Comprehensive analysis of several common brass materials

C3604 Brass

Composition

C3604 is mainly composed of copper (Cu), zinc (Zn) and a small amount of lead (Pb). Among them, the copper content is about 60%, the zinc content is about 39%, and the lead content is generally about 1%. This specific composition ratio brings it unique performance.

Performance characteristics and application cases

Good cutting performance

• C3604 performs well in the machining process. It can be cut, drilled, milled, etc. relatively smoothly, and the surface finish after processing is relatively good. This gives it a clear advantage in the manufacture of various precision parts.
• For example, in the field of connecting parts of electronic equipment, some small brass connectors on computer motherboards often have fine pins and a large number of pins. The good cutting performance of C3604 brass ensures that in large-scale production, the length, diameter and surface flatness of each pin can be precisely controlled, thereby ensuring a stable connection between the plug-in and the motherboard circuit and avoiding signal transmission problems caused by processing errors.
• In the case of small hardware accessories, such as precision watch strap buckles, they usually have complex structures and exquisite appearance designs. C3604 brass can be precisely processed to create watch strap buckles with fine textures and unique shapes, which not only meets the aesthetic needs, but also ensures the reliability and durability of the buckle.
• There are also some mechanical parts that require fine processing, such as the sleeves of small motors. The sleeves need to fit tightly to the motor shaft, and the smoothness of their inner walls is crucial to reducing friction, reducing motor energy consumption, and ensuring stable operation. C3604 brass can well meet the strict requirements of dimensional accuracy and surface quality during the sleeve processing process, ensuring that the inner diameter tolerance of the sleeve is controlled within a very small range, effectively improving the working efficiency and service life of the motor.

Good fluidity

• Its good fluidity is conducive to molding through casting technology, and can produce parts with complex shapes. In large-scale production, the cost is relatively controllable, and it has certain economic advantages.
• For example, in the production of some exquisitely shaped brass handicrafts, taking a brass ornament with a complex figure as an example, C3604 brass can fully fill the details of the mold during casting, and perfectly present the fine features of the figure's hair, clothing texture, etc. Moreover, due to its relatively reasonable material cost and casting process cost, this type of handicraft has a certain price competitiveness in the market, which can meet the needs of different consumer levels for exquisite brass handicrafts.

360 1/2 hard brass

Composition and characteristics

Brass 360 1/2 hard is also based on copper and zinc, and reaches a semi-hard state through a specific processing technology. Its copper content is similar to C3604, fluctuating around 60%.

Performance characteristics and application cases

Strength and ductility balance

• This semi-hard characteristic makes it have certain strength and ductility. In terms of strength, it can withstand certain mechanical loads, such as in some lightly stressed structural parts.
• For example, in some small metal frames used for interior decoration, such as the metal frame of a photo frame, it needs a certain strength to maintain a stable shape and prevent deformation due to external force collision. At the same time, when installing glass or photos, it needs to have a certain ductility to make slight bending adjustments to accommodate glass or photos of different sizes. Brass 360 1/2 hard brass meets these requirements just right. Its strength can support the weight of the frame itself and a certain external impact force, while its ductility allows for fine shape adjustments during installation, ensuring that the glass or photos can be tightly fixed and will not be damaged by the deformation of the frame.
• In some simple office supplies stands, such as the support structure of a small file rack, it needs to bear the weight of the files and remain stable. The support structure made of Brass 360 1/2 hard brass can not only provide sufficient strength to support the pressure of multiple layers of files, but also avoid sudden breakage through its own ductility when occasionally hit or squeezed by external forces, thereby protecting the files and the stand itself and extending its service life.

Appearance

• It presents a typical brass color and has a certain aesthetics. It can also be used in occasions with certain requirements for appearance.
• Like the door handles of some high-end hotels, it is not only a functional component, but also part of the overall decoration style of the hotel. The door handles made of this brass material, after fine polishing, present a bright golden luster, which complements the luxurious decoration style of the hotel lobby. Its texture and color can leave guests with a refined and elegant first impression. At the same time, in daily use, its good strength and moderate feel can also provide guests with a comfortable and convenient use experience.

