Man’s obsession with metals began in the ancient times. One of the first metals they had discovered was copper. At the time, they were completely clueless about the full potential of this metal, until they accidentally mixed it with other metals. That’s when they learned that metals can be combined together to create different kinds of material of better properties. In fact, such discovery became so influential it instigated an entirely new field of study called metallurgy, which later became one of the biggest and longest running industries on the planet.

One of the first metals man learned to combine with copper is zinc. Doing so, they were able to create a harder, shinier, and more durable metal known today as brass. This metal possesses a great deal of unique features that benefit myriads of industries from construction to electronics. As manufacturing technology evolved, so did the types and quality of brass. Metalworkers experimented on different mixtures to make brass more resilient or more appropriate for certain applications.

Today, there are over 60 types of brass available on the market. Each one has a unique set of properties that are useful for specific applications. Here are the most popular types of brass you can choose from if you’re planning to utilize this metal for your project.

Admiralty Brass

Although tough, metals are not invincible. Their number one enemy is corrosion. As for brass, the type of corrosion that can really take a toll on its stability as a material is dezincification. This corrosion selectively leaches out zinc from brass, leaving copper and other materials added to the alloy, which significantly affects the metal’s mechanical strength. To inhibit dezincification, metallurgists reduced the amount of zinc to 30 percent and added 1 percent of tin. This dezincification-resistant metal is called admiralty brass. With this new property, admiralty brass is perfect for making steam condenser tubes and heat exchangers in oil refineries.

Muntz Metal

Brasses that have 35 to 45 percent zinc content are categorized as alpha-beta. Muntz metal is one of the alpha-beta brasses that exhibit high corrosion resistance. With 60 percent copper, 40 percent zinc, and a few traces of iron, this alloy is stronger, harder, and more rigid than other forms of brass. Expert metallurgists say Muntz metal is well suited to hot forging, pressing, and stamping, and is readily soldered and brazed.

Aluminum Brass

This brass contains about 76 percent copper, 22 percent zinc, and 2 percent aluminum, hence the name. Although copper is resistant to corrosion, it is not that tough when exposed to potent substances, such as salt. Aluminum, on the other hand, is quite a hardy metal, and has higher corrosion resistance when exposed to certain fluids. Just 2 percent of it in the mix can make brass ultra-resistant to seawater, making aluminum brass a good material for maritime applications. It is also the material that makes up most Euro coins or Nordic gold.

Manganese Brass

Flexible enough, brass can be combined with manganese as well. At a ratio of 70 percent copper, 29 percent zinc, and 1.3 manganese, brass can have better fatigue strength and resistance to wear and tear caused by heavy load. Manganese brass outperforms other special types of brass and bronze, and the preferred material for the golden dollar coins of the United States.

The next time you’ll use brass for your project, be it for construction or decoration, make sure that you know the different types of brass sales available on the market. This way you can choose exactly the type that can meet all your needs. Suppliers like Rotax Metals can guide you through the different options and even give helpful advice on making the right choices for certain conditions.

Sources:

Dezincification, corrosionpedia.com
Muntz metal, britannica.com

It is no secret that we are running out of space inside landfills. The more we consume, the more we throw away and this just creates more waste. Although the concept of reduce, reuse, and recycle has been taught to us from a young age, many still do not see the value in adapting this lifestyle. Now that people and businesses are realizing the value of sustainability and eco-friendly practices recycling is becoming a norm.

The copper and brass sales industry is not far behind. Why? Because there are so many benefits to scrap metal recycling. Here are the best of them:

Management of Limited Resources

Metals are abiotic natural resources that are harvested, processed, and turned into different everyday objects. Sometimes the processing of these metals makes us forget that the earth is running low on natural resources. When resources start to dwindle, products become more expensive. However, when precious metals and alloys like copper and brass are recycled, the resources are not consumed but reused, making them more sustainable and affordable.

Conservation of Energy

The processing of raw materials like metal requires the use of a lot of energy because they are steps like turning pure metal into an alloy that consume energy. When alloys are recycled they are still processed but the amount of energy and carbon emissions used is significantly less. To get a better idea, here is how much energy is saved during the process of recycling versus using virgin ores:

• 92% of energy is saved for aluminum processing
• 90% for copper processing
• About 56% for steel

That is a lot of energy saved and the carbon footprint of manufacturers are cut down significantly, meaning you can rest easy knowing you are also cutting down on your own carbon footprint.

Better for the Economy

The manpower required to incinerate metals gives a few people a chance to get a job. Since the process isn’t very complicated, not many employees are needed. In the metal recycling business, things are very different. More people are required to complete the entire recycling process from start to finish, which results in a significantly higher employment rate. In fact, it is estimated that the scrap metal and recycling industry employs millions of people and is worth more than $200 billion annually, which is a great boost for the economy.

Earn and Save Money Simultaneously

Consumers benefit largely from recycling scrap metal. How? First, prices of alloys and metals are significantly brought down when recycled materials are used. This gives consumers a chance to save on their initial expenses. Second is the money consumers can earn when they themselves sell the metals to scrap yards. Copper is the most commonly sold metal, but everything from aluminum to high-quality steel will generate a bit of cash when recycled.

About Rotax Metals:It is important to note that not all metal suppliers value the importance of sustainability. You should instead rely on the good people of Rotax Metals. The company has been tirelessly working to provide clients with high-quality and eco-friendly materials since 1948. Greener and sustainable practices aside, their aim is to provide the rare and complicated metal pieces upon request. You will have no trouble finding what you need with the help of Rotax Metals.

Sources:

Benefits of Scrap Metal Recycling, CalgaryMetal.com
Five Reasons to Recycle your Metal, TYBurnMetal.co.uk