Copper Corrosion Resistant, Machinable Brass Alloy

Abstract

An alloy which reduces lead (Pb) in brass with metals with physical, mechanical, chemical and electrochemical properties that will improve the copper (Cu) corrosion resistance and machinability of low lead (Pb) brass alloys. Such metal candidates are bismuth (Bi), antimony (Sb), tellurium (Te), phosphorous (P), silicon (Si), sulfur (S) for machinability improvement; and tin (Sn) for corrosion resistance improvement. The alloy composition has an excellent machinability and a high degree of copper corrosion resistance, and is composed of: 69 to 79%, by weight, of copper (Cu); 2 to 4%, by weight, of silicon (Si); 1 to 3%, by weight, of tin (Sn); 0.01 to 1%, by weight, of lead (Pb); and the remaining %, (but less than 20%) by weight, of zinc (Zn).

I claim: 
     
         1 . A corrosion resistant, machinable brass alloy consisting essentially of 69-79%, by weight of copper (Cu); 2 to 4%, by weight, of silicon; 1 to 3%, by weight, of tin; 0.01 to 1%, by weight, of lead (Pb); and the remaining %, but less than 20%, by weight, of zinc (Zn). 
     
     
         2 . A copper (Cu) corrosion resistant, machinable brass alloy consisting essentially of 69-79%, by weight, of copper (Cu); 2 to 4%, by weight, of silicon; 1.5 to 2.5%, by weight, of tin, 0.01 to 1%, by weight, of lead (Pb);
 and the remaining %, but less than 20%, by weight, of zinc (Zn).   
     
     
         3 . A copper (Cu) corrosion resistant, machinable brass alloy consisting essentially of 69-79%, by weight, of copper(Cu); 2 to 4%, by weight, of silicon; 2 to 6%, by weight, of tin; 0.01 to 1%, by weight of lead (Pb), and the remaining %, but less than 35%, by weight, of zinc (Zn). 
     
     
         4 . A plumbing product manufactured from a low lead (Pb), machinable brass alloy having lead (Pb) in an amount ranging from 0.01 to 1% by weight, and tin (Sn) in an amount ranging from 1 to 6% by weight, such that the plumbing product is resistant to copper (Cu) corrosion, and has a thin wall which is under pressure during use, which use includes the passage of water. 
     
     
         5 . The plumbing product of  claim 4 , wherein the low lead (Pb), machinable brass alloy includes lead (Pb) in an amount from 0.01 to 0.25% by weight and tin (Sn) in an amount ranging from 1 to 3% by weight. 
     
     
         6 . The plumbing product of  claim 5 , wherein the low lead (Pb), machinable brass alloy includes tin (Sn) in an amount of about 2% by weight.