The preparation of these alloys requires considerable experience, and is best accomplished by melting the metals together in the usual manner, and heating the fused mass as strongly as possible. It must be covered with a layer of charcoal dust to prevent oxidation of the zinc. The mass becomes thinly fluid, and an intimate mixture of the constituents is effected. Small pieces of the same alloy are thrown into the liquid mass until it no longer shows a reflecting surface, when it is cast into ingots in iron molds. The ingots are plunged into water while still red-hot, and acquire by this treatment a very high degree of ductility. The alloy, properly prepared, has a fibrous fracture and a reddish-yellow color.
Sheet Brass
| Brass Sheet—Source | Copper | Zinc | Lead | Tin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jemappes | 64.6 | 33.7 | 1.4 | 0.2 |
| Stolberg | 64.8 | 32.8 | 2.0 | 0.4 |
| Romilly | 70.1 | 29.26 | 0.38 | 0.17 |
| Rosthorn (Vienna) | 68.1 | 31.9 | — | — |
| Rosthorn (Vienna) | 71.5 | 28.5 | — | — |
| Rosthorn (Vienna) | 71.1 | 27.6 | 1.3 | — |
| Iserlohn & Romilly | 70.1 | 29.9 | — | — |
| Lüdenscheid | 72.73 | 27.27 | — | — |
| (Brittle) | 63.66 | 33.02 | 2.52 | — |
| Hegermühl | 70.16 | 27.45 | 0.79 | 0.20 |
| Oker | 68.98 | 29.54 | 0.97 | — |
| Brass Wire— | ||||
| England | 70.29 | 29.26 | 0.28 | 0.17 |
| Augsburg | 71.89 | 27.63 | 0.85 | — |
| Neustadt | 70.16 | 27.45 | 0.2 | 0.79 |
| Neustadt | 71.36 | 28.15 | — | — |
| Neustadt | 71.5 | 28.5 | — | — |
| Neustadt | 71.0 | 27.6 | — | — |
| (Good quality) | 65.4 | 34.6 | — | — |
| (Brittle) | 65.5 | 32.4 | 2.1 | — |
| For wire and sheet | 67.0 | 32.0 | 0.5 | 0.5 |
{55}
As the above figures show, the percentage of zinc in the different kinds of brass lies between 27 and 34. Recently, alloys containing a somewhat larger quantity of zinc have been used, it having been found that the toughness and ductility of the brass are increased thereby, without injury to its tenacity. Alloys containing up to 37 per cent of zinc possess a high degree of ductility in the cold, and are well adapted for wire and sheet.
Gilders’ Sheet Brass.
White Brass.
| I | II | |
|---|---|---|
| Copper | 46.5 | 4 |
| Zinc | 53.5 | 16 |
III.—Zinc, 80 parts; copper, 10 parts; iron, 10 parts.