Brass vs. Bronze: Know the Difference
By Shumaila Saeed || Updated on December 25, 2023
Brass is an alloy of copper and zinc; Bronze is primarily an alloy of copper and tin.
Key Differences
Brass is a metal alloy made primarily from copper and zinc, known for its bright gold-like appearance. Bronze is also a copper-based alloy but is typically combined with tin, resulting in a darker, more reddish-brown color.
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Bronze is noted for its strength and durability, especially in marine environments due to its corrosion resistance. Brass, on the other hand, is more malleable and has excellent acoustic properties, making it popular in musical instruments.
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Brass has a lower melting point compared to bronze, which makes it easier to cast and shape. Bronze tends to be harder and more brittle, which affects its machining and working properties.
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Bronze has a historical significance, being used since ancient times for tools, weapons, and sculptures. Brass became prominent in the later centuries, especially in decorative and architectural applications.
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Brass and Bronze both have antimicrobial properties, but their applications differ due to their varying physical and chemical properties.
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Comparison Chart
Common Uses
Musical instruments, decorative items.
Statues, bearings, marine applications.
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Brass and Bronze Definitions
Brass
An alloy of copper and zinc known for its yellowish color.
The brass doorknob shone brightly in the sunlight.
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Bronze
An alloy of copper and tin, known for its strength and durability.
The ancient bronze statue still stood, unaffected by time.
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Brass
Popular for decorative purposes due to its gold-like appearance.
The antique clock was adorned with intricate brass details.
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Bronze
Widely used in maritime applications due to corrosion resistance.
Bronze propellers are preferred for ships because they resist saltwater corrosion.
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Brass
Exhibits good corrosion resistance, less than bronze.
The brass fittings remained untarnished over the years.
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Bronze
Often used in art for casting sculptures and statues.
The artist chose bronze for the sculpture for its timeless appeal.
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Brass
Easier to machine and cast due to its lower melting point.
The artisans easily molded the brass into delicate shapes.
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Bronze
Any of various alloys of copper and tin in various proportions, sometimes with traces of other metals.
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Brass
A yellowish alloy of copper and zinc, sometimes including small amounts of other metals, but usually 67 percent copper and 33 percent zinc.
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Bronze
Any of various alloys of copper, with or without tin, and antimony, phosphorus, or other components.
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Bronze
A medal made of bronze awarded to one placing third in a competition, as in the Olympics.
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Brass
A memorial plaque or tablet made of brass, especially one on which an effigy is incised.
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Bronze
To make (a person or a person's skin) darker by exposure to the sun; tan.
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Brass
(uncountable) A metallic alloy of copper and zinc used in many industrial and plumbing applications.
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Bronze
To make (a person or a person's skin) darker by the application of bronzer.
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Bronze
To become bronze in color, especially by exposure to the sun or the application of bronzer
"He wondered what she thought of all these white bodies bronzing in the heat" (Robert Ferrigno).
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Bronze
(uncountable) A naturally occurring or man-made alloy of copper, usually in combination with tin, but also with one or more other metals.
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Brass
(music) A class of wind instruments, usually made of metal (such as brass), that use vibrations of the player's lips to produce sound; the section of an orchestra that features such instruments
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Brass
Spent shell casings (usually made of brass); the part of the cartridge left over after bullets have been fired.
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Bronze
A bronze medal.
She wanted to win the tournament, but had to settle for the bronze after being beaten in the semi-finals.
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Brass
High-ranking officers.
The brass are not going to like this.
The brass is not going to like this.
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Brass
A brave or foolhardy attitude; impudence.
You've got a lot of brass telling me to do that!
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Bronze
(transitive) To plate with bronze.
My mother bronzed my first pair of baby shoes.
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Brass
(slang) Bad, annoying; as wordplay applied especially to brass instruments.
