Brass vs Copper: A Comparison of Their Differences

Brass vs copper are two important metal materials that play an indispensable role in modern industry. This article aims to make a detailed comparison between brass vs copper (commonly known as red copper or copper) in terms of composition, color, physical properties, chemical properties, application and processability to help readers better understand and choose the appropriate material.

1.Differences in composition and color between brass vs copper

(1) Differences in composition between brass vs copper

1) Pure copper (red copper, red copper):

Pure copper is a single element metal with a content of usually more than 99% and good electrical and thermal conductivity. The surface of red copper is reddish-orange with a metallic luster when it is just cut, and the single element is purple-red.

2) Brass:

Brass is an alloy composed of copper and zinc, and sometimes other elements such as tin, iron, aluminum, lead, silicon and manganese are added to form special brass. The copper content in brass is usually between 60% and 90%, and the zinc content accounts for 10% to 40%.

(2) Color difference between brass vs copper

1) Copper:

Copper is usually purple or rose red, and the color of copper is particularly unique due to its purity.

2) Brass:

Brass changes color to yellow or golden yellow due to the addition of zinc. This color change makes brass widely used in decorative arts and other fields. And the color of brass varies depending on the zinc content, ranging from light yellow to golden yellow.

2.Differences in physical properties between brass vs copper

(1) Comparison of electrical conductivity and thermal conductivity between brass vs copper

1) Pure copper:

Copper is one of the metals with the highest electrical conductivity and is widely used in the manufacture of products with high electrical conductivity requirements such as wires and cables. Copper also has a high thermal conductivity of 401 W/(m.K), which is suitable for occasions such as heat exchangers that require good thermal conductivity.

2) Brass:

Since brass is an alloy, its electrical conductivity and thermal conductivity are lower than pure copper. The electrical conductivity of brass is only 28% of that of copper, and its thermal conductivity is 108.9 W/(m.K). Therefore, pure copper is more suitable for applications that require high electrical and thermal conductivity.

(2) Comparison of hardness and strength between brass vs copper

1) Pure copper:

The hardness of pure copper ranges from 2.5 to 3 on the metal harness chart. It is relatively soft, but it has excellent ductility and is easy to process.

2) Brass:

The hardness of brass ranges from 3 to 4, which is harder and stronger than pure copper. The yield strength and ultimate tensile strength of brass are higher than those of pure copper, making it more suitable for applications that require higher strength and wear resistance.

(3) Comparison of melting points of brass and copper

1) Pure copper:

The melting point of copper is 1084°C (1220°F).

2) Brass:

The melting point of brass ranges from 900°C to 940°C, which is lower than that of pure copper, making it easier to handle during casting and processing.

(4) Density comparison between brass vs copper

1) Pure copper:

The density of copper is about 8.96 g/cm3. Due to its higher density, copper is often used in applications that require high electrical and thermal conductivity.

2) Brass:

The density of brass is slightly lower, about 8.5 g/cm3. This makes brass lighter in some applications.

The difference in density not only affects the weight of the materials, but also their mechanical properties and processing methods.

3.Differences in chemical properties between brass vs copper

(1) Corrosion resistance comparison between brass vs copper

1) Pure copper:

Copper will gradually oxidize in the air, forming a layer of green patina (basic copper carbonate), which can prevent further oxidation of the copper. However, in a humid or sulfur-containing environment, the corrosion rate of copper will accelerate.

2) Brass:

Brass has better corrosion resistance than pure copper because it contains zinc and other elements. Zinc forms a dense protective film in the air to prevent further oxidation of the internal metal. Therefore, brass exhibits better corrosion resistance in humid or sulfur-containing environments.

(2) Comparison of antimicrobial properties of brass vs copper

1) Pure copper:

Copper has natural antibacterial properties and can effectively inhibit bacterial growth. This makes copper have special applications in medical equipment and food processing equipment.

2) Brass:

The antibacterial properties of brass are slightly inferior to those of pure copper, but due to its good corrosion resistance and machinability, it is still often used in food processing equipment and some occasions with high hygiene requirements.

