It’s vital to compare brass, bronze, and copper since they often need clarification. Furthermore, these metal selections differ slightly. Therefore, component designers may become confused while choosing materials.The similar elemental composition of these metals makes it increasingly difficult to classify them. Despite the minor color variation, the metals may be hard to distinguish. The more daunting situation is that you can’t choose one for your applications. They share many traits yet also differ. Thus, brass may not work well in copper-based applications.
The differences between brass, bronze, and copper are discussed in this article. The information provided will help you choose the suitable metal for metal projects.
Main Differences between Bronze, Copper, and Brass
Here, let’s talk about the key differences associated with each of the metals under discussion.
Element Composition
Only copper is natural among the three metals. It may be used as a natural, non-ferrous metal in any suitable production process. Brass and bronze are alloys. Brass is a copper-zinc alloy. It may include lead, manganese, iron, silicon, and aluminum. Bronze, however, is primarily copper and tin. It may also contain aluminum, nickel, zinc, and phosphorus.
Weight
Another dissimilarity between brass, bronze, and copper is weight. At 8930 kilograms/m3, copper has the most significant weight per volume. Nevertheless, bronze (8800 kilograms/m3) and brass (8720 kilograms/m3) are also lightweight, with brass being the lightest.
Corrosion Resistance
Differences between brass, bronze, and copper include corrosion resistance. Bronze is more corrosion-resistant than the other two because it forms a protective covering in corrosive environments. Thus, it is ideal for maritime components. Copper is also corrosion-resistant and creates protective coatings. Brass has less corrosion resistance than bronze and copper.
Durability
Bronze is robust, rigid, and seldom bends. Additionally, its corrosion resistance renders it durable. Copper is durable yet simpler to deal with than bronze. Likewise, it is flexible and tear-resistant.
Machinability
Copper has superior machinability than brass and bronze. Copper machining, the most flexible of the three metals, simplifies industrial processes. Bronze is stiffer and less machinable. Brass, which is less flexible than bronze, is the least machinable of the three metals.
Weldability
The three metals weld without exception. Still, oxygen-free and deoxidized copper weld well. The most prevalent copper welding processes are MIG and TIG. Brass alloys may be MIG, TIG, and silver soldered. Meanwhile, zinc-containing metals weld better than lead-containing ones.
Conductivity
Electrical and thermal conductivities are fundamental when comparing bronze, brass, and copper. In terms of electrical conductivity, copper conducts electricity 100%. Thanks to its lower copper content, bronze has the lowest electrical conductivity (15%), whereas brass has 28%. On the other hand, bronze (229-1440 BTU/hr-ft²-°F) has the most excellent thermal conductivity, followed by copper (223 BTU/hr-ft²-°F) and brass (64 BTU/hr-ft²-°F).
Strength
Bronze (350-635 MPa and 125-800 MPa) is better for projects that need strong tensile and yield strength. At the same time, brass (338-469 MPa and 95-124 MPa) is next, while copper (210 MPa and 33.3 MPa) has the lowest tensile and yield strength.
Appearance
The appearances of brass, bronze, and copper make choosing between them difficult. Bronze and brass are simple to distinguish by color. Brass is yellowish-golden and bronze reddish-brown. Copper and bronze are both reddish-brown. Yet, copper is pinkish-orange, and bronze is dull gold.
Hardness
Brass scores 55–73 Brinell hardness, whereas copper scores 35. On the other hand, bronze achieves 40–420. It demonstrates that bronze is the hardest of the three metals. Besides that, it is more susceptible to breaking because of its increased brittleness.
Choosing the Right Metal
Understanding brass, bronze, and copper can assist you in picking rapid prototype sheet metal. Selection is essential for high-quality design and production. The three metals are stronger but differ in machinability. You might consider this for smoother machining and cost savings.
Budget is also important. Brass is the least expensive of the three metals, and copper is the most costly. Thus, brass may be best for the budget. Application and utility also influence your choice. The metal you pick depends on the component’s usage. Copper is used for electrical conductivity. Due to its corrosion resistance, bronze is suitable for seawater. It is hard and fatigue-resistant.
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