Brass
Brass is an alloy of copper and zinc, in proportions which can be varied to achieve different colours and mechanical, electrical, acoustic, and chemical properties, but copper typically has the larger proportion, generally 2⁄3 copper and 1⁄3 zinc. In use since prehistoric times, it is a substitutional alloy; atoms of the two constituents may replace each other within the same crystal structure.
Brass is similar to bronze, a copper alloy that contains tin instead of zinc. Both bronze and brass may include small amounts of a range of other elements, including arsenic, lead, phosphorus, aluminium, manganese, and silicon. Historically, the distinction between the two alloys has been inconsistent, and increasingly museums use the more general term "copper alloy".
Brass has long been popular for its bright, golden appearance and is used for drawer pulls and doorknobs. It has also been widely used for sculpture and utensils because of its low melting point, high workability (both with hand tools and with modern turning and milling machines), durability, and electrical and thermal conductivity. Brasses with higher copper content are softer and more golden coloured; conversely, those with less copper and more zinc are harder and more silvery.
Brass is commonly used in applications where corrosion resistance and low friction are required, such as locks, hinges, gears, bearings, ammunition casings, zippers, plumbing, hose couplings, valves, SCUBA regulators, and electrical plugs and sockets. It is used extensively for musical instruments such as horns and bells. The composition of brass makes it a favorable substitute for copper in costume jewelry and fashion jewelry, as it exhibits greater resistance to corrosion. Brass is not as hard as bronze, so is not suitable for most weapons and tools. It is also not suitable for marine usage as the zinc reacts with minerals in salt water, which leaves the porous copper behind. Marine brass, with added tin, avoids this, as does bronze.
Brass is often used in equipment that must be nonsparking, such as fittings and tools used near flammable or explosive materials.
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