ThePipingMart Blog Metals Red Brass vs. Brass: What’s the Difference

Red Brass vs. Brass: What’s the Difference

Red Brass and Brass

When it comes to metal alloys, you may come across two types of Brass: red Brass and Brass. While both are similar in appearance, they are different. In this blog post, we’ll break down the differences between red Brass and Brass so that you can make an informed decision when selecting the suitable metal alloy for your project.

 

 

Difference Between Red Brass and Brass

The primary difference between red Brass and Brass is their copper content. Red Brass contains 85% copper, 5% tin, and 10% zinc, whereas regular or yellow Brass has a higher zinc content (30%), with the remainder being copper (65%) and tin (5%). As a result of its higher copper content, red Brass looks more reddish-orange than yellow or regular Brass.

Red Brass also has a higher tensile strength than yellow or regular Brass due to its higher copper content — making it an ideal choice for plumbing fixtures, valves, fittings, marine hardware, electrical components, and much more. It is also highly resistant to corrosion caused by salt water which makes it ideal for use in marine applications. On the other hand, regular or yellow Brass is not as strong as red Brass but is still suitable for use in many different applications, such as decorative items like door handles or jewelry, since it has a more yellowish tone than red Brass.

Regarding cost, red Brass is slightly more expensive than regular or yellow Brass due to its higher copper content. It’s essential to consider both price points when deciding which one will suit your needs best.

Chemical Composition

Red Brass is an alloy of copper and zinc, with the addition of iron, manganese, and lead. The composition of red Brass is typically 85% copper, 5% zinc, 5% iron, 2.5% manganese, and 2.5% lead. Brass is an alloy of copper and zinc, with the composition of Brass typically being 70% copper and 30% zinc.

Color

Red Brass gets its name from its reddish color due to its high iron content. Brass has a yellowish color due to its high zinc content.

Strength and Durability

Red Brass is more robust and durable than Brass due to the addition of iron and manganese. The higher iron content makes red Brass more resistant to corrosion than Brass.

Uses

Red Brass is commonly used in plumbing applications due to its strength and resistance to corrosion. Brass is commonly used in decorative applications due to its yellowish color and ease of machining.

Price

Red Brass is typically more expensive than Brass due to the higher cost of iron and manganese.

 

 

Conclusion:

In conclusion, understanding the difference between red and regular/yellow Brass can help you decide when to choose the suitable metal alloy for your project. Red Brass is stronger and slightly more expensive than regular/yellow Brass due to its higher copper content. However, its increased durability makes it an excellent choice for plumbing fixtures, valves, fittings, marine hardware, and electrical components. At the same time, regular/yellow brasses are better suited for decorative items like door handles or jewelry because of their more yellowish tone than Redbrass. Ultimately the choice depends on what type of application you need the metal alloy for – so do your research before making any decisions! Thanks for reading!

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