4.Differences between brass vs copper in application fields

(1) Pure copper (red copper, red copper):

1) Electrical industry:

Due to its excellent electrical conductivity, it is widely used in the manufacture of wires, cables, electrical components, etc.

2) Heat exchanger:

Using its good thermal conductivity, it is used to manufacture heat exchangers, condensers, etc.

3) Architectural decoration:

Pure copper has a beautiful appearance and is often used in architectural decoration, sculpture, etc.

4) Medical equipment:

It is used to manufacture medical equipment and devices due to its antibacterial properties.

(2) Brass:

1) Mechanical manufacturing:

Due to its good strength and wear resistance, it is widely used in the manufacture of mechanical parts, bearings, gears, etc.

2) Musical instrument manufacturing:

Brass has good acoustic properties and is often used in the manufacture of musical instruments, such as brass instruments.

3) Decorative uses:

Brass is similar in color to gold and is often used in the manufacture of decorations and handicrafts.

4) Valves and pipes:

It is widely used in the manufacture of valves, pipes, etc. due to its good corrosion resistance and machinability.

5.Differences in processing properties between brass vs copper

(1) Comparison of plasticity between brass vs copper

1) Pure copper:

Pure copper has excellent plasticity and is easy to process by hot pressing and cold pressing, making it suitable for the manufacture of products of various shapes.

2) Brass:

Brass also has a certain degree of plasticity, but its processing may require more steps and skills than pure copper.

(2) Comparison of the weldability of brass and copper

1) Pure copper:

Copper is easy to weld and is often used for structural parts that need to be connected.

2) Brass:

Brass has poor weldability, especially brass with a high zinc content. This is because zinc easily evaporates at high temperatures, affecting the welding quality.

(3) Comparison of the machinability of brass vs copper

1) Pure copper:

Because it is softer, it is easy to produce knife sticking during cutting, affecting the processing accuracy.

2) Brass:

Brass has a higher hardness and better machinability, and is suitable for occasions that require high-precision processing.

(4) Comparison of the economic efficiency of brass vs copper

1) Pure copper:

The price of pure copper is usually higher than that of brass, mainly due to its excellent electrical and thermal conductivity and high purity.

2) Brass:

Brass is relatively cheap because it contains cheaper elements such as zinc. In addition, the processing cost of brass is also low, which makes it have certain advantages in terms of economy.

6.Brass and copper identification method

Since brass and copper are sometimes very similar in appearance, some methods are needed to distinguish them in practical applications. The following are several commonly used identification methods:

(1) Observe the color

Although brass and copper may both be golden in color, careful observation can reveal subtle differences between them. The color of pure copper is usually more red, while the color of brass is more yellow. Of course, this method is more effective for experienced professionals.

(2) Magnetic test

Brass is a non-magnetic material, while some copper alloys may contain magnetic elements. Therefore, a simple magnetic test using a magnet can be used to distinguish brass from copper. If the material is attracted by the magnet, it may not be brass.

(3) Hardness test

Since brass is harder than copper, they can be distinguished by hardness test. Hardness test can be performed using a hardness tester or a simple scratch test. For example, if a hard knife is used to gently scratch the surface of a material, if a clear scratch is left, it may be copper; if no scratch is left or the scratch is very shallow, it may be brass.

(4) Chemical testing

Brass and copper can be distinguished by chemical reagents. For example, nitric acid can be used to test the reaction of the material. Pure copper will dissolve in nitric acid and produce a green solution, while brass will produce a blue solution. However, it should be noted that this method may cause certain damage to the material, so it should be used with caution.

7.Summary

Through the above comparative analysis of brass vs copper, we can conclude that pure copper is the first choice in situations where high electrical conductivity and thermal conductivity are required; brass is more suitable in situations where higher strength and wear resistance are required. In some applications that require both certain electrical conductivity and certain strength, special brass can be selected to achieve the best performance balance.