Understanding Naval Brass

Don’t let its name deceive you—naval brass is used for a variety of purposes on both land and at sea. As an alpha beta brass (also known as a duplex brass), naval brass is strong and hard, making it an ideal choice whenever durability is needed. It’s one of the numerous metal alloys we manufacture at Atlas Bronze and it’s a popular choice with many of our customers for a wide range of applications.

What Is Naval Brass?

Naval brass is a copper alloy that is typically comprised of around 70 percent copper, 29 percent zinc, and small amounts of lead and iron, although different manufacturers may have varying formulations. Many naval brass alloys also include tin.

What sets naval brass apart from other types of brass is its high corrosion resistance to seawater. It’s a top choice for marine atmosphere applications and it was originally developed for this purpose, but it’s also used in many other industries as well. Naval brass is prized for its higher tensile strength and resistance to wear and tear.

Naval brass has excellent hot workability and forgeability. It can be fabricated by blanking, drawing, bending, heading and upsetting, hot forging, and pressing.

Naval Brass Applications

Shipbuilders have been using naval brass for decades to ensure that vessels are seaworthy and that their components will stand the test of time. Naval brass can be used to fabricate metal parts located anywhere on a watercraft, from port to starboard. This includes:

• Propellers
• Impellers 
• Pumps 
• Pump bodies 
• Shafts 
• Porthole rings 
• Ornamental fixtures 
• Submarine and torpedo parts 
• Ship trimmings 
• Marine hardware 
• Rudders 
• Marine engine parts 
• Outboard motor components 

Naval brass is an obvious choice in these applications because of its resistance to corrosion in both saltwater as well as freshwater. Other uses for naval brass, both in the marine environment and on land, include:

• Nuts
• Bushings and bearings 
• Clamps 
• Valves 
• Flanges 
• Bolts 
• Lock washers 
• Screws 
• Air pressure conveyor systems 
• Soundproofing equipment 
• Springs 
• Chain 
• Tubing 
• Heat exchangers 
• Wire screens 
• Liners 
• Power cylinders 
• Aircraft turnbuckle barrels 
• Dies 
• Condenser plates 

Where to Purchase Naval Brass

Atlas Bronze carries naval brass in sheets, plates, and rounds and we provide bronze for marine replacement parts and repairs all over the world. Our solid bars of naval brass come in a wide range of diameters, and our sheets and plates come in a variety of thicknesses suitable for a number of different purposes. We can cut the material to the length you need and also have items made to your print.

Whether you’re purchasing for naval applications or another application in which durability and corrosion-resistance are a must, Atlas Bronze is a leader in the field and will meet your requirements and timelines.

Contact Atlas Bronze

Our experienced sales team can help you assess your business’s needs and determine whether naval brass is the best choice for your application. Contact us at 1-800-478-0887 or email sales@atlasbronze.com to learn more or request a quote.