Leaded brass has excellent cutting performance, wear resistance and high strength, mainly used in mechanical engineering in a variety of connectors, valves, valve stem bearings. Among them, hot forging valve blanks, lock making industry and clock industry are the three most important markets. Lead brass is low cost, its alloy composition can accommodate a variety of alloying elements, and the content requirements are relatively loose, laying the foundation for the comprehensive utilization of copper alloy raw materials. However, due to the lead element has a certain degree of toxicity, making leaded brass in the environmental protection, health performance has been limited to a certain extent.
And lead-free environmental protection copper is not completely lead-free, but refers to which the lead content is very low. According to the international environmental protection requirements, lead-free copper is gradually replacing leaded brass with better forging performance and cutting performance.
Lead-free copper is widely used in electronics, auto parts, sanitary ware, valves, watches, electrical appliances, locks, medical equipment, children’s toys and other industries.
Generally speaking, the lead content of brass used in different fields must meet the following standards:
1、Electronic and automobile parts: the lead Pb content of copper alloy is less than 0.4%;
2, sanitary ware and various valves: copper alloy lead Pb content of less than 0.25%;
3、American Copper Industry Association: the lead Pb content of copper alloy is less than 0.09%;
4, the U.S. electronics industry: copper alloy lead Pb content of less than 0.01%;
What is the core difference between lead-free brass and lead brass?
1, composition differences:
Lead-free brass generally includes copper, zinc, nickel, tin and other elements, the proportion of its composition is different, the performance is different, the lead content is generally less than 0.5%.
Leaded brass, on the other hand, is an alloy of copper mixed with a certain proportion of zinc and lead, and the lead content is usually between 2% and 4%.
2. Environmental differences
Lead will cause a certain degree of harm to the environment and human health, and lead-free brass does not have this problem, so in environmental protection, health and other aspects have a better performance.
3. Difference in corrosion resistance
Lead-free brass has better oxidation and corrosion resistance than leaded brass. In some specific working environment, such as poor water quality, the use of lead-free brass pipes, valves and other parts will be more suitable.
4. Processing performance differences
The processing performance of leaded brass is very good, easy casting, can be formed by extrusion, stamping and other ways of processing. And lead-free brass, although higher strength and hardness, but its manufacturing cost is usually higher than lead brass.
