What are the Alloys of Brass?

Merit Brass has been offering piping system solutions to our wholesaler customers in the PVF industry for over 85 years. Our portfolio is comprised of several alloys including the brass alloy.

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Merit Brass - Brass Product Offering

Brass is an alloy made up of copper and zinc and it is a non-ferrous metal. Merit’s offering consists of red brass meaning its appearance has a hint of red, and yellow brass which looks golden. A popular yellow brass is alloy 272 which contains 37% zinc and 62-65% copper. Comparatively, red brass are alloys that have substantially lower zinc content and higher copper content. Several refer to red brass as bronze; however, adding tin to a red brass melt is essentially what makes up bronze.

Brass Alloy Grades

There are several grades of brass. Below are just a few specifically related to plumbing and waterworks applications:

C84400 is an alloy that contains up to 7% lead that was traditionally used in plumbing applications. This has good casting and machining properties. It is also a cost-effective solution for load bearings.
C83600 is another widely used leaded alloy. Like C84400, this also has good casting and machining properties and was used in a wide variety of plumbing and waterworks applications prior to the adjustment of the federal definition of lead-free.
C898833 is the lead-free compliant alloy as per government regulations for potable water applications that features bismuth as a primary substitute for lead and high copper content.
Alloy 360, known as free cutting, is the most common yellow brass alloy. This is traditionally used for pipe production. It does contain lower amounts of lead compared to leaded red brass alloys which makes it acceptable for cold working.

Cold-working increases the hardness of the alloy, controls the grain size of the material by a subsequent full anneal, and it homogenizes the material by moving atoms within the structure after the ingots are poured.

Due to its longevity, pure aesthetics, and superior corrosion resistance, brass is often used in many PVF (pipe, valve & fitting) applications. These include commercial and residential plumbing, waterworks, light irrigation, industrial distribution, architecture, construction, and OEM. It can also be used in oil, gas, and steam applications.

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Characteristics of the Brass Alloy

Non-ferrous metal
Great heat conductor
Available in lead free for potable water applications
Available in leaded for non-potable water applications
Highly durable
Highly malleable
Tolerant of high temperatures
- Melting Point at 900°C – 1000°C (1,652°F – 1,832°F)

What is the Brass Alloy Used?

Offers good corrosion resistance from water and heat
Resists attack from salt water, acids, minerals, and peaty soils contained in water
Ideal for fittings that require bending or shaping