Difference between Brass and Bronze

There are many materials that we keep in our house as showpieces. They are made of different materials like copper, zinc, brass, etc. Some of them are even oxidized. Majorly statues of gods, paintings, sculptures, etc., are made from this stuff. The statues and sculptures made of bronze, copper, brass, etc., are quite costly as they are only used to decorate homes.

Well, not on big statues, but small things like key chains, vehicle radiators, marine hardware, etc., are made of such materials. These materials are often used in day-to-day things and gadgets. For instance, the mobile phone is made up of several elements like copper, lithium, cobalt, silver, etc. Similarly, many materials that we use daily are made up of such elements.

Today, we will discuss about the two significant kinds of materials used in making a variety of products, i.e., brass and bronze. So, let us discuss about them in brief.

Brass

Brass is defined as a mixture of zinc and copper used in varied proportions in order to have mechanical, chemical, and electrical properties. Brass was first discovered in 1400 B.C. It is considered as a substitutional mixture, i.e., molten metal is mixed with the other substance. In this material, the atoms of two materials replace one another with the same structure. Now, how is brass used? Well, brass has been utilized as a decorative material as it gives a gold-like appearance. It is majorly used in doorknobs, drawers, utensils, etc.

Interestingly, brass is also used in materials where less friction and corrosion resistance is needed, i.e., in locks, gears, ammunition, plumbing, electrical sockets, plugs, etc. Brass is also used in making musical instruments as well. Apart from its various uses, it is interesting to note that brass is comparatively more malleable than zinc, bronze, etc.

Now, let us talk about its composition and properties. Brass comprises 34% of zinc and 66% of copper. Due to this composition, brass becomes a substitute in copper jewelry. Brass has a low melting point. By changing the proportion of zinc and copper, the properties of the brass can be changed. One more important factor regarding brass is that it can be recycled. Aluminum is capable of making the brass stronger. Aluminum also helps in the formation of a hard layer (aluminum oxide) upon the brass material. Thus, brass is a favorable substance that is used in a variety of materials.

Bronze

Bronze is defined as a mixture of tin and copper that was used historically in making various goods. Bronze was made around 3000 B.C and was used in making artifacts. It is used widely today as well. Bronze is made using a variety of materials. For instance, copper, along with aluminum, zinc, manganese, nickel, etc., are also used for making bronze. Sometimes, non-metals like silicon, phosphorous, arsenic, etc., are used to make bronze. Bronze comprises of a lot of properties like strength, flexibility, etc.

Bronze has been borrowed from three different languages, i.e., from Middle French (bronze), Medieval Latin (bronzium), and Italian (bronzo). Bronze is more durable as compared to any metal. In the earlier times, tools, weapons, armor, etc., were made with bronze. Historically, bronze was used for making coins. Along with this, it was also used in making ship fittings, stainless steel, electrical connectors, etc. The steel produced was corrosion-free. There are different kinds of bronze, i.e., silicon bronze, phosphor bronze, bearing bronze, manganese bronze, aluminum bronze, etc. From the types mentioned above, manganese bronze is the strongest and resistant bronze. In terms of bronze alloys, aluminum bronze is the toughest alloy of bronze.

Now, there are a lot of differences between brass and bronze. So, let us have a look at them.

So, these are some of the contrasting points regarding brass and bronze. Now, there are certain characteristics of brass and bronze. So, let us take a look at them.

Characteristics of Brass

1. Brass is tarnish-resistant.
2. It is malleable and has low friction that helps in creating several materials.
3. It is easily machined.
4. Brass is wear-resistant, exhibits thermal conductivity, is hard, and has durability.

Characteristics of Bronze

1. It is reddish-brown in color.
2. It is hard and brittle (comparatively less than iron).
3. The melting point of bronze is 950 degrees Celsius.
4. It does not exhibit metal friction.

So, these are some of the characteristics of brass and bronze. The materials/ things made out of these metals are used in day-to-day chores. Both these metals are used for making various electronic gadgets. There are several uses of these metals that are listed above. Thus, brass and bronze are prominently used metals.