What Is Brass Made From?

Brass is an alloy metal, so it is produced by mixing or combining other substances.

In particular, brass is made out of zinc and copper, with the amounts of each metal being adjusted depending on the intended use of the finished product.
The hardness and appearance of the finished brass product are altered as the ratios of each metal are changed, allowing for a softer or harder finished product.
Regardless of the composition, brass is considered a soft metal no matter the alloy mixture, and as such brass can be applied in many useful ways to different applications.
From fittings used around different tool rivets to electronic fittings, to being used as fittings in the piping systems that transfer explosive gases, brass has proven to be an easily adaptable metal alloy.

Uses of Brass

Now that you know what brass is made from, let's look at some places where brass is used.

Brass has been used in hundreds of different applications since its inception in pre-biblical times. In fact, brass is mentioned numerous times in different books throughout the Bible, where it is used for both ornate and functional purposes.
Because of the different properties which are associated with brass, it is used in special instances. For example, because of its ability to resist the generation of friction, brass is easily useable to perform as a zipper and door lock.
Brass may also be used in gears and most often, in mechanical bearings.
Because of the easy formation that brass allows, and the acoustics that the material provides, brass is also used in many horned instruments as well.
Before the silvering of glass was discovered as a reflective surface, brass sheeting was used for the manufacturing of mirrors.
Brasses easily moldable nature, plus its appearance (it looks to have a golden hue) also make brass a popular option in ornate fixtures and sculptures. Its ability to resist tarnishing makes it a versatile material for exterior applications as well.

Another reason that brass has become so popular is due to the ease of using the metal in various casting applications.

The low melting point of brass, and its antimagnetic properties make it not only easy to separate from regular scrap metals, but also easily cast into billets that allow the recasting of the alloy into virtually any shape for use.
The addition of aluminum in the alloy-creating process when brass is manufactured from zinc and copper makes the metal much harder and more resilient to corrosion, as well as increases the metal’s tensile strength.
These types of alloys are often used in applications where the metal parts of a fixture or apparatus are exposed directly to sea or salt water, such as naval applications.

So, now you know what brass is made from, as well as more details about how and why brass is used in various applications.