H59 brass

Composition and influence

H59 brass is a binary brass alloy with a copper content of about 59% and the rest mainly zinc.

Performance, application areas and cases

Higher strength and wear resistance

• It has relatively high strength and good wear resistance. Due to its relatively low cost, it is widely used in some fields that do not have extremely stringent performance requirements but focus on cost control.
• For example, in some ordinary plumbing equipment, such as faucet valve cores, H59 brass can maintain good stability and is not easy to wear and deform under long-term water flow flushing and frequent switching operations. Take a household kitchen faucet as an example. It may experience dozens of switching operations every day, and the impact of the water flow will also cause continuous wear on the valve core. Through reasonable structural design and surface treatment, the H59 brass valve core can maintain good sealing performance in this use environment, ensuring that the faucet can still control the water flow normally and leak-free after many years of use.
• In some non-critical parts of architectural decoration, such as some simple metal decorative lines, such as the auxiliary decorative lines of residential stair handrails, their main function is to play a decorative embellishment effect, and they do not need to bear too much external force. H59 brass can be made into decorative lines of various shapes, such as straight lines, wavy lines, etc. through simple processing techniques, such as extrusion or rolling. It has low cost and can meet basic decoration and certain protection requirements, such as preventing the handrail surface from being slightly scratched.
• There are also some handles, such as handles on ordinary wooden furniture. The handles made of H59 brass are low in cost and can meet daily use needs. It can be made into various shapes, such as round, square or with patterned shapes, through casting or stamping processes. While providing the function of conveniently opening furniture doors or drawers, it can also add a simple beauty to the furniture.

Corrosion resistance limitations

• Due to its relatively low copper content, it may not be as corrosion-resistant as some brass alloys with high copper content. Under some humid, acid-base and harsh conditions, a certain degree of corrosion may occur.
• For example, if H59 brass is used for exposed metal decorations of some seaside buildings, they may rust and discolor after being eroded by sea breeze and seawater spray for a long time. For example, if H59 brass is used for outdoor metal railings in seaside resorts, rust may gradually appear on the surface of the railings after several months of wind, sun and seawater erosion, which not only affects the appearance, but also may reduce the structural strength of the railings. Regular maintenance and repair, such as rust removal and painting, are required to extend their service life.

H62 brass

Composition ratio and significance

The copper content of H62 brass is about 62% and the zinc content is about 38%.

Comprehensive performance, application and case

Good comprehensive mechanical properties

• It has good comprehensive mechanical properties, and the strength and ductility are well balanced. In terms of processing performance, it can be subjected to a variety of cold processing and hot processing operations, such as cold rolling, drawing, forging, etc.
• In the manufacture of various pipes, such as the connecting copper pipes of household air conditioners, it is necessary to have a certain strength to withstand the pressure of the internal refrigerant, and at the same time have good processing performance so that it can be bent into various shapes to adapt to the different installation positions and layout requirements of the indoor and outdoor units of the air conditioner. H62 brass tubes can be precisely bent by professional pipe bending equipment under the premise of ensuring strength, ensuring the sealing of pipe connections and the smooth flow of refrigerants.
• In the application of rods, such as some supporting rods used in buildings, in the steel structure frame of large buildings, the supporting rods need to withstand large tension and pressure, and the strength of H62 brass rods can meet this requirement. Moreover, during the processing, it can be processed into different lengths and diameters according to the design requirements, and connecting threads or other connecting structures can be made at both ends by forging or machining, which is convenient for connection and installation with other steel structure components.
• In terms of sheet materials, for example, the shells of some electrical equipment, such as TV shells, need to have a certain strength to protect the internal electronic components, and at the same time, they must be able to be manufactured into various shapes, such as planes, arcs, etc., through stamping and forming processes to meet the appearance design requirements. H62 brass sheet can be quickly and efficiently formed into the shape of a TV shell under the action of the stamping die, and maintain good structural stability during subsequent use.

