Specific weight of brass, its properties, advantages and calculations

Of the non-ferrous metals used in pure form in construction work and industry, mainly only aluminum and copper are used. They have excellent characteristics suitable for the relevant type of work. However, alloys based on these materials are becoming increasingly popular. One of the copper alloys is brass. Brass is a multi-component alloy, or an alloy consisting of only two components, based on copper, in which the main alloying component is zinc. Additives such as nickel, tin, manganese, lead, iron and others are used less often.

Table of the specific weight of brass

The specific weight of brass is greatly influenced by how this alloy was made, what condition it is in, and what processing it has undergone. There are discrepancies in the values depending on these parameters, but the margin of error is small. The average specific weight of brass in general ranges from 8.4 to 8.85 g/cm³.

For convenient calculations, the table below shows specific weight values depending on the type, as well as the weight of one cubic meter.

Brass weight table

Properties of brass

Brass used in construction contains from 60 to 80 percent copper and from 20 to 40 percent zinc. Brass is harder than copper. It is a yellow alloy with a greenish tint. This type of material has better resistance to atmospheric exposure than copper, but in its normal state, without lacquer treatment, it turns black. Brass has good performance characteristics. The main ones include:

• The density of brass is usually about 8400-8850 kg/m³, while some casting grades may be around 8300-8500 kg/m³
• The specific heat capacity of brass at 20 °C is 0.377 kJ/(kg*K)
• The melting temperature varies depending on the percentage ratio of zinc. On average, it ranges from 880 to 950 °C. This parameter depends on the percentage ratio of all components in the composition.

Advantages of brass

Brass has proven itself well as an elastic-type alloy with high corrosion resistance. Parts made of this material are durable and reliable in use.

Brass is especially valued in the manufacture of refrigeration products and in the food industry because it helps ensure uninterrupted and efficient operation of equipment made using this material, while also significantly reducing costs compared with the use of copper. Brass is also often used in the automotive, shipbuilding and aviation industries.

As for construction work, brass is widely used in the manufacture of plumbing products, in engraving work, and also for finishing facades and arranging the interiors of buildings.

The main advantages also include the following:

• Brass has a stable alloy composition based on copper and zinc
• It resists corrosion well under normal service conditions
• It has increased resistance to humid air and vapors
• It is suitable for parts that contact water and other liquid media when the alloy grade is selected correctly