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19 March 2026 at 20:55 • 3 mins read
Brass – an alloy of copper and zinc – is one of the most widely used alloys. Known for its decorative attributes and bright gold appearance, brass also exhibits durability, corrosion resistance, and high electrical conductivity.
Brass sheet and brass plate are more malleable than bronze, and generally very easy to cut, machine, and fabricate, making it useful in the manufacturing, construction, electrical and plumbing industries.
As far as we know, brass was discovered accidentally, when metalworkers in ancient Asia smelted a crude form of brass from zinc-rich copper ores. Then about 2,000 years ago, the Greeks and Romans began melting calamine ore, which contained copper and zinc – causing zinc ions to be dispersed throughout the copper.
Over the centuries, a number of other processes have been developed for making brass, with additional metals, such as aluminum, lead, and arsenic, added to create alloys with different properties.
Because of its wide versatility, brass has found its way into a surprising range of applications, including:
Spark resistant, low-friction, corrosion-resistant, and non-magnetic, brass can be easily rolled into thin sheets and formed into cartridge shells. It is also easy to recycle for ammo reloading.
Due to its hardness, toughness, and corrosion resistance – even in the presence of salt water – brass was used for centuries as sheathing on the hulls of wooden naval ships, for navigational tools, and later, marine engines and pumps.
For electrical panel board switches and relays, as well as PCB plug pins, sockets and terminal blocks, the malleable, non-magnetic nature of brass, and the fact that it costs less than gold and silver, makes it an excellent choice of material.
Brazed copper-brass radiators for cars and trucks cost less than aluminum radiators, are easier to manufacture, last longer, and are much easier to recycle, which makes them more energy efficient. They have also been shown to have a lower air-side pressure drop than aluminum radiators.
The durability, workability, corrosion resistance, and acoustic properties of brass make it an excellent, economic choice for a wide range of musical instruments, from trumpets, tubas, and trombones to cymbals, gongs, and bells.
Much stronger and tougher than plastic, brass fittings can stand up to high water pressure and reduce it to a manageable level for use in RVs.
For centuries, non-magnetic brass has been used to make measuring instruments, such as compasses, astrolabes, barometers, chronometers, clocks, and watches. While retaining its hardness and strength, brass is easily worked and engraved with permanent indicator marks for reading the time, tide, direction, or barometric pressure.
Brass can typically be purchased in a number of forms, including:
Industrial Metal Supply stocks brass sheet and plate in many forms and in full sizes or pre-cuts, as well as a line of decorative brass railing from Lavi Industries. Questions? Contact us today!