Brass or bronze which is better

It is more ductile than bronze and exhibits similarly low friction when in contact with other metals. It has a density of around 8. Brass is a great conductor of heat and is corrosion-resistant, especially to galvanic seawater corrosion. It casts well, is reasonably durable and attractive, and even possesses some antimicrobial qualities thanks to its high copper content.

The most common uses for brass are in musical instruments, decorative trims, screws, radiators, bullet casings, and more. If you are interested in purchasing brass for your project, feel free to browse our buying platform for brass suppliers.

Even though these metals are related in both composition, appearance, and even applications, brass and bronze are often reserved for different purposes.

It will be useful to explore what makes these two copper alloys distinct from each other by examining some common mechanical properties, shown below in Table 1. Thermal conductivity is a good measure to know if a metal will be used in thermal applications, because it shows how much energy can transfer through the material, and at what rate.

The thermal conductivity of brass is much higher than that of bronze, making it an ideal choice for radiators.

Bronze can also be used in thermal applications, but brass will always take precedence if there is a choice between the two. Fatigue stress is stress caused by a high cycling of small stresses, which can introduce micro and even macro fractures into a material over a long period of time.

This value is vital to understand if the material will be under consistent stress such as frequent changes in temperature or loads, which can chip away at the integrity of the alloy given enough cycles. The fatigue strengths of bronze and brass are given as ranges in Table 1, as there are many alloys of each metal. Bronze generally has a higher fatigue resistance than brass, which can be seen by comparing the lower bound of their fatigue strength ranges. This quality makes bronze more useful for marine parts and springs which undergo constant stresses when in use.

Brass has a lower average melting point than bronze vs. If using either of these metals to cast shapes, consider the desired mechanical properties; a more resilient project will most likely benefit from bronze, while a more decorative one can use brass to great effect.

For reference, typical glass scores on the Brinell hardness scale and lead scores 5; using these as benchmarks, Table 1 clearly shows that bronze is on average harder than brass. A harder material is usually more brittle, and bronze follows this rule by being much more prone to fracture than brass.

I Accept Privacy Policy. Brass and bronze are two different metals, although they have similar hues and are often used in similar interior design schemes. But what is the difference between brass and bronze? This blog will explore their similarities, differences and how they can be utilised in stylish interior design schemes. Brass and bronze are both metal alloys, which means they are a combination of two or more different metals.

Brass is composed of copper and zinc, whereas bronze is made up of copper and tin, sometimes with other elements such as phosphorus or aluminium added in. Brass is believed to have been used since around BC, mostly for decorative purposes. Bronze dates back even further to around BC and has largely been used for sculpture.

Today, both are used for a multitude of purposes including plumbing, ammunition, electrical connectors and bells. As both have attractive qualities, both bronze and brass are used prominently in a lot of interior design styles. They both have warm, welcoming hues, making them the perfect addition to homes or hotels. However, they do differ, particularly in colour. Brass is lighter in colour, with more yellow and gold shades in it. Bronze has warmer, reddish hues than brass, giving it that traditional and welcoming feel.

In recent years, bronze has become very popular in interior design. Phosphor bronze is the product of copper, tin, and phosphorus. While brass is hailed for its malleability, phosphor bronze yields a greater hardness. As a softer metal, brass has a lower melting point than either phosphor bronze or copper.

Interested in learning more about metal products and how to purchase them? Copper: Brass vs Phosphor Bronze [Infographic]. Posted by: Dani Weinhandl on February 22, Copper Infographic: Brass vs.