Brass

Brass is widely used for both decorative and functional components because of its combination of appearance, formability, strength and corrosion resistance.

PPD normally stocks CW508L (CZ108) brass in a half-hard condition. This grade offers good forming characteristics and is particularly suitable for components that may require bending, folding, soldering or brazing after manufacture.

Its natural gold-coloured finish also makes brass particularly popular for decorative components, modelmaking, jewellery, signage and other applications where appearance is important.

Grade: CW508L (CZ108), Half Hard

Composition: Copper approximately 62–64%, zinc approximately 36–38%, with small residual amounts of other elements.

Key characteristics:

• Good forming and bending properties
• Good corrosion resistance
• Suitable for soldering and brazing
• Attractive decorative finish
• Suitable for fine etched detail and precision components

0.3mm brass, chemically etched

2mm brass, laser cut

Applications

• Decorative components
• Signage and identification plates
• Modelmaking and scale components
• Jewellery and decorative details
• Electrical terminals and connectors
• Prototype and bespoke components
• Components requiring subsequent forming, soldering or brazing

Chemical Etching

Well suited to thin brass components requiring intricate profiles, fine apertures or surface-etched detail.

Thicknesses: 0.1mm up to 0.9mm

Laser Cutting

Suitable for thicker brass components and profiles where laser cutting provides the most appropriate manufacturing route.

Thicknesses: 0.5mm up to 6mm

Chemical Etch + Laser

Suitable where fine surface-etched detail is required on a thicker brass component with a laser-cut profile.

Thicknesses: 0.5mm up to 3mm

For current stock thicknesses and maximum artwork areas, please refer to our Metal Stock & Thicknesses page.