Copper and brass are probably the two the most commonly confused metals. Although they are formed from the same base element, brass and copper have significantly different uses and properties. In this article, we answer some of the most common queries about copper and brass.
What’s the difference?
Copper is a base metal and chemical element which is leached from copper ore in the ground. Soft and malleable, copper is prized for it’s high thermal conductivity and is thought to be the first metal ever used by man. Brass is an alloy of copper and zinc in a ratio of around 65:35. The zinc makes brass a more rigid and durable material which is harder to cast and mould than copper, but has a much broader range of uses.
How can I identify them?
The most obvious way to tell the difference between copper and brass is colour; copper is typically a rich reddish brown whilst brass has more of a metal colour due to it’s zinc content. When copper corrodes, it turns a vibrant green colour, whilst brass tends to produce a dark brown colour after corrosion has taken place. The sound that the metals make when struck is the second easiest way to tell whether you have copper or brass; copper makes a round, mellow sound whilst the sound produced from brass will be higher pitch. In some cases, brass products are marked with a C and five numbers, whilst copper is almost never branded.
What are they used for?
Copper is most commonly used in fine electrical wiring for buildings and motor vehicles. Because of it’s attractive colour, copper is also a popular decorative choice and is also used in kitchenware due to it’s high heat conductivity. Due to it’s durability and similar colouring to copper, brass is often used in decorative detailing that also has a functional purpose. Common examples include zippers, doorknobs, and locks. Brass also has plenty of purely practical applications including in bullet casings, valves, and plumbing.
Which is worth more in the scrap industry?
Copper is one of the most highly prized metals in the scrap industry due to it’s rarity and the energy intensive processes required to extract it. Because of this, the scrap price of copper tends to be around 30% higher than that of brass.
Metal Men Recycling offer scrap metal pickup throughout Melbourne and pay fair prices for your unwanted copper and brass. Get in touch with us on 03 5941 6677 to learn more about our services.