How to learn bronze at home. How to distinguish between brass and bronze - proven methods. Spectral analysis is the only way to guarantee results

Ways to distinguish bronze and brass using a magnet, acid, heat.

Bronze and brass are common alloys used to create parts, as well as some interior items. Externally, the metals are really very similar, but there are many ways to distinguish them. In this article, we will tell you how to distinguish these metals at home.

How to distinguish bronze from brass at home in appearance?

Bronze is an alloy of copper and tin; a small amount of other additives may also be present. On the other hand, brass is an alloy of copper and zinc. The ancient Romans began to use it, but then they introduced zinc ore into molten copper. It turned out to be an excellent metal, from which sculptures and statues were made. Outwardly, the metals are really very similar, but a specialist with the naked eye will be able to distinguish these two alloys. The most interesting thing is that fake coins were even made in the 19th century. After all, the color of the metal corresponds to gold.

In fact, the two metals are very similar, since the composition is predominantly copper. But impurities completely determine their properties. A mixture with tin is a favorite material for sculptors because of its durability and wear resistance. Zinc alloy is less durable and wears out quickly.

What is the difference between bronze and brass in composition?

Characteristic differences between these two metals should be expected only if they are fairly pure. But the fact is that now there are a huge number of varieties of both brass and bronze. Very often, tin is not added to bronze at all and a mixture of aluminum, beryllium and magnesium is introduced as an alloying element. Due to this, the color of the metal also changes very much. If the content of tin in the metal is high enough, and reaches 40%, then in this case its color can fluctuate up to white. That is, it resembles steel.

It gives only a slight golden hue. In general, the metal turns out to be almost silvery. Regarding brass, if there is a large amount of zinc in it, then the color of the metal is the same as that of gold. Quite often, this material is used to make a variety of jewelry and cheap jewelry. Such decorations look quite organic, pretty, and at the same time they are distinguished by a low price.

How to distinguish bronze from brass using a magnet?

• When it comes to a variety of alloys, it can be quite difficult to distinguish bronze from brass, because they can be almost identical. Many experts believe that bronze is heavier than brass. This is true and is due to the content of tin and lead, which are quite heavy.
• Brass is much lighter due to the presence of zinc. You can do a few simple experiments to find out which metal is in front of you. Almost always bronze is magnetized, due to the presence of tin in the composition.
• That is, if you bring a strong enough magnet, you will see a significant magnetization. The higher the tin content in the metal, the stronger the magnetization. Brass, in turn, does not exhibit magnetic properties, that is, when a magnet is presented, it does not stick at all.

Ways to distinguish bronze from brass by heating, filing

You can determine the type of metal by heating. However, this method is only suitable if you have your own workshop or garage. The fact is that for this experience you will need a cutting torch. Heat a sample of the intended material with a gas burner to 600 degrees.

If after that you try to bend it, then the bronze will easily break. It becomes quite brittle when heated and does not bend. Brass, in turn, bends very well and melts easily. This is due to the presence of zinc in the composition. This material is more ductile and malleable during heating than tin.

Many advise to take a hacksaw to determine the alloy, file the product a little, and pay attention to the quality of the chips that have formed. Metal with tin is sawn into tiny flakes that are brittle. That is, as a result, you will get fine dust, which is not quite like chips. This is due to the fact that bronze contains a lot of tin, which crumbles and, as it were, breaks off from the main piece of metal. Brass is sawn in a completely different way, forming layers, as well as characteristic ornate shavings.

Laboratory methods to distinguish brass from bronze

All these methods are only suitable if you want to distinguish standard brass from bronze, which contains a maximum of tin, as well as zinc. Otherwise, the tests will be quite difficult, due to the fact that there is a tin-free bronze that does not contain tin at all. Accordingly, the color of the metal will be absolutely different. Therefore, at home, it is quite difficult to find out the composition of the metal. In laboratory conditions, most often the composition is determined using spectrographic and refractometric analysis.

There are tests with nitric acid. For testing, a little shavings of alloys are poured into the container and filled with 50% nitric acid. The mixture of test tubes needs to be warmed up a little. In a test tube with brass, the alloy will dissolve and you will get a clear solution. In the container of the alloy with tin there will be a white precipitate of its salts.

Differences in the nature of the fracture and the evaluation of the finished product

Many will even say, why bother with brass or copper, if the two alloys look almost the same? But the fact is that this is important for many, in particular for people who will be engaged in the manufacture of some sculptures or remelting. Accordingly, very often a difference is required if you are going to hand over the metal for scrap.

The fact is that brass is cheaper than bronze, respectively, at the metal collection point they can simply deceive, offer a smaller amount. If the weight is small, then the losses will be negligible., butif you have a fairly large amount of goods, then you will lose a decent amount of money. Its useful to note,that there is no need to test, just look at finished goods. Brass is almost never used in shipping.

