A12 Copper-zinc alloys (brass) 1
A12 Copper-zinc alloys (brass)
H ANS G. S PILKER, DECHEMA e. V., Germany
G UNDULA J ÄNSCH -K AISER, DECHEMA e. V., Germany
N. P ÉREZ, DECHEMA e. V., Germany
1. References . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Of all the copper alloys, the brasses are used
the most.
The corrosion behavior depends largely on
the zinc content and the structure [23].
At a zinc content of 20 % or more, the pro-
tective action due to the formation of a zinc ox-
ide surface layer is more important than the no-
bility of the metal [10].
Alloys containing up to 37.5 % Zn have
a face-centered cubic, uniform structure (α-
brass) and are ductile and tough. Their corro-
sion resistance corresponds to that of copper.
At zinc contents of 37.5 % up to 46 %, a β-
structure is present alongside the α-structure
(α-β-brass).
These alloys are particularly sensitive to dez-
incification and are unsuitable for corrosive me-
dia [23].
Alloys containing 46 to 50 % Zn consist uni-
formly of the β-phase (β-brass). γ-Brasses con-
taining more than 50 % Zn are unsuitable for in-
dustrial use because of their extreme brittleness
[24].
Brass wrought alloys contain up to 37.5 %
Zn, as tombac up to 30 % Zn without further
additions, as lead-containing brass up to 3.5 %
Pb and as high-strength brass further alloying
additions.
Normal brass and lead-containing brass can
be readily soft-soldered, and hard-soldered
where mechanical stresses occur.
The suitability for fusion welding is poor be-
cause of the low boiling point of zinc. It vapor-
izes and forms pores.
The MIG and WIG processes are of only
limited suitability.
4
Gas welding can be used because a zinc ox-
ide layer develops due to the excess oxygen,
preventing further vaporization of the zinc [31].
Lead as a heterogeneous constituent has a
corrosion-inhibiting action, improves machine-
ability, but impairs weldability. High-strength
brasses or multicomponent alloys based on
CuZn contain Al, Fe, Mn, Si or Sn as further
additions.
The high-strength brasses are superior to the
normal brasses in strength, sliding and wear
properties and corrosion resistance, and are
used in chemical engineering [24].
Both brasses containing 33 to 42 % Zn and
< 3 % Pb, and also high-strength brasses are
cast alloys [22].
Aluminium-containing, high-strength
brasses are, in some cases, superior to pure
copper in corrosion resistance because of the
formation of an aluminium oxide layer [6].
Iron improves the strength and grain fineness
of the alloy, and the usual contents are between
0.5 and 1.5 %.
High-strength manganese brasses can con-
tain up to 5 % Mn, which improves the strength
and corrosion resistance, and, if Al and Si are
added at the same time, offers a high wear re-
sistance [24].
Nickel contents of up to 3 % are usual in
high-strength brasses. Higher Ni contents are
dealt with under CuNi alloys (Section A 9).
Nickel improves the strength, also at a higher
temperature, and the deformation capacity.
Silicon reduces the susceptibility to stress
cracking in α-brasses and improves the
strength, tarnish resistance and castability of
α-β-brasses.
2 A12 Copper-zinc alloys (brass)
Tin-containing, high-strength brasses, tobin
bronze and Admiralty brass (SoMs 71, 71Cu-
28Zn-1Sn) also contain traces of other metals in
addition to Sn. They have a high corrosion re-
sistance and are used for heat exchanger pipes
and steam condensers [25].
Brass is more resistant to pitting corrosion
than other copper alloys. However, there is the
danger of dezincification, a particular form of
brass corrosion which occurs both uniformly
over the surface and in the form of plugs, and
can lead to ruptures [16].
Most at risk are the α-β-brasses, in which the
β-structure is preferentially attacked and dis-
solved out, especially at elevated temperature
with low electrolyte agitation and aeration. A
soft matrix of porous copper remains.
As dezincification progresses, the shape of a
component does not change, but increasing em-
brittlement takes place and the color changes
from brass-yellow to the darker copper color
[16].
Pure α-brasses have a good resistance to
dezincification, which can be prevented entirely
by addition of a small amount of arsenic (0.02
to 0.06 %). However, As has no dezincification-
preventing effect on the β-structure [15, 19].
Stress corrosion cracking is a problem for
brass amongst the copper alloys. As the Cu con-
tent increases, the sensitivity to this form of cor-
rosion decreases.
