Laboratory analysis of brass and copper alloys - Metallurgical expertise

Chemical analysis Characterization of materials
More than 140 people
More than 140 people at your service
5200 m² laboratory
5200 m² laboratory + 99% of services are provided in-house
Accredited laboratory
Accredited laboratory COFRAC ISO 17025

Our laboratory is expert in metallurgical analysis and the analysis of alloys such as brass and copper alloys, offering advanced expertise in determining chemical composition and physico-chemical properties.

Your needs: analysis of brass and copper alloys

Laboratory analysis of brass and copper alloys

Using advanced analysis techniques, our laboratory delivers accurate and reliable results for every brass analysis.

Our teams provide a fast, standards-compliant service to ensure the quality and safety of their brass products.

Brass is a metal alloy composed mainly of copper (Cu) and zinc (Zn). Its composition can vary, giving it different mechanical, chemical and aesthetic properties depending on its use.

 

Simple brasses (Cu-Zn) are the classic alloys of copper and zinc, with no other elements added.
Leaded brass (Cu-Zn-Pb) contains up to 3% lead. This addition considerably improves the machinability of the alloy, earning them the name ‘free-cutting’ or ‘machinable’ alloys. They are widely used in bar turning and connector technology.
Manganese alloys (Cu-Zn-Mn) include elements such as manganese, iron and sometimes aluminium in addition to copper and zinc. These additions give the alloy greater mechanical strength and better resistance to wear. These brasses, which are often darker in colour, are used for highly stressed parts such as propellers, gears and certain marine components.
Nickel brass is enriched with nickel. They have an attractive silvery appearance and excellent corrosion resistance, particularly in saline environments. These properties make them particularly suitable for use in jewellery, connectors and the maritime sector.

Analysis of brass and other copper alloys

Brass alloys and other copper alloys, such as brass, bronze and cupro-nickel, have a variety of properties and are used in many industrial sectors.

The FILAB laboratory carries out comprehensive compositional analysis of brass and copper alloys to help optimise production and recycling processes or any other needs you may have as an industrialist.

We identify alloying elements and measure concentrations to meet the technical specifications of each project.

Analysis of brass composition

Analysing the composition of brass ensures that materials meet the required quality standards.

Our laboratory offers a service dedicated to verifying the chemical composition of brass and its alloys, by measuring the proportions of chemical elements such as zinc, nickel and tin.

These analysis validate the conformity of materials for demanding applications in terms of durability and resistance.

Analysis of copper alloy composition

Copper alloys are metallic materials in which copper (Cu) is the main element. They are classified according to the major alloying element(s) associated with copper, giving them a wide range of mechanical, chemical and thermal properties.

By analysing the composition of copper alloys, we can control the quality of the material and ensure that it meets the specific requirements of each sector, in terms of durability, conductivity and resistance to mechanical stress.

Why choose the FILAB laboratory to analyse brass and copper alloys?

Our brass and copper alloy analysis methods

The FILAB laboratory offers metallurgical analysis services on brass and copper alloys to several hundred customers, some of which are COFRAC ISO 17025 accredited.

We use state-of-the-art analytical methods, such as optical emission spectrometry and ICP analysis, to provide highly accurate brass and copper alloy analysis results.

These techniques enable us to detect elements in very low concentrations and provide detailed reports.

Our technical resources

Elemental analyzers C,H,O,N,S

Elemental analyzers

Carbon, Sulphur (C/S)

Elemental analyzers

Nitrogen, Oxygen and Hydrogen (N / O / H)

Spark Spectrometry SEO

Basic analysis techniques ICP-AES and ICP-MS

SEM

Our analysis of metals and alloys

Titanium : TiAl, T40, TA6V

Cobalt : Cobalt Stellite Grade 6, Cobalt Stellite Grade 21

Nickel (Nitinol, Inconel 718, Inconel 625, René 77, Hastelloy X) 

Copper: brass, bronze

Aluminium: AS7G06

Tin : SAC 305, SAC 0807, Tin-Lead (SNPB)

Composition analysis enables quality control and ensures the conformity of brass for demanding industrial applications.

To see further: our expertise in brass alloys

In addition to routine metallurgical analyses, the FILAB laboratory can provide you with expert metallurgical analysis and failure studies on your brass samples:

Weld analysis on brass

Study of fracture surfaces on brass

Study of ageing (corrosion, surface alteration, etc.) on brass

Study of corrosion resistance on brass

Analysis and characterization of brass surfaces (roughness, defects, etc.)

Study of microstructures on brass material

Analysis of brass alloys according to ISO and NF standards

Our laboratory complies with the reference standards for the analysis of brass and other copper alloys, guaranteeing results that comply with ISO and NF standards.

Applications of brass alloy analysis

The analysis of copper alloys, including brass alloys, is commonplace in sectors where brass is widely used, such as mechanical engineering, automotive, luxury goods and marine. Whether to check the corrosion resistance, durability or safety of the materials.

Why choose our laboratory for brass and copper alloy analysis?

Our FILAB laboratory offers services dedicated to the analysis of brass and its alloys, tailored to the specific needs of each industry. Carrying out a brass composition analysis can address a number of industrial issues:

Quality control: ensuring that brass meets technical specifications and industry standards to ensure product durability, safety and performance.
Optimising performance: precisely adapting the composition of the brass to the conditions of use, such as corrosion resistance in marine or chemical environments.
Regulatory compliance: check that the brass meets standards (ISO, NF) and legal requirements specific to certain industries.
Failure prevention: identify undesirable elements or compositional deviations that could compromise the strength and stability of the alloy under extreme conditions.

FAQ

What are the advantages of brass?
  • Good machinability, especially with the addition of lead
  • Good corrosion resistance
  • Excellent malleability (hot or cold, depending on type)
  • Aesthetic appearance of gold or silver (nickel silver)

Good electrical conductivity

Why have brass analysed or appraised in a laboratory?
  • To precisely identify the composition of an alloy

  • To check compliance with a standard or specification

  • To understand a failure: corrosion, cracking, fracture, etc.

  • To optimise a formulation as part of R&D development

Can brass be recycled?

Yes, brass can be entirely recycled without any significant loss of performance, which makes it an interesting material for the circular economy.

What's the difference between brass and bronze?

Brass is an alloy of copper and zinc, while bronze is an alloy of copper and tin (sometimes with other elements).
Brass is often easier to machine, while bronze offers better resistance to wear and marine corrosion.

Can brass be replaced by another material?

Yes, in certain cases. We can consider :

  • Stainless steel: for greater resistance to pressure or corrosion
  • Engineering plastics (PPSU, PEEK): for certain sanitary applications.

But brass often remains the best compromise between performance, machinability and cost.

The filab advantages
A highly qualified team
A highly qualified team
Responsiveness in responding to and processing requests
Responsiveness in responding to and processing requests
A COFRAC ISO 17025 accredited laboratory
A COFRAC ISO 17025 accredited laboratory
(Staves available on www.cofrac.com - Accreditation number: 1-1793)
A complete analytical park of 5,200m²
A complete analytical park of 5,200m²
Tailor-made support
Tailor-made support
Emmanuel BUIRET Metallurgical Specialist
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