When it is about working with metals, there is a need to understand the difference between brass, bronze, and copper. If you have a commercial unit that receives a lot of metal waste, metal recycling in Perth can be especially beneficial. This way you will be able to sell scrap metals and earn from it. However, whether you are mostly involved in interior design, construction or welding, it is important for you to understand the application and properties of every metal as it can significantly impact the outcome of your project.

While other metals can be easily detected like aluminium and copper, others like brass, copper, and bronze might be a little bit intimidating to differentiate. As scrap copper price in Perth is greatly higher than aluminium and steel prices in Canning Vale, Perth, differentiating would be beneficial to make an informed decision. So let us take a look into the details.

What is brass?

If you receive brass scrap, it is important to understand the difference. Brass is actually a metal alloy that is made up of zinc, copper, and occasionally tin. It is typically considered one of the most affordable of these three metals due to the higher zinc content. The appearance of brass and its strength greatly differ in the ratio of zinc to copper. When there is more zinc, the metal becomes stronger, more ductile and a yellowish colour, however, with more copper content, it gets a dull gold appearance. Brass is most commonly used for musical instruments, plumbing fixtures, and interior decoration, due to its workability, durability, and golden appearance.

What is bronze?

Bronze scraps are also very common in the industrial areas. It is actually another metal alloy that is primarily composed of copper but includes several other elements like aluminium, zinc, arsenic, tin and others. The properties of bronze can greatly vary depending on the elements that have been used and several other proportions. Due to the higher copper content, bronze becomes more valuable than brass. Bronze is commonly used for musical instruments, sculptures, marine applications, medals and industrial settings. It is especially prized for its strength, low friction and resistance to corrosion, which makes it an ideal choice for bushing and bearing.

What is copper?

Copper is probably one of the most common scrap metals out of this three found in industrial sites. It is a naturally occurring resource that is widely available on Earth. Despite its abundance, the purity of copper and its versatility make it a valuable metal. Compared to bronze and brass which are alloys, copper is known in its pure form, which allows it to retain the values even after recycling. Therefore, you will always find a higher scrap copper price in Perth compared to any other metals. Besides, copper is most commonly used for electrical systems like wires due to its excellent conductivity and heat resistance. It is also used in several plumbing applications because of its corrosion resistance ability. Additionally, the microbial properties make it an ideal choice for food equipment and prevent bacterial growth.

What are the major differences between brass, bronze, and copper?

Colour: you will be able to distinguish the colour of these three metals. Copper has a distinct reddish brown colour which can be polished to enhance the last year. Brass is a brighter radial yellow colour that varies depending on the zinc content. When it has more copper content, it will appear golden. Bronze is an additional gold colour due to the higher content of copper, which makes it an ideal choice for decorative applications.

Sound: You will also be able to distinguish between three metals from the sound. Each metal produces a distinct sound. Copper produces low and deep sounds, bronze is known for high-pitched sounds while brass produces brighter sounds than bronze.

Composition: Copper typically is used in its pure form, even though it might have impurities in it. Brass is an alloy of zinc and copper, which often contains small amounts of tin and several other metals. Bronze is an alloy of tin and copper, which is sometimes mixed with additional elements like aluminium, silicon, arsenic, phosphorus, and magnesium.

Magnetism: Copper is non-magnetic, while brass and bronze may exhibit slight magnetism depending on the presence of elements like iron in their composition. In general, all three metals are considered non-ferrous and, therefore, non-magnetic.

Durability: Brass is known to be the least durable out of these three as brass is prone to cracking, but provides better resistance to corrosion compared to copper. When it comes to more durability, copper is certainly more durable and flexible, compared to brass. Copper is known for its ability to oxidise and develop the green patina which protects from further corrosion. The most durable of these three is bronze. It is known for being sturdy, hard and highly resistant to corrosion. It also has a low tendency to flex.

Choose Runabout Metals for metal recycling in Perth

If you’re involved in commercial sectors that receive scrap metals and you would like to sell these important resources, you can choose the right scrap metal recycler. However, it is equally important for you to understand the difference between these three metals to maximise the returns. Whether you wish to buy or sell these metals, choosing a trusted partner like Runabout Metals in Perth will be greatly valuable. By closely monitoring market trends and helping you to differentiate, we can give the best prices for scrap metals in Perth.

If it is about getting the best aluminium or steel scrap price in Perth
or the best scrap copper price in Perth, Runabout Metals can be greatly helpful. The extensive knowledge of the team members combined with strong relationships and the ability to manage metals creates a great relationship and helps you in every possible manner. Remember that recycling is not only about getting the best value, but you are taking the right step to preserve the environment and its resources.