Brass

Brass

A recyclable metal

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

At Nordic Brass Gusum, we manufacture brass in the form of bars, profiles and ingots. These constitute semi‑finished products that are further processed by our customers. Examples of end products include screws, nuts, HVAC fittings, lock components, electrical components and decorative items, among others.

Brass is a circular material with a natural place in environmentally friendly industrial production. Brass is profitable to recycle, and nearly 80 percent of our raw material therefore consists of brass scrap — partly as return material from our customers, and partly from recycling companies.

Corrosion properties

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

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

Brass is otherwise known for its golden colour, good formability, durability and corrosion resistance. Its properties vary with the zinc content: higher zinc makes it harder and less reddish, while higher copper gives softer, redder brass. Brass is excellent for machining, casting and soldering, and conducts electricity and heat well.

Surface treatment

A surface that can be easily processed

Brass has a golden, glossy surface that can be processed to a high‑quality finish. Sometimes, however, a surface treatment is desired to protect the surface or to achieve a certain appearance. Brass is easy to metallize in various ways. Chrome‑plated bathroom fittings are one example. Gilded decorative and functional items are also becoming increasingly common.

Brass processing

Machining

The overwhelmingly largest share of the brass we deliver is processed with cutting tools during its further refinement into finished end products. Such brass is usually alloyed with lead, whose chip‑breaking and lubricating effect enables high cutting speeds with minimal tool wear. The good machinability enables high productivity and therefore a low production cost compared with, for example, steel. This, combined with the profitable recycling of chips, means that 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, and even complex products can therefore be formed to an almost final shape with good surface finish and tight dimensional tolerances. Depending on the area of application, final processing through machining, polishing, or surface treatment may be required. The plastic deformation during the forging process gives the brass a dense and mechanically very advantageous structure with high ductility and toughness.

Research

Own Competence Center

Nordic Brass Gusum is a significant competence center and a strong discussion partner within brass and brass products.

The company works actively to safeguard customers’ interests through engagement in both national and international organizations. Among these are IWCC, the international rod manufacturers, OECAM, the European ingot manufacturers, as well as SCDA, the Scandinavian Copper Association. Nordic Brass Gusum is also represented in the HVAC Manufacturers’ Council, the Swedish Cutting Technology Association, and in the Swedish research institutes and research partners Swerim and RISE. In addition, the company collaborates closely with several technical universities, including KTH and LuTH.

Links to some of the projects we are involved in and driving:

RISE: Newleaf – The new generation of lead-free brass alloys

Vinnova: COBRA – Brass competence

Vinnova: Optibrass – Improved lead-free brass products through optimization along the value chain

Vinnova: BRAVO II – Lead-free brass validation for industrial implementation