In every application, careful consideration is taken when it comes to the metal that is used as each has its own set of properties that will impact the project.
One important trait is conductivity.
Metal conductivity provides the power needed to get through our daily lives, whether we realize it or not. Knowing just how conductive a metal alloy is can be so important for its use, especially since you want everything to run smoothly once it is in place.
Electrical wiring, power lines, and even batteries depend on conductive metals. But with naval brass being highly efficient for use in underwater applications, just how conductive is it? Let’s take a closer look.
The Conductivity of Naval Brass
The conductivity of an alloy like naval brass indicates just how well (or how poorly) a metal can transmit, or conduct, things like heat, electricity, and sound. And the conductivity of the metal is directly related to the amount of these things that it is subjected to.
Alloys contain a mix of different metals that will determine their conductivity. For instance, naval brass is made of copper and zinc. Copper has high conductivity, but zinc, on the other hand, has one of the lowest.
How conductive is naval brass?
Naval brass’s conductivity is 16 mS/m. It is only about 28% as conductive as copper, but it is much more conductive than bronze. Of course, when it comes to underwater applications, there is no better long-term option than naval brass.
Other Characteristics of Naval Brass
Naval brass offers an ideal mixture of copper, zinc, and tin. Aside from conductivity, this alloy has other traits that warrant its use. As previously mentioned, naval brass is highly successful when used underwater — hence its name. It is very resistant to corrosion which makes it able to withstand these applications. But its ability to hold up in wet conditions is not the only reason this alloy is so popular.
A few other characteristics of naval brass include:
- High melting point making it perfect for applications that involve higher temperatures
- Great durability, resisting tension and pulling forces while in use in applications
- Its malleability allows it to be formed into any shape without jeopardizing the metal’s traits
Naval brass tends to be a bit more costly than other types of metal alloys, but when it comes to sea applications, the additional cost isn’t a factor when its high level of corrosion resistance means it will outlast any other metal used in the same scenario. Typically, saltwater can cause metals to corrode as much as five times faster than freshwater applications — and some metals corrode faster in any type of water.
But, not naval brass.
Are Naval Brass and Brass the Same Thing?
When trying to find the perfect metal for an application, it is so important that you understand just how much its composition matters. One small change can impact all of the characteristic traits of an alloy — including its conductivity.
Naval brass and brass are different.
Both contain a mix of copper and zinc, but naval brass has a higher percentage of tin which is what gives it its incredible underwater power properties.
As for conductivity, brass and naval brass have about the same rating. If you are looking for a highly conductive metal outside of the water, you may need to find one that offers a little more power.
Atlas Bronze provides solutions to all your metal needs and has established itself as a leading distributor of bronze, copper, brass, iron, sintered products, self-lubricated bushings, and wear plates in the United States.