Is brass or stainless steel the better option?

As specialists in the alteration of tubes, we are able to create products suitable for many different clients. One technique we use is tube reduction. What we do here is reduce the size of the tube at the ends or through the whole section. Because of how useful this practice is, it is a highly popular service.

The truth about alloys

Tube reductionAlloys remain some of the most valuable discoveries we have ever made. They aid us in enhancing our capabilities in construction and many other areas. In addition, they have been the building blocks for innovation. Over the years there has been an evolution in the practice of manufacturing alloys to meet the constantly growing demand for greater metals.

Two of the most well-known options here have to be stainless steel and brass. Coming with all sorts of useful attributes, these are staple materials for countless applications. This is why they are used extensively for tubing. Some may be wondering which one is better. What we are going to do is compare them to discover if one does have advantages over the other.

Composition

The leading way of differentiating between the two metals is by knowing their composition. Brass is an alloy of both zinc and copper. As for stainless steel, it is an alloy of chromium, carbon, and iron.

Corrosion

Simply by looking at the base metals, it is easy to tell which one has the more desirable properties for certain projects. For example, with corrosion resistance, iron can’t match up to copper. In truth, iron is the substance responsible for making ferrous metals rust quickly. However, the addition of chromium makes the steel highly resistant. Adding zinc to copper also makes it corrosion resistant.

Thermal and electrical conductivity

Brass completely outclasses stainless steel here. Plus, it comes with a greater thermal expansion coefficient. That makes it ideal for projects involving incredibly high temperatures.

Manufacturing costs

There is no substantial difference here. Saying this, it is a lot harder to machine steel than it is to work with brass. The latter is actually famous for its machinability. That is why it is the material of choice for applications demanding precise, small metal pieces. Luckily, we can offer tube reduction and other services for both brasses and stainless steels.

Acids and petroleum products

On the other hand, stainless steel has greater resistance to several acids and petroleum products. Brass is not as efficient here. Moreover, you can passivate steel in either nitric or citric acid solutions. Certain stainless steel grades are also better than brass in more aggressive marine settings. Fast-moving currents would be a great example.

Contact our team for assistance with tube reduction and more

Finding the right metals, especially for your tubes, might appear daunting initially. With our help however, you will end up with everything you need. We have a lot of experience and can suggest the best materials for different needs.

At Multiform Tubes Engineering Ltd, we are capable of providing tube reduction for all sorts of metals. In addition to brass and stainless steel, we can work with titanium, aluminium, copper, and others. Furthermore, our team can work tubes in oval, square, and round shapes.

So, if we can be of assistance to you, please get in touch with us.