What is brass?

This alloy metal is composed of a mixture of copper and zinc. Brass features a bright and vivid yellow-gold hue making it a popular choice for decorative applications such as hardware, interior design, and musical instruments. Its value doesn’t lie only with its aesthetic properties, however. This metal is durable, easy to machine, and corrosion-resistant, making it a good choice for electrical components, hardware, and plumbing fixtures such as faucets, valves, and pipe fittings.

What is bronze? 

Another copper alloy, bronze usually contains about 88% copper and about 4%-12% tin or other metals such as nickel or aluminum. Rather than showing the bright shine of brass, bronze has a darker, reddish or yellow-brown hue. Its color can change over time as it develops a green or brown patina, which can help protect its durability. It boasts superior strength and resistance to friction, and is often chosen for engine bearings, pumps, gears, and marine and outdoor applications.

Comparison of properties

Here’s a breakdown of how brass (copper-zinc alloy) and bronze (copper-tin alloy) compare with various metal properties. Note that depending on alloy compositions, these numbers can vary.

• Tensile Strength
  • Bronze – 240-760 MPa
  • Brass – 300-300 MPa
• Hardness
  • Bronze – 70-110 (Brinell)
  • Brass – 55-160 (Brinell)
• Fatigue Resistance
  • Bronze – 165-240 MPa
  • Brass – 140-250 MPa
• Melting Point
  • Bronze – 830-1050 degrees Celsius
  • Brass – 900-940 degrees Celsius
• Electrical Conductivity
  • Bronze – 15%-20% IACS (International Annealed Copper Standard)
  • Brass – 28%-56% IACS
• Corrosion Resistance
  • Bronze – Excellent to good in fresh or salt water, thanks in part to bronze’s ability to form a protective patina
  • Brass – Good to moderate, and is more susceptible to stress-corrosion
• Machinability
  • Bronze – more difficult to cut, and may require specialized machining
  • Brass – easier to cut, form, and machine

Brass and Bronze each feature unique properties, and knowing how they compare against each other can help you make informed purchasing choices. Regardless of the type of metal you choose for your needed applications, you can feel confident that Arizona Iron Supply will provide the quality, consistency, and metal availability you’ll grow to rely on. For bronze in Phoenix or brass in Phoenix, our team can answer questions, provide educated guidance, and perform onsite measurements and cuts to help you and your team avoid delays or mistakes.