Muntz Metal (60:40 brass), marine applications (1.2mm, 1.6mm, 2.0mm, 3.0mm sheet)
Alpha-beta brass alloy (UNS C28000) containing 60% copper and 40% zinc with trace iron, originally developed for ship hull sheathing. Offers excellent hot workability, moderate corrosion resistance in marine environments, and inherent antifouling properties. Suitable for architectural applications, marine hardware, and decorative elements where golden-bronze appearance is desired.
Alpha-beta brass alloy (UNS C28000) containing 60% copper and 40% zinc with trace iron, originally developed for ship hull sheathing. Offers excellent hot workability, moderate corrosion resistance in marine environments, and inherent antifouling properties. Suitable for architectural applications, marine hardware, and decorative elements where golden-bronze appearance is desired.
Muntz metal is a historic brass alloy developed by George Fredrick Muntz in 1832 as a cost-effective replacement for pure copper sheathing on ship hulls. This duplex brass contains approximately 59-63% copper, 37-41% zinc, and 0.05-0.35% iron, creating an alpha-beta crystal structure that provides enhanced strength over pure alpha brasses. The material exhibits superior antifouling properties through copper ion leaching, which prevents marine organism attachment. While less corrosion-resistant than naval brass (which contains tin), Muntz metal provides adequate performance in marine atmospheres at lower cost. The alloy must be hot-worked due to its duplex structure and work-hardens rapidly when cold-formed. Available in standard sheet thicknesses for marine and architectural applications.
- Excellent antifouling properties preventing marine growth
- Good hot workability for forming and fabrication
- Attractive golden-bronze appearance
- Lower cost than pure copper (historically 2/3 price)
- High recyclability (75-90% scrap value retention)
- Forms protective patina requiring minimal maintenance
- Good machinability in annealed condition
- Moderate strength with duplex structure
- Non-combustible per NCC/BCA requirements
- Readily available in standard sheet sizes
- Can be welded and soldered effectively
- Develops attractive chocolate brown patina
- 01 Excellent antifouling properties preventing marine growth
- 02 Good hot workability for forming and fabrication
- 03 Attractive golden-bronze appearance
- 04 Lower cost than pure copper (historically 2/3 price)
- 05 High recyclability (75-90% scrap value retention)
- 01 Poor cold workability due to rapid work hardening
- 02 Lower corrosion resistance than naval brass
- 03 Susceptible to dezincification in seawater
- 04 Must be hot-worked for significant forming
- 05 Can cause galvanic corrosion with dissimilar metals
- Density
- 8400 kg/m³
- Specific gravity
- 8.4
- Porosity
- 0 %
- Water absorption
- 0 %
- Hardness
- 70
- UV resistance
- excellent // No degradation from UV
- Chemical resistance
- good // Resistant to many chemicals except ammonia
- pH tolerance
- 6-12.5
- Surface roughness
- 0.8 µm
- Tensile strength
- 460 MPa
- Compressive strength
- 420 MPa
- Flexural strength
- 430 MPa
- Shear strength
- 310 MPa
- Poisson's ratio
- 0.31
- Impact resistance
- 45
- Creep resistance
- low // Limited at elevated temperatures
- Embodied carbon
- 2.7
- Carbon footprint
- 4.5
- Embodied energy
- 46 MJ/kg
- Water footprint
- 320 L/kg
- Recycled content
- 30 %
- Renewable content
- 0 %
- Circular score
- 85
- Combustibility class
- A1 // EN 13501-1 classification
- Fire resistance level
- non-combustible // Per NCC C1.9
- Flame spread index
- 0
- Smoke dev. index
- 0
- Heat release rate
- 0
- Material cost (range)
- $18-25 // per kg (AUD 2025)
- Material cost (per unit)
- $180-250 // per m² for 2mm sheet
- Lead time
- 2-6 weeks // For standard sheets
- Lifecycle cost
- $350-450 // per m² over 50 years
- Annual maintenance
- $2-5 // per m² (minimal)
- Market availability
- moderate // Special order for some sizes
- Expected lifespan
- 50
- Maintenance interval
- 5
- Warranty period
- 10