This material, when exposed to sea salt water, is destroyed, respectively, compasses, some parts in shipbuilding are used exclusively in bronze. Therefore, if they are trying to deceive you, insist on checking the goods, or contact a certified center. They usually have reception points, as well as small compact laboratories. They can carry out quick, simple analysis, and analyze the goods on laboratory equipment.

It is quite easy to distinguish between metals when looking at a fracture. Brass breaks in rather small grains, bronze breaks off in large pieces, has a large grain size. At the same time, the color of the fracture of bronze with a reddish tint, if it is brass, then with whitish or yellowish.

Unfortunately, these methods cannot be used at home due to the lack of laboratory equipment. For home users, magnet and chip tests are available. They are also very informative.

VIDEO: How to distinguish bronze from brass?

Items made from copper alloys are very popular today. They have many external similarities. Having determined how to distinguish bronze from brass, you can correctly use products from these materials. Despite the fact that they are equally attractive in appearance, there are still a number of differences between them. First of all, it concerns their properties and chemical composition.

These metals are now widely in demand in the industrial sector. The color of brass and bronze of individual grades may be similar. However, they may differ in some of their properties. Bronze has been used by humans for thousands of years. Initially, bronze alloys were made, based on tin and copper.

The metallurgical industry gradually developed, and people learned to exchange tin for other elements, such as iron, for example, or lead. Silicon, aluminum or beryllium and phosphorus could also serve as a worthy alternative for it. Depending on what kind of basic materials were used, bronze can be

• tin;
• tinless.

Bells were cast from the first type, respectively, it was called a bell. The chemical composition of a substance can change, but this directly affects both the color of the material and its characteristics.

Zinc is the main alloying component of brass. This is a copper alloy that includes manganese, iron, tin or lead. All of these components may be present in low concentrations. They are necessary only in order to change the characteristics in one direction or another. The production of brass was known even to the inhabitants of ancient Rome. They were able to create such a material by mixing zinc and pre-molten copper.

Most effective method production managed to create in England. Scientists mixed pure zinc and molten copper. This technology was first discovered in 1781.

Brass is characterized by a golden tone. Due to its good decorative properties, it was used for a long time for the production of jewelry, which was later passed off as gold. Gradually, manufacturers managed to pay attention to other equally important parameters of brass. It turned out that it differs:

• resistance to corrosion;
• plasticity;
• abrasion resistance;
• hardness;
• strength.

That is why today, as before, it is actively used in decorative products, but the range of its use does not end there. It has excellent casting properties. Accordingly, it is possible to actively apply the material in certain industries.

Copper is the basis of both metals. But differences in properties and chemical composition force them to be used in different fields of application. Bronze is considered more durable and strong. Since ancient times, sculptures, bells, interior structures and landscape objects that make up parts of fences have been made from it.

This metal is characterized by good fluidity after melting. Accordingly, on its basis it is possible to form objects even with very complex shapes. Besides, various elements can be added to the composition of the material to change the color in a certain range, and other features. This is especially important in the manufacture of decorative products.

Brass is more ductile. It is not as resistant to mechanical damage and durable as bronze. This metal is more susceptible to aggressive components. Its structure can be damaged by the systematic exposure to sea water, and therefore it is not recommended to use it in shipbuilding.

Bronze, on the contrary, is used here successfully and quite actively.

The internal structure of these alloys also has a noticeable difference.

Structure and color

To determine if brass or bronze was used to make a piece, you can look at the alloys and their fracture. Brass is lighter in color and fine-grained in the cut. Bronze, on the other hand, has a coarse-grained structure and is distinguished by a dark brown tint.

Materials differ in a number of characteristics. These can be attributed the following features:

• The use of tin as an alloying element in bronze, and zinc in brass. In this case, the basic component of both metals is copper.
• Bronze, including those with a traditional chemical composition, copes well with aggressive components, including sea salt water.
• To give maximum corrosion resistance, additional alloying elements are introduced into the composition of brass.

Application area

Bronze is more durable. Based on it, you can create decorative elements of increased strength that can last for a long time. It is applied to various industrial sectors when it is necessary to produce reliable parts. Brass is more often used in the manufacture of metal elements with high resistance to corrosion.

Compared to copper bronze and brass have a lower melting point. This property can be used to make various products with your own hands. True, this will have to stock up on the appropriate tools and equipment. It is also important to adhere to the rules of technological operations and to study the technology of casting.

This is a double or multi-component copper-based alloy, where the main element is zinc, sometimes lead, nickel, manganese, tin, iron or other elements are added. According to the metallurgical classification, it does not belong to bronzes.

