Brass

Brass

A Golden-Shining Metal

Brass is a material with many possibilities and applications. Its main components are copper and zinc. By adding different alloying elements, brass can be given unique properties, and there are many brass grades adapted for various types of processing and end products.

At Nordic Brass Gusum, we manufacture brass in the form of bars, profiles, and ingots. These serve as semi-finished products that are further processed by our customers. Examples of end products include screws, nuts, plumbing fittings, lock components, electrical parts, and decorative items.

Brass is a recyclable material with an established place in environmentally conscious manufacturing. It is profitable to recycle, and nearly 80% of our raw material consists of brass scrap, sourced from both customer returns and recycling companies.

Corrosion Properties

Most brass alloys have good corrosion resistance in normal environments. In certain cases, however, special alloys must be used.

One such example is plumbing fittings, where dezincification resistance is required.

Surface Treatment

A Surface That Can Be Easily Machined

Brass has a golden-shining surface that can be machined to a high-quality finish. However, sometimes a form of surface treatment is desired to protect the surface or achieve a specific appearance. Brass is easy to metallize in various ways. Chrome-plated bathroom fittings are one example, and gilded decorative and functional items are also becoming increasingly common.

Machining of Brass

Machining

The vast majority of the brass we supply is machined with cutting tools during further processing into finished products. Such brass is usually alloyed with lead, whose chip-breaking and lubricating effect allows high cutting speeds with minimal tool wear. The excellent machinability enables high productivity and thus lower production costs compared to, for example, steel. Combined with the profitable recycling of chips, many components can be manufactured at a lower cost in brass than in steel.

Forging & Casting

Brass is easy to shape through forging. Very high reduction ratios are possible, allowing even complex products to be formed close to their final shape with a good surface finish and tight dimensional tolerances. Depending on the application, final processing such as machining, polishing, or surface treatment may be required. The plastic deformation during the forging process gives brass a dense structure with very favorable strength properties, high ductility, and toughness.

Research

Nordic Brass Gusum is a significant center of expertise and a strong discussion partner in brass and brass products.

The company actively works to safeguard its customers’ interests through engagement in both national and international organizations. These include IWCC, the international bar manufacturers, OECAM, the European ingot producers, and SCDA, the Scandinavian Copper Association. Nordic Brass Gusum is also represented in the Plumbing Manufacturers’ Council, the Swedish Cutting Technology Association, and the Swedish research institutes and partners Swerim and RISE. Additionally, the company collaborates closely with several technical universities, including KTH and LTH.

Links to Some of the Projects We Participate In and Lead:

Vinnova: COBRA – Brass Expertise RISE: Technological Adaptation to Lead-Free Brass Alloys Vinnova: Improved Lead-Free Brass Products Through Optimization Along the Value Chain Reprint 1 Industrial Benefits, Swerea (2016) Reprint 2 Industrial Benefits, Swerea (2016)