Brass containing more than 80 % Cu is re-
garded as not particularly susceptible, high-
strength α-brasses as moderately susceptible,
and high-strength α-β-brasses and brasses con-
taining less than 80 % Cu as susceptible to
stress corrosion cracking [13].
Other literature assesses brasses and high-
strength brasses containing more than 15 % Zn
as sensitive to stress corrosion cracking [10].
The process of stress corrosion cracking pro-
ceeds rapidly on brass. Even external stresses
cause the surface layer to tear at individual
points, from which corrosion starts [26].
The alloys α-brass (Cu ≥ 85 %), α-brass (Cu
≥ 80 %), α-β-brass, high-strength α-brass S 20,
high-strength α-brass S 28 and high-strength
α-β-brass are evaluated as being resistant to
methyl alcohol [17].
Tombac Ms 85, CuZn 15 and CuZn 20 (DIN
material No. 2.0250) are regarded as being re-
sistant to 98 % methanol at 293 K and up to the
boiling point [2, 3, 26].
The alloys CuZn 10, CuZn 15, CuZn 30,
CuZn 40, CuZn 35.5 Pb 3, CuZn 40 Pb 3, CuZn
28 Sn 1 and CuZn 39.25 Sn 0.75 are said to be
usable under most conditions [21].
An information sheet on screws and nuts
made of CuZn alloys refers to the CuZn 37,
CuZn 39 Pb 3 and CuZn 39 Pb 2 grades as being
completely resistant (< 0.1 mm y−1 ) to metha-
nol [27].
A manufacturer of flexible metal tubes eval-
uates brass (brass 80 20, grade A) as resistant
(0.01 mm month−1 ) [28].
The brass grades 70 - 80 Cu + Zn, Sn or Pb
and 59 - 93 Cu + Al, Zn or As are resistant to
all concentrations of methanol up to 373 K [1].
The brass grades listed below are usable in
methanol under most conditions [18].
Brass of low Zn content:
commercial bronze 14 (90 Cu-10 Zn),
leaded commercial bronze 201 (89.6 Cu-10
Zn-0.4 Pb),
leaded commercial bronze 202 (88.5 Cu-10
Zn-1.5 Pb),
high-strength commercial bronze 286 (90.25
Cu-6.9 Zn-1.75 Pb-1 Ni-0.1 P),
Orcide 420 (87.25 Cu-11.5 Zn-1.25 Sn),
red brass 24 (85 Cu-15 Zn),
silicon red brass 1027 (82 Cu-17 Zn-1 Si)
and
trumpet brass 435 (81 Cu-18 Zn-1 Sn).
Brass of relatively high Zn content:
cartridge brass 42 (70 Cu-30 Zn),
low brass 32 (80 Cu-20 Zn),
yellow brass 59 (65 Cu-35 Zn),
leaded brass 211 (69 Cu-29.5 Zn-1.5 Pb),
yellow brass 218 (66.5 Cu-33 Zn-0.5 Pb),
free-cutting tube brass 282 (66.5 Cu-31.9
Zn-1.6 Pb),
special threading brass 223 (65 Cu-34.75
Zn-0.25 Pb),
butt brass 226 (64.25 Cu-35.25 Zn-0.5 Pb),
butt brass 229 (64 Cu-35 Zn-1 Pb),
extruded architectural bronze (56 Cu-41.5
Zn-2.5 Pb),
muntz metal 66 (60 Cu-40 Zn),
yellow brass 61 (63 Cu-37 Zn),
rule brass 238 (62.5 Cu-35 Zn-2.5 Pb),
free-cutting yellow brass 271 (62 Cu-35 Zn-
3 Pb),
clock brass 243 (61.5 Cu-37 Zn-1.5 Pb),

leaded muntz metal 274 (60 Cu-39.5 Zn-0.5
Pb),
free-cutting muntz metal 293 (60 Cu-39 Zn-
1 Pb) and
forging brass 250 (60 Cu-38 Zn-2 Pb).
Special brass:
tobin bronze (60 Cu-39.25 Zn-0.75 Sn),
naval brass 452 (60 Cu-39.25 Zn-0.75 Sn),
leaded naval brass 605 (60 Cu-38.55 Zn-0.75
Sn-0.7 Pb),
leaded naval brass 612 (60 Cu-37.25 Zn-0.75
Sn-2 Pb),
manganese bronze 937 (59 Cu-39 Zn-0.7 Sn-
0.5 Mn-0.8 Fe),
economy bronze,
anaconda 997 - low-fuming bronze,
manganese bronze 984,
tobin bronze 481,
arsenical admiralty 439 (70 Cu-28.96 Zn-1
Sn-0.04 As)
and
Ambraloy 927 (76 Cu-21.96 Zn-2 Al-0.04
As).
