Brass: Types and Features

Brass, an alloy of copper and zinc, has been a useful and popular metal for thousands of years. The need for brass in the manufacturing of navigational instruments such as compasses, quadrants and sextants, incited the development of brass-working and soon brass was used to produce many common items including pins, bells, clock parts, sand timers, binoculars and much more.

Looking at the history

The discovery of this metal changed the lives of the people in the ancient world. Metal and its alloy also made agriculture easier as it provided farmers with more efficient tools to work their land. The first two metal and its alloy widely used by humans, copper (and its alloy brass) and gold are still important in people’s lives today. The earlier products made out of brass include the utility items like utensils, statues of Gods besides various other decorative items.

The manufacture of household utensils and decorative items in brass forms an extensive industry both nationally and internationally. India is the largest brass-making country in the world and this art has been practiced in India for over millions of years.

Types of Brass

1. Yellow brass: It can be used for lamps, flashlight shells, radiator cores and tanks, fasteners, screws, springs, etc.
2. Red brass is also known as gunmetal which can be used for fire extinguishers, weather-stripping, sockets, condenser and heat exchanger tubing, fastener etc.
3. White brass contains more than 50 % zinc and is too fragile for general use. There are various other types of Brass too like forging brass, cartridge brass, high brass, low brass to name a few.

Points to remember:

• Brass will, eventually, tarnish upon exposure to air;
• Brass may be easily cleaned with a commercially available cleaner
• Lacquering is not recommended as it will fade in time and is then difficult to remove.

Features of Brass which makes it popularly used

• Corrosion resistant
• It is easy to form into various shapes
• A good conductor of heat
• Most products made from brass are reused or recycled rather than being discarded in a landfill
• Brasses are widely used for long-lasting decorative applications where aesthetic appeal is a requirement.

The demand for use of brass and bronze art ware for decoration purpose in the houses and offices has increased. Due to the capability of brass being converted into different designs and shapes, it has become one of the preferred items to be used in numerous applications. The absolute beauty and substantiality of hand-wrought brass furnishings virtually insure their continued popularity.

Rishi Gupta works with Ram Parshad Ram Chand (Handicrafts), One of the prominent Brass Statues Manufacturers in Delhi. The company deals in Brass Decorative Products.