Monday, February 9, 2015

Brass Machine Screws And The Properties Of The Alloy

By Beryl Dalton


The evolution of modern manufacturing has grown exponentially. From the bygone days of using resources like wood, stone, strings and sap to current materials. Several techniques were used by our ancestors to create structures and objects. Other means to fasten two items together were eventually discovered.

Everyone made use of some trees and plants for their sap as a variety of glue. Dowels made of wood were useful for locking pieces of furniture together. The discovery of metallurgy prompted the creation of metallic tools and other carpentry materials. Blacksmiths who were good enough to figure metal into smaller items created the standard nail. Improvements in technology eventually improved the nail to hold components along. By making spiral grooves on the nail, screws were created. They can be made from totally different metals however brass machine screws carry benefits.

Making furnishings and alternative structures used to require pieces that hold their shape. The use of wooden dowels and tree sap to hold parts take time. Components needed to be cut to fit accordingly, the sap meanwhile needs to completely dry out. Iron nails resulted to an easier process to connect pieces of wood. However, corrosion eventually eats away through the iron.

When individuals began the use of materials aside from wood, nails lost their purpose due to challenges with material density. Plastics and metal depended on screws to maintain their structure. The improvements in our capability to forge metals into the precise forms, allowed the production construction components like screws to be more streamline.

Machined screws are usually made of iron and other metals. The discovery of alloys further improved reliability of the materials. The number one advantage of alloys was the ability to resist corrosion, both from moisture and exposure to oxygen. Large scale manufacturing and construction required a high tensile metal, able to resist great strain and resist weathering. High tensile steel became the go to option. Brass on the other hand, gained popularity as a more cost effective choice for smaller assemblies.

Steel is a byproduct of iron and carbon. An alloy that boasts a higher rigidity in contrast to normal iron is the result. Mixing chromium into the alloy results in stainless steel. Business undertakings want to utilize higher carbon stainless steel, making the effectively strong metal even stronger, perfect for building massive structures.

Meanwhile brass is the product of copper and zinc. It has mild golden hue and was historically used for making ornaments and decorations. It is malleable and can easily be machined into many components. If you visit museums, you can find a wealth of adornments still in good shape, demonstrating that the alloy can withstand the test of time.

Brass would undoubtedly be the alloy of choice, due to the fact that it is cheaper to produce. Heat conductivity is top notch because it has a low melting point. Great acoustic properties also make it a good material for musical instruments.

One vital capability of brass has usually been unheeded. The disinfectant capability of copper has a strong advantage. The antimicrobial properties from the copper content may benefit machines and containers that need to be sterile.




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