What Is High Strength Brass?
High strength brass is a type of brass alloy made by adding manganese, aluminum, and iron to 64 brass to improve hardness and wear resistance.
Made of an alloy of copper and zinc, this material has excellent machinability. It is also used for electronic components, connectors, and wiring terminals due to its very low magnetic properties and high electrical conductivity. It has good machinability due to its self-lubricating properties and resistance to heat generation during machining. It is also used in marine and high-temperature environments because of its high corrosion resistance in salt water and resistance to heat.
Uses of High Strength Brass
1. Electrical Equipment Parts
Electronic components, connectors, wiring terminals, etc. are examples.
2. Parts for Ships, Offshore Equipment, Oil Field Equipment, and High Temperature Environments
- Shipboard Parts: propellers, clamps, joints, etc.
- Offshore Equipment Parts: valves, piping, etc.
- Oilfield Equipment Parts: pumps, flanges, etc.
- Parts for High Temperature Environments: combustion chambers, engines, turbines and other heat treatment equipment, heat exchangers, gears, etc.
3. Transportation Equipment Parts
Automobile parts, motorcycle parts, bicycle parts, etc.
4. Musical Instrument Parts
Musical instruments, pistons, valves, etc.
5. Food-Related Parts
Food processing equipment, cooking utensils, tableware, etc.
6. Medical Parts
Medical equipment, dental tools, medical instruments, etc.
7. Accessory Parts
Jewelry, watches, eyeglasses, etc.
8. Electrical Parts
Electric resistors, switches, etc.
Properties of High Strength Brass
1. Abrasion Resistance
High strength brass is made of an alloy of copper and zinc, and the addition of zinc improves its hardness. In addition, because the crystal structures of zinc and copper are different, the alloy tends to have a finer crystal structure and higher strength. High strength brass has excellent wear resistance because zinc is harder than copper, which helps reduce wear caused by friction.
2. Corrosion Resistance
The addition of zinc makes high strength brass more resistant to corrosion than copper alone. The inclusion of zinc also makes it more resistant to rust, because zinc promotes the formation of oxides.
3. Thermal Conductivity
High strength brass has a very high thermal conductivity of copper, which allows heat to be transferred evenly. In addition, the addition of zinc improves heat resistance. This makes it an ideal material for use at high temperatures.
4. Appearance
High strength brass has a beautiful metallic color and a luxurious appearance, so it is used for design items such as interior decorations and accessories.
5. Electrical Conductivity
Copper has excellent electrical conductivity, and the addition of zinc to high strength brass further improves the conductivity of this material. Therefore, high strength brass is widely used for electrical components and contact parts.
6. Nonmagnetic
High strength brass is non-magnetic. The reason is that zinc affects the crystal structure of high strength brass. Since copper and zinc have different atomic structures, their crystal structure becomes complicated when alloyed, making it impossible to create a magnetic field, thus making high strength brass nonmagnetic.
In addition, because high strength brass is nonmagnetic, it is not affected by magnetic noise or interference and does not affect the electromagnetic environment of electronic equipment and other devices. For this reason, it is sometimes used for high-precision products such as electronic and mechanical parts.
Other Information on High Strength Brass
Precautions for Use
High strength brass is known as a material with excellent corrosion resistance. The addition of zinc makes it more resistant to corrosion than copper alone, and because zinc promotes the formation of oxides, an oxide film is formed on the surface of high strength brass, preventing corrosion from progressing to the interior. Thus, high strength brass is generally a corrosion resistant material.
However, corrosion may occur on the surface of high strength brass, especially in highly acidic or alkaline environments or after prolonged use. Therefore, care should be taken in accordance with the environment and method of use. In addition, it may exhibit brittleness at low temperatures.
Although the addition of zinc to high strength brass improves its strength by increasing the fineness of its crystal structure, changes in the crystal under low temperatures may cause the crystal grains to coarsen, resulting in a decrease in strength and an increase in brittleness. In addition, the precipitation of zinc in high strength brass at low temperatures can also cause changes in the crystal structure and increase brittleness. Therefore, care must be taken when using high strength brass in low-temperature environments.