What is brass?
Brass is an alloy of copper and (up to 40%) zinc. The typical golden colour is greatly influenced by the zinc content. It can vary from pale yellow to brown. Brass is a non-ferrous metal. It is harder than pure copper, but softer than the copper-zinc alloy bronze. The strength of the metal can only be controlled by selecting an appropriate alloy or through mechanical forming, such as rolling, forging or drawing while cold. Brass is corrosion-resistant and non-magnetic.
Where is brass used?
The first use of brass can be traced back to the third millennium B.C. At that time, it was primarily used for jewellery and works of art. Nowadays, brass also plays an important role in technology. It is used wherever good electrical conductivity and mechanical stability are needed. For example, antennae and waveguides are often made of brass and the pins in connectors are made of brass wire. Brass has a wide range of applications, from the construction sector to electrical engineering, right through to the automotive industry.
- Brass scrap
- Sanitary equipment (taps, fittings)
- Musical instruments
- Art and jewellery industry
Recycling brass
Brass waste is an ideal secondary raw material, as it can be fully recycled – and with relatively low energy consumption.
