Brass is not a separate element but is used and commonly described as a different metal. Copper is the main component of brass and is alloyed with zinc.
Brass is usually defined as clean or dirty. Clean brass has no other metal or plastic attached. Dirty brass is mostly brass by weight but has other metal attached to it reducing the value and increasing the recycling cost.
Yellow Brass This is the most commonly used brass. Used in household plumbing including popular items such as your faucets and “under the sink” plumbing. Most keys will also be yellow brass. Although many different alloy percentages can be found, yellow brass usually contains around 60% to 70% copper, 30% to 40% zinc and trace amounts of lead and tin. Yellow brass gets it’s name because the very apparent yellow color. Yellow brass prices often reflect the price of copper but demand is also key, as with any alloyed metal.
Red Brass Although diminishing in use, this brass is still commonly recycled. The reddish pink tint gives this brass its name. The red tint is due to the high amount of copper that will usually will be found. red brass is commonly made up of 85% Copper, 15% Zinc and very small traces of Lead and Tin. Common uses are sprinklers and shut off valves but there are many other items that can be found.
Semi-red Brass This has modernly replaced red brass as we’ve known it. Cheaper element mixture and equally as useful, it’s defined use has made this all but replace red brass. The common element alloys are 80% copper, 10% zinc, 5% tin, 2-3% lead and other trace elements. It’s common uses are similar to red brass that includes shut off valves, sprinkler’s and other not so common items.
Another type of scrap metal that has similar elements as brass, is called bronze. Defined as Aluminum Bronze and Manganese Bronze. Aluminum Bronze is around 90% copper, 7% aluminum, 2-3% iron and other elements. Manganese Bronze is 58.6% Copper, 39% Zinc, 1.3% Iron and small traces of other metals.