Applications in electrical and daily necessities

• In the electrical field, it can be used to manufacture connecting joints, conductive parts, etc. of wires and cables, because although its conductivity is not as good as pure copper, it can meet the requirements of electrical transmission to a certain extent, and its mechanical properties can ensure the stability of the connection. For example, the wiring terminals in some distribution boxes are made of H62 brass, which can not only ensure the conductive performance, but also withstand certain mechanical forces during wiring and disassembly.
• In daily necessities, such as keys, the processing of their tooth shape requires good processing performance, and a certain strength is required during use. Keys made of H62 brass can meet the requirements well. For example, car keys have complex tooth shapes and need to accurately match the car lock cylinder. H62 brass can be used to produce keys with high-precision tooth shapes through precision mold stamping or CNC processing. Moreover, in daily use, keys need to withstand certain insertion and extraction forces and torsional forces. The strength of H62 brass can ensure that the keys will not be easily deformed or broken after repeated use.
• H62 brass is also often used in hardware accessories such as lock cylinders. Its good processability enables the manufacture of products with complex shapes and high precision requirements, and can maintain good performance during long-term use. Like high-end anti-theft lock cylinders, which have complex internal structures and multiple pins and slots, H62 brass can be used to manufacture high-precision lock cylinder components through a combination of precision casting and machining to ensure the safety and reliability of the lock cylinder during long-term use.

C17300 Beryllium Copper

Special Elements in Composition

C17300 Beryllium Copper is a special brass alloy containing beryllium (Be). The beryllium content is generally around 1.6% - 1.8%, and the rest is mainly copper.

Excellent Performance and High-end Applications and Cases

Excellent Elasticity and High Strength This alloy has extremely excellent elasticity and high strength.

• Its elastic limit and yield strength are much higher than ordinary brass alloys. It plays an irreplaceable role in some fields that require high-precision elastic elements, such as springs in precision instruments and meters, like elastic elements in advanced pressure gauges, which need to accurately produce elastic deformation according to pressure changes to indicate pressure values.The high-precision elastic performance of C17300 Beryllium Copper ensures that when the pressure gauge measures different pressure ranges, there is a highly linear relationship between the deformation of the spring and the pressure value, thereby ensuring the accuracy of the pressure gauge.
• In terms of elastic contacts, such as the contacts in micro switches of high-end electronic devices, the good elastic recovery ability and high strength of C17300 beryllium bronze ensure the reliability and stability of contact during frequent opening and closing operations. For example, in the side key switch of a smartphone, the contacts made of C17300 beryllium bronze can always maintain a stable contact resistance under tens of thousands of pressing operations, ensuring that the mobile phone can accurately identify the user's key operations and will not cause key failure due to contact deformation or fatigue.
• In electronic devices, such as mobile phones, computers, etc., internal connection spring sheets, C17300 beryllium bronze can ensure that they always maintain good elastic recovery ability and contact reliability under repeated plugging, unplugging, pressing and other operations. For example, the memory slot spring sheet on the computer motherboard needs to provide a stable clamping force during the multiple plugging and unplugging of the memory module to ensure a good electrical connection between the memory and the motherboard. The spring sheet made of C17300 beryllium bronze can meet this strict requirement.

Excellent performance in many aspects

• It also has good wear resistance, corrosion resistance and fatigue resistance, and is also used in high-precision mechanical devices in some harsh environments, such as some small elastic connectors in the aerospace field. In the aircraft's avionics equipment, some elastic joints for line connections need to maintain stable connection and elastic performance in complex flight environments. For example, in the flight control system of an aircraft, elastic connectors made of C17300 beryllium bronze can reliably connect the lines of various sensors and actuators under high temperature, high pressure and strong vibration environments to ensure accurate transmission of flight control signals.
• Precision elastic components in navigation equipment, such as elastic sensor elements in ship navigation instruments, can still accurately sense and transmit signals under harsh conditions such as seawater environment and ship vibration. For example, in the ship's gyroscope sensor, the elastic component made of C17300 beryllium bronze can stably support and transmit the rotation signal of the gyroscope in the erosion of seawater and the continuous shaking of the ship, providing accurate data support for the ship's navigation.