For Admiralty bronze (70 Cu-29 Zn-1 Sn),
weight increases of 0.48 g m−2 were found af-
ter storage for 1 month in boiling methanol, and
a weight decrease of 1.08 g m−2 was found af-
ter 7 months at room temperature [34].
In methanol synthesis, the jackets of fur-
naces and heat exchangers are protected by
pipes of brass or copper pressed tightly against
the jackets [5].
In this synthesis, the brass lining of the tubu-
lar furnaces (60 to 90 % Cu) is resistant at 698
to 973 K, the prevention of methane formation
due to carbonyls also being of importance [4,
20].
The corrosion behavior of the brass grades
mentioned here, containing 60 to 90 % Cu, in
methanol is equated with that of copper, which
is described as resistant [7].
In rectification columns for the distillation of
methanol/acetone mixtures with a water content
of 4 to 6 % and small contents of hydrochloric
acid, sealing rings of brass wire (∅ 520 × 5.0
mm) led to leakages in the columns and mal-
functions after discontinuous operating times of
1 to 2.5 years.
Some of the wires had assumed the reddish
color of copper, and in some cases a residual
core of yellow-colored brass remained.
A12 Copper-zinc alloys (brass) 3
These rings broke or disintegrated into small
pieces under the slightest flexural stress.
This phenomenon indicates the occurrence
of selective corrosion (dezincification) and can
be attributed to the chloride content, low degree
of agitation and simultaneously increased tem-
perature.
The heterogeneous structure of the brass
used, CuZn 42, also promoted corrosion [11].
Dezincification takes place in particular due
to chloride in the medium and also due to acid
liquids [13].
In the course of a study on the behavior of
materials in seawater, a brass disk (76 Cu, 22
Zn, 2 Al, 0.03 As) was pickled in an agitated so-
lution of 33 % nitric acid in methanol at room
temperature and at a potential of 6 to 7 V us-
ing a platinum cathode. The entire region of the
disk exposed dissolved [29].
The curves in Figure 1 show the behavior of
CuZn alloys in 3 mol L−1 HNO3 as the metha-
nol concentration increases.
Figure 1. Influence of methanol on the dissolution of
a CuZn alloy in 3 mol L−1 HNO3 [12]
The curve 0.0 shows the dissolution rate of
the brass containing 67.5 % Cu and 32.5 % Zn
in 3 mol L−1 HNO3 , which corresponds to that
of copper [12].
Addition of methanol causes decreasing cor-
rosion rates, shown by a decrease in the maxi-
mum temperatures and an increase in the incu-
bation times.
As Figure 1 shows, methanol has an effect on
the corrosion of CuZn alloys similar to that on
copper. However, the same increase in the meth-
anol content under otherwise identical condi-
tions has the effect of a smaller decrease in the
corrosion rates for the alloy (see also Figure 2
in Section A7).
As is also the case for copper, methanol in-
hibits the corrosion of CuZn alloys in nitric acid
[12].
4 A12 Copper-zinc alloys (brass)
As with copper, brass suffered only mild at-
tack in methanol containing rhodamine 6 G, as
can be seen from a material consumption rate of
0.36 g m−2 d−1 [8].
As Table 1 shows, the presence of air in the
fuel has the greatest influence on the material
consumption rate.
Addition of water seems to lower the corro-
sion rate, which perhaps indicates passivation.
The resistance of brass is of great importance
for the operation of motor vehicles with meth-
anol-containing fuels, since brass components
are customary in the fuel supply system. Gauze
filters for gasoline pumps and carburettors are
thus always made of brass wire (∅ 0.12 mm)
with a mesh width of 0.125 to 0.15 mm [30].
While gasoline by itself causes an insignif-
icant change in the weight of brass, changes
in the color of the fuel occur during operation
with gasoline/methanol fuel mixtures (see Ta-
ble 1). It turns yellow or, if NaCl impurities are
present, green [9].
Sodium chloride in the fuel, which can orig-
inate from contamination by de-icing salt, in-
creases the material consumption rate further
[14].