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Bronze
An alloy of copper and tin, to which small proportions of other metals, especially zinc, are sometimes added. It is hard and sonorous, and is used for statues, bells, cannon, etc., the proportions of the ingredients being varied to suit the particular purposes. The varieties containing the higher proportions of tin are brittle, as in bell metal and speculum metal.
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Bronze
A statue, bust, etc., cast in bronze.
A print, a bronze, a flower, a root.
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Bronze
A yellowish or reddish brown, the color of bronze; also, a pigment or powder for imitating bronze.
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Bronze
Boldness; impudence; "brass."
Imbrowned with native bronze, lo! Henley stands.
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Brass
An alloy (usually yellow) of copper and zinc, in variable proportion, but often containing two parts of copper to one part of zinc. It sometimes contains tin, and rarely other metals.
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Bronze
To give an appearance of bronze to, by a coating of bronze powder, or by other means; to make of the color of bronze; as, to bronze plaster casts; to bronze coins or medals.
The tall bronzed black-eyed stranger.
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Brass
A journal bearing, so called because frequently made of brass. A brass is often lined with a softer metal, when the latter is generally called a white metal lining. See Axle box, Journal Box, and Bearing.
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Bronze
To make hard or unfeeling; to brazen.
The lawer who bronzes his bosom instead of his forehead.
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Brass
Coin made of copper, brass, or bronze.
Provide neither gold, nor silver, nor brass in your purses, nor scrip for your journey.
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Bronze
An alloy of copper and tin and sometimes other elements; also any copper-base alloy containing other elements in place of tin
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Brass
Utensils, ornaments, or other articles of brass.
The very scullion who cleans the brasses.
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Bronze
Give the color and appearance of bronze to something;
Bronze baby shoes
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Brass
A brass plate engraved with a figure or device. Specifically, one used as a memorial to the dead, and generally having the portrait, coat of arms, etc.
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Brass
Lumps of pyrites or sulphuret of iron, the color of which is near to that of brass.
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Brass
A wind instrument that consists of a brass tube (usually of variable length) blown by means of a cup-shaped or funnel-shaped mouthpiece
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Bronze
Harder and more brittle compared to brass.
The bronze gears are more durable but harder to machine.
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Brass
The persons (or committees or departments etc.) who make up a body for the purpose of administering something;
He claims that the present administration is corrupt
The governance of an association is responsible to its members
He quickly became recognized as a member of the establishment
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Bronze
Historically significant, used in tools and weapons in the Bronze Age.
Bronze tools from the Bronze Age marked a technological advancement.
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Brass
Impudent aggressiveness;
I couldn't believe her boldness
He had the effrontery to question my honesty
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Brass
Used extensively in musical instruments for its acoustic properties.
The trumpet, made of brass, produced a vibrant sound.
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Repeatedly Asked Queries
What are common uses of bronze?
Bronze is used for sculptures, medals, bearings, and in marine applications.
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Are brass and bronze the same?
No, they are different alloys with distinct compositions and properties.
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What is bronze?
Bronze is an alloy consisting mainly of copper, typically mixed with tin.
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What are common uses of brass?
Brass is widely used in musical instruments, plumbing, and decorative items.
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Is brass expensive?
Brass is moderately priced, generally cheaper than bronze.
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Does bronze rust?
Bronze does not rust but can develop a green patina over time.
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Can brass be recycled?
Yes, brass can be recycled without losing its properties.
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Is bronze expensive?
Bronze tends to be more expensive than brass due to its tin content.
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Can brass be used outdoors?
Yes, but it can tarnish and may require regular maintenance.
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Can bronze be used outdoors?
Yes, and it is often preferred for outdoor use due to its durability.
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Is brass stronger than bronze?
Bronze is generally stronger and more durable than brass.
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About Author
Written by
Shumaila SaeedShumaila Saeed, an expert content creator with 6 years of experience, specializes in distilling complex topics into easily digestible comparisons, shining a light on the nuances that both inform and educate readers with clarity and accuracy.
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