Methods for obtaining brass were already known to the ancient Romans, they smelted copper with zinc ore. Zinc in its pure form to produce brass was not used until 1781 in England, and in the 19th century the special color of this metal allowed it to be used as fake gold, and this practice spread to many countries. Currently, this alloy is used to obtain a steel-brass bimetal - it is very convenient and guarantees resistance to rust, abrasion, and in addition, the products are quite ductile. In addition to its industrial significance, the so-called tompak (a kind of brass) is used in the manufacture of art products, accessories and insignia.

Bronze - is an alloy of copper and tin, aluminum, silicon, lead, beryllium and other elements. However, it is tin that is most often used to produce high-quality bronze. There are also alloys that use zinc and/or nickel. They are called spiatr and, in fact, are a cheap analogue of bronze.

People learned to smelt traditional tin bronze at the beginning of the Bronze Age and for a very long time it was widely used; even with the advent of the iron age, bronze did not lose its importance and (in particular, until the 19th century, guns were made of cannon bronze).The name "bronze" comes from the Italian bronzo, which, in turn, probably came either from the Persian word "berenj", meaning copper, or from the name of the city of Brindisi, from which this material was delivered to Rome. Depending on the presence of a particular metal, there are tin, aluminum, beryllium and silicon bronzes. On this basis, bronze can be divided into two large groups - tin and tinless. Once upon a time there was even arsenic bronze, but it did not become widespread.

Although bronze and brass are different materials, it is quite difficult to tell them apart. In order for even an ordinary person to be able to do this, both alloys, scales, or more complex methods using various chemical reagents will be required.

In order to distinguish these alloys the most simple ways, you can weigh both elements, or at least estimate their weight, bronze is heavier. In addition, brass is distinguished by its rich yellow tint.

When using complex methods that are the most reliable, it is possible to heat materials up to 600 degrees of heat, after which zinc oxide with an ashy tint will appear on the brass, and no plaque is formed on the bronze surface. When bent, the brass product will retain its shape, and the bronze will break.

The difference between brass and bronze in the chemical component is that it is a copper-based alloy, where the main element is zinc, which is not an alloying element, sometimes with the addition of tin, less than zinc, otherwise traditional tin bronze is obtained. According to the metallurgical classification, brass does not belong to bronzes.

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Brass and bronze are alloys whose main component is copper. It is she who gives the materials a specific yellowish tint. For this reason, the alloys are outwardly very similar, but differ radically in their composition and technical characteristics. We will talk about how to determine whether brass or bronze is in front of you in our article.

So, it’s worth starting with a description of each material. The composition of bronze may include copper, tin, aluminum, silicon and other elements. Depending on which metal there is more in the alloy, it is customary to distinguish tin, aluminum, beryllium and silicon. Bronze is characterized by durability, resistance to moisture and high strength, due to which it is actively used in industry, manufacturing and construction. One of the most famous applications is the construction of monuments and sculptures.

Brass is an alloy in which the main components are copper and zinc. Nickel, lead or manganese may also be included. Unlike bronze, brass has a lower resistance to reagents, moisture and salt and is capable of becoming unusable within a short time. For this reason, alloying components are added to the alloy, making it immune to corrosion.

Brass or bronze: several ways to determine the alloy

There are several ways to understand which alloy is in front of you.

• It is necessary to heat the alloys to a temperature of 600 degrees in the open air. A thin film of ash-colored zinc oxide forms on the brass surface. At that time, bronze will not lose its original appearance.
• During heating, brass becomes more flexible and ductile. The opponent does not change his properties.
• You can also determine whether brass or bronze is in front of you using mechanical action. It is enough to bend a piece of metal at a right angle. In the first case, the material will retain integrity, in the second, it will break.
• Treat bronze and brass shavings with nitric acid. All that is required is to pour 0.05 g of the material into 10 ml of the substance and leave for a while. After dissolving the alloys, bring the contents to a boil and let stand for half an hour. In a vessel with brass, the solution will become transparent, in a beaker with bronze, a white precipitate will appear.
• By acting on materials with a magnet, it can be found that the bronze alloy is slightly magnetized, while the brass is not.

What is more expensive: bronze or brass

As practice shows, the price of alloys is approximately at the same level - within 200 r / kg. The cost primarily depends on the copper content in the composition. In addition, it should be borne in mind that bronze is heavier than brass, therefore, with an equal amount of scrap metal, bronze will be more profitable. However, it is important to keep in mind the pricing policy of collection points and the general situation on the metal market.

Which is better, bronze or brass? There is no single answer to this question, since each of the alloys has its own characteristics and specifications. Yes, and the scope of their application is different. Learn more about which scrap metal is more profitable to rent from the specialists of our company.

The most ancient alloys used by people are bronze and brass. They differ significantly in their composition, but their scope is similar. Modern alloys are significantly different from those used by our ancestors. The colors and composition of today's metallic compounds have undergone significant changes over time.