Studies by the University of Miami on the
suitability of various materials for motor ve-
hicle fuels showed comparable results for yel-
low brass (Cu-30Zn) (see Table 2) [32]. Nev-
ertheless, pitting corrosion was found in the
gasoline/methanol mixtures.
The values for mixtures containing water are
striking here. While an addition of 0.1 % water
seems to reduce the corrosion rates in Table 1,
an addition of 1 % increases the values.
The results of a corrosion test on free-cutting
brass (SAE CA-360) from studies on the suit-
ability of materials for motor vehicle construc-
tion with respect to previously unusual fuels are
shown in Table 3 [33].
1. References
1. Hamner, N. E., Corrosion Data Survey, 5th
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2. Product Information, Gebräuchliche
Werkstoffe für Elasteflex-Metallbälge,
(Common materials used for Elasteflex metal
bellows) (in German), Table MB 001, p. 11,
Hans Skodock, D-3000 Hannover
3. Product Information, Hydra-Taschenbuch,
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461, Witzenmann GmbH.,
Metallschlauchfabrik, D-7530 Pforzheim“
1980
4. Bernthsen, A., A Textbook of Organic
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5. Giesen, J.; Hanisch, H., in: Winnacker —
Weingaertner “Chemische Technologie —
Organische Technologie I“, (Chemical
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München, 1952
6. Product Information, Wieland-Buch
“Kupferwerkstoffe“, (Wieland book “copper
materials”) (in German) p. 171,
Wieland-Werke AG, D-7900 Ulm
7. Rabald, E., Corrosion Guide, 2nd revised
edition, p. 449, Elsevier Publishing Co.,
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8. Rabinovits, E.; Herrmann, B.; Levin, R.;
Rosenthal, I., The corrosion effect of solutions
of lasing dyes on metals, Corrosion 38 (1982)
9, p. 510
9. Foulkes, F. R.; Kalia, R. K.; Kirk, D. W., A
preliminary study of the corrosiveness of
methyl fuel/gasoline blends on materials used
in automotive fuel systems, Can. J. Chem.
Eng. 58 (1980) 10, p. 654
10. Wallbaum, H. J., Über das
Korrosionsverhalten von Werkstoffen auf
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Kupfer-Institut, D-1000 Berlin
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Wieland-Werke AG, D-7900 Ulm
 A12 Copper-zinc alloys (brass) 5

Table 1. Corrosion behavior of brass in gasoline/methanol fuel mixtures a) air-free and b) air-saturated [9]
Methanol Temperature Water NaCl Test Material
Fuel1) K %2) mg L−1 Duration Consumption Rate
%2) d mg m−2 d−1
a) 0 298 0 0 15 6.8
15 298 0 0 40 26
15 308 0 0 15 35
b) 15 308 0 0 40 112
15 308 0.1 0 40 79
15 308 0.1 10 40 93
1)
90 % methanol + 2 % ethanol + 3 % propanol + 5 % isobutanol
2)
percent by volume

Table 2. Corrosion behavior of yellow brass in gasoline, methanol and gasoline/methanol mixtures with and without water at 297 K, test
duration 1 year [32]
Medium Gasoline Methanol G/M 90:10 G/M 90:10
+ 1 % water
Material Consumption Rate, g m−2 d−1
297 k, static solution 0.0218 0.0003 0.0532* 0.0843*
321 k 0.0019 0.0014
agitated solution 0.0290 0.0162
* pitting corrosion

Table 3. Corrosion behavior of free-cutting brass (SAE CA-360) in various fuels, test duration 24.5 weeks [33]
Fuel Designation Gasoline Methanol Higher Alcohols Water2) Corrosion Rate mm y−1
Composition, % 297 k 321 k
P 100 < 0.005 < 0.005
P-1 100 1 < 0.005 < 0.005
MH 18 82 13.5 4.5 < 0.005 < 0.005
MH 18-1 82 13.5 4.5 0.25 < 0.005 < 0.005
MH 18-2 82 13.5 4.5 1.34 < 0.005 < 0.005
M 93 7 93 < 0.005 < 0.0051)
M 93-1 7 93 4.8 < 0.005 < 0.005
1)
insignificant pitting
2)
the water was added to the anhydrous fuel

14. Foulkes, F. R.; Kalia, R. K.; Kirk, D. W., A
preliminary study of the corrosiveness of
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in automotive fuel systems, Can. J. Chem.
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6 A12 Copper-zinc alloys (brass)
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