Mead Metals Blog: Brass

A Guide to Copper Alloys: Brass vs. Phosphor Bronze

Posted by: Dani Weinhandl on January 5, 2022 | 4 min. read

Copper has been valued by mankind for over 10,000 years. Its unique properties, malleability, ductility, and pleasing aesthetic appearance make it a top candidate for a wide variety of purposes. It also makes friends easily by forming to any number of useful alloys and binary compounds. 

Brass and phosphor bronze are two copper alloys that retain many of copper's valuable qualities while holding unique characteristics of their own. Collectively, copper, brass, and bronze are called the “Red Metals.” You may think of these three when picturing old candelabras, light fixtures, and statues. But due to their similarities, many people may find it difficult to tell these metals apart.

So what’s the difference between copper, brass, and phosphor bronze? The infographic below and the accompanying article will answer all the questions you have about the differences between these metals, what they are used for, and how to identify them.

Common Uses for Brass

Posted by: Dani Weinhandl on July 20, 2021 | 3 min. read

Brass is an alloy metal that is made of copper and zinc. Due to brass's unique properties, which I'll go into more detail on below, it is one of the most widely used alloys. Because of its versatility, there are seemingly endless industries and products making use of this alloy. 

Mead Metals Customer Feature: Engel Diversified Industries

Posted by: Brian Rothstein on January 12, 2021 | 2 min. read

The customer relationships that stand the test of time have so much to teach us. Recently, I had the opportunity to talk to someone who’s worked with Mead Metals to source material for over 28 years—as long as they’ve been with the company. Below, I’ve shared some highlights from this conversation with the VP of Sales and Marketing at Engel Diversified Industries. 

How is Brass Used in the Automotive Industry?

Posted by: Dani Weinhandl on June 6, 2019 | 2 min. read

Brass is an alloy of copper and zinc, and can have many different properties depending on the balance of these two materials. Additionally, brass can include other metals such as aluminum, lead, and arsenic, which will each create a different alloy with its own unique properties.

Brass vs. Phosphor Bronze

Posted by: Dani Weinhandl on September 10, 2018 | 1 min. read

While no two metal alloys are the same, some do have similarities with each other. Understanding the differences between similar alloys is an important step in ensuring you get the best material type based on your application. Because both brass and phosphor bronze are alloys of copper, they share some similarities, but they have distinct differences too.