Brass: Alloy of copper and zinc

Some types of brass are called bronzes.

Brass has a golden appearance. It is harder than pure metals and resists corrosion. It costs more than zinc.

There are some common brasses:

• Alpha brasses - with less than 40% zinc
• Beta brasses -
• White brasses - with more than 45% zinc

Things brass are used to make include:

• Brass instruments
• Ornaments
• Electrical fittings
• Buttons
• Screws
• Taps
• Hinges
• Door knobs

Brass is more malleable than bronze or zinc. The melting point of brass can be 900 to 940 °C or 1,650 to 1,720 °F, depending on what it is made of. The density of brass is 8.4 to 8.73 g/cm³ (0.303 to 0.315 lb/cu in).

Today, almost 90% of all brass alloys are recycled. Brass is not ferromagnetic. Brass scrap is collected and transported to the foundry. In the foundry, it is melted and recast into billets. The billets are heated and stretched into the form and size that is wanted.

Brass will corrode when it is exposed to moisture, chlorides, acetates, ammonia, and some acids.

There are many brass alloys. They include:

• Abyssinian gold
• Admiralty brass
• Aich's alloy
• Aluminum brass
• Arsenical brass
• Cartridge brass
• Common brass
• DZR brass
• Delta metal
• Free machining brass
• Gilding metal
• High brass
• Leaded brass
• Lead-free brass
• Low brass
• Manganese brass
• Muntz metal
• Naval brass
• Nickel brass
• Nordic gold
• Orichalcum
• Prince's metal
• Red brass
• Tombac
• Silicon tombac
• Tonval brass
• Yellow brass