Archaeologists find samples of bronze objects made about 25 centuries ago. These are sculptures, various decorations, armor, weapons, numerous household utensils, dishes, as well as coins. Along with them, brass products were also actively used, which are sometimes very difficult to distinguish from things made of bronze. Acquainted with appearance materials can be on the corresponding photos. To understand how to distinguish bronze from brass or other materials, you need to familiarize yourself with their parameters.

Characteristics of brass

Brass alloy is obtained by combining zinc with copper, to which nickel, iron, manganese, tin, and lead are sometimes added. Typically the material consists of 70% copper component, with 30% zinc component. Almost half of the produced alloy consists of secondary zinc. Technical metal contains about 50% zinc part with 4% lead.

There is also a special type of brass connection called “tompac”. In it, the copper component reaches 97%, and zinc - from 10 to 30%. From this compound, excellent jewelry, various art products, insignia, and accessories are obtained.

A couple of centuries ago, brass alloys were often used as counterfeit gold, which was achieved by using pure zinc rather than ore. Such a connection was very difficult to recognize by inexperienced users. It has become actively used in various industrial fields due to its unique properties. These alloys have high ductility, abrasion resistance and good corrosion resistance.

The difference between copper and brass

Copper has features that make it popular in the manufacture of various decorative elements. In addition, it has good electrical parameters, as a result of which it is used in the manufacture of electrical apparatus. At home, there are several ways to distinguish copper elements from brass ones.:

• Colour;
• hardness;
• marking;
• area of ​​use.

Colour

To determine the metal, it should be cleaned. The metal surface is freed from contamination using a solution of plain water with vinegar. This removes not only dirt, but also an oxidizing film. Under a white light source, the product being tested is carefully examined. A brass thing differs from copper by a simple visual observation. A copper object will have a brownish-red color of a uniform appearance, while brass will look lighter, with multi-color tints. This heterogeneity indicates the presence of several metals in the composition, which determine the color shade. It is practically impossible to determine copper under a yellow lamp or in daylight.

Hardness

To understand how to distinguish copper from brass, you should tap them lightly. A copper product makes a muffled sound when it hits a hard area. This is due to the special softness of the metal. Brass objects are characterized by a sharp, ringing sound of impact. This check is used for large items.

Marking

Some items have special markings on their surface. For brass products, the letter "L" is used. On copper elements, the designation is practically not put. Some parts may be marked with the letter "M" with a numerical addition. In this case, special reference books are used to determine the specific composition of the material.

Application area

Distinguish between these materials and the area of ​​​​use. Brass alloys are often used for the manufacture of various components and parts. Copper is an ideal element for the production of electrical wires and other electrical parts. This is due to its excellent electrical parameters.

The difference between bronze and brass

Bronze, like brass, is based on a copper component. Some grades of these alloys have a similar color parameter, but completely different properties. The bronze item has a structure of a coarse-grained type with a dark brown or reddish tint, in contrast to yellowish brass with a fine-grained form. It should be noted that the presence of tin in a bronze alloy in large quantities gives it an almost white color. Modern compositions contain an alloying tin component or any other (beryllium, lead, aluminum, silicon with zinc). Numerous things made of brass and bronze have differences, which can be determined by knowing their technical parameters.

Metal objects made of brass and bronze are distinguished by weight. A bronze thing is heavier than a brass one, however, before determining the alloy, it is necessary to take products of the approximate same size for comparison. To determine what material a thing is made of, you must try to bend it. A brass object can succumb slightly, and bronze can break. You can try to make a small saw with a hacksaw, in which the bronze part will produce small chips. It will not change its characteristics when heated.

To understand how to distinguish brass from bronze, you can apply the chemical method. A small number of chips of both alloys are placed in different glass containers with dilute type nitric acid (parts 1 to 1). It is necessary to wait some time so that the bulk of the metal has time to dissolve in the chemical composition. The liquid that does not reach a boil is kept on low heat for half an hour. In the composition with bronze shavings, a whitish tin precipitate is formed.

Bronze is used for the manufacture of large items, as it is more resistant to abrasion. In addition, a variety of marine accessories are also made from this alloy, which is not afraid of exposure to salt water, is not subject to oxides and does not rust.

The difference between silumin and brass

The silumin material consists of an aluminum base with the addition of silicon, as well as a small amount of copper, iron, and manganese. It has good wear resistance and strength in relation to aluminum things. The difference between silumin and brass lies in the fragility of this material and the features of its application. They are used for casting many products used in various fields, including for household goods, as well as for the manufacture of costume jewelry. Silumin object is characterized by high porosity and low strength. During processing, silumin begins to crumble, which clearly distinguishes it from brass things.