Processing cost considerations

• Because the beryllium element has a certain toxicity, strict protective measures are required during the production and processing process, which also increases its production cost to a certain extent. This makes it difficult to promote C17300 beryllium bronze on a large scale in some common application fields that are more cost-sensitive. It is mainly used in high-end manufacturing and precision instrument fields with extremely high performance requirements.

C54400 Phosphor Bronze

Composition elements and functions

C54400 Phosphor Bronze is mainly composed of copper, tin (Sn), phosphorus (P) and other elements. The tin content is generally around 4% - 6%, and the phosphorus content is about 0.1% - 0.35%.

Performance advantages and application scenarios and cases

Good corrosion resistance

• This alloy has good corrosion resistance, especially in seawater, fresh water and some weak acid and alkali environments.
• In the field of shipbuilding, such as marine valves, under the long-term immersion in seawater and the impact of high-pressure water flow, valves made of C54400 phosphor bronze can effectively prevent seawater corrosion and ensure the normal opening and closing and sealing performance of the valve. For example, in the seawater cooling system of large ocean-going cargo ships, valves need to frequently control the flow and direction of seawater. C54400 phosphor bronze valves can work continuously for several years in harsh marine environments without replacement, greatly reducing the maintenance cost and downtime of ships.
• C54400 phosphor bronze is widely used in pipe fittings, such as the seawater piping system of ships, which needs to withstand the high pressure and corrosion of seawater. C54400 phosphor bronze pipes can operate stably for a long time, reducing problems such as pipeline leakage caused by corrosion. In some desalination plants in coastal areas, C54400 phosphor bronze is also used for pipes that transport seawater. Its corrosion resistance can ensure that the pipes can maintain good structural integrity in the case of long-term contact with high-salinity seawater, ensuring the smooth progress of the desalination process.

Wear resistance and self-lubrication

• It also has good wear resistance and self-lubrication. It is used in some parts that require relative movement and have high lubrication requirements, such as bearings. In the bearings of some small motors, C54400 phosphor bronze bearings can reduce the use of lubricating grease and maintain a low wear rate during long-term operation. For example, small motors in some precision instruments, such as micro pump motors in medical equipment, are not easy to add lubricating grease frequently due to their special working environment. C54400 phosphor bronze bearings can stably support the rotation of the motor rotor under less lubrication conditions, reduce friction and wear, and extend the service life of the motor.
• In terms of gears, such as small transmission gears in some precision instruments, their self-lubrication can reduce noise and wear and improve transmission efficiency. For example, in the transmission gears of high-end watches, gears made of C54400 phosphor bronze can rely on their own self-lubrication properties to reduce friction and wear between tooth surfaces during mutual meshing, ensuring the accuracy of the watch, while reducing operating noise and improving the quality and service life of the watch.
• In the manufacture of musical instruments, such as some key components of brass instruments, C54400 phosphor bronze is also used, because its good acoustic properties and corrosion resistance can ensure that the instrument maintains stable tone and beautiful appearance during long-term use. For example, the telescopic tube part of the trombone needs to maintain good mechanical properties and appearance during frequent telescopic movements. C54400 phosphor bronze is an ideal material choice. Its self-lubricating property can make the telescopic tube smoother during the sliding process and reduce the jamming phenomenon, while its corrosion resistance can ensure that the telescopic tube will not rust or corrode under the influence of the performer's sweat and the surrounding environment, and always keep it bright as new, ensuring that the tone of the trombone is not affected.

Conclusion

C3604, Brass 360 1/2 hard, H59, H62, C17300 beryllium bronze and C54400 phosphor bronze have their own characteristics in composition, performance and application fields. In many fields such as actual industrial production, engineering construction and daily necessities manufacturing, it is necessary to reasonably select suitable brass materials according to specific needs, such as strength requirements, processing performance, corrosion resistance, cost control and other factors, so as to give full play to their advantages and achieve the best performance and economic benefits of the product. Whether in the field of high-end aerospace, precision instruments and meters, or in the field of ordinary architectural decoration and daily hardware products, these brass materials are silently playing an important role and becoming an indispensable part of modern industry and life. With the continuous development of materials science, these brass materials may achieve further breakthroughs in performance optimization, cost reduction, etc. in the future, thereby expanding a broader application space.