE
Generally brass has a very good resistance to corrosion, especially
• EASILY FORMED / FABRICATED
in normal atmospheric and fresh water conditions. Over time, out-
• READILY SOLDERED / BRAZED
door exposure can cause a tarnish film to develop on the surface of
• GOOD WEAR RESISTANCE brass. This results in the formation of the trademark green patina
• HIGH CONDUCTIVITY VALUES associated with copper and its alloys. The brass underneath remains
unaffected and will not rust
away like iron or steel. Seawater and other more challenging at- Stocked sizes of brass
mospheres can also be handled successfully providing the correct  Round Bar 5/32” – 5” dia
alloy composition is selected. Alloying additions such as alumini-
 Hexagon 0.193” – 1.7/8” A/F
um, arsenic, tin and nickel will all impart a better corrosion re-
sistance, with grades such as dezincification resistant brass and █ Sheet / Plate 10g – 24g
naval brass being particularly successful for designing components  Square 5/16” – 1.1/2” sq
that are in contact with fresh water or seawater.
▬ Flat and  Tube also available
Elements such as aluminium, nickel, iron and manganese can also
be added to improve the strength and hardness levels of a brass. Zamalloy and high tensile brasses such as
CZ114 and CZ115 are examples that have been developed for enhanced mechanical properties. These
types of brass should be selected for more exacting strength and wear applications such as gas valves and
fittings, pumps, fasteners and bearings.

All grades of brass are intrinsically easy to machine but the addition of lead further improves this property.
CZ121 / CW614N has a 3% lead addition and is well known as the free-machining brass that sets the stand-
ard by which other materials are judged and rated. Brass can also be readily joined via brazing or soldering
which, combined with the other forming attributes, gives machinists lower tool wear, higher speeds and lower
overall fabrication costs.

PLEASE CONTACT US FOR AN IMMEDIATE QUOTATION OR TECHNICAL ADVICE

London & South Midlands & Wales North & International
Tel: 020 7732 1022 Tel: 01234 608888 Tel: 01422 343026
Fax: 020 7732 1029 Fax: 01234 608800 Fax: 01422 346587
[email protected] [email protected] [email protected]
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Brass
Brass
Grades and Properties

Designation
Available Nominal
And Common Main Benefits
Forms Composition
Terminology

Excellent cold working properties and attractive

CZ101 / CW501L
Gilding Metal
█ CuZn10 rich golden colour. Primarily a sheet grade. Used
for architectural / decorative applications.

Very good hot and cold working capabilities. Ide-

CZ108 / CW508L
Basis Brass █ CuZn37 al for spinning, deep drawing, thread rolling and
bending. Also readily soldered.

A lead-free brass offering very good hot working

CZ109 / CW509L
Muntz Metal
 CuZn40 and reasonable cold forming attributes. Can be
hot headed and hot stamped with ease.

CZ110 / CW702R Very good fresh water and sea water corrosion
Aluminium  CuZn20Al2As resistance, good strength levels and machining.
Brass Arsenic imparts a resistance to dezincification.

High corrosion resistance for marine hardware

CZ112 / CW712R
Naval Brass █▬ CuZn36Sn and other mildly aggressive environments. Good
strength levels and excellent hot formability.

CZ114 / CW721R Very high strength levels and a good corrosion

CuZn40Mn1Pb-
High Tensile ▬ AlFeSn
resistance combined with a good machinability
Brass and hot stamping properties.

CZ115 / CW722R A high strength, readily machinable alloy with a

High Tensile  CuZn40Mn1PbFeSn restricted Al content to aid brazing. A very good
Brass corrosion resistance but not as high as CZ114.

A leaded free-machining and engraving brass.

CZ120 / CW612N
Engraving Brass █ CuZn39Pb2 Primarily a sheet grade, it offers a combination
of good strength and high corrosion resistance.

CZ121 / CW614N The classic free machining grade for high speed
Free Machining █▬ CuZn39Pb3 operations. Offers a machinability rating of 100%
Brass a good strength and good corrosion resistance.

A tube grade with an addition of arsenic that

CZ126 / CW707R
Arsenical Brass
 CuZn30As improves the corrosion resistance but retains its
good strength, ductility and forming properties.

CZ131 / CW601N Reasonable cold forming properties and a good

Riveting &  CuZn37Pb2 strength, ductility and corrosion resistance. The
Turning Brass lead gives good wear resistance and machining.

High strength and ductility with a good corrosion

CZ132 / CW602N
DZR Brass
 CuZn36Pb2As resistance. Readily machined and formed and an
excellent resistance to dezincification.

CZ137 / CW610N Offers very good hot working and limited cold
Leaded Muntz  CuZn39Pb0.5 forming. It is readily machined and offers good
Metal strength, ductility and corrosion resistance.

ZAMALLOY Excellent strength and hardness levels and very

High Tensile  CuZn19Al6Mn5 good wear resistance. High corrosion resistance,
Aluminium Brass readily machinable and good hot formability.

REV2/11/17