How to Differentiate Red Copper & Brass – Quick and Accurate Guide

Distinguishing between copper and brass: How to identify quickly, 100% accurately

Jul 22, 2025

Brass and copper are two popular metal alloys in industry and handicrafts. However, not everyone can distinguish between these two materials. The following article from Oristar - a pioneer in providing high-quality non-ferrous metals - will help you identify and distinguish between brass and copper easily and accurately.

What is copper?

Red copper (also known as pure copper) is mainly composed of copper (Cu) from 99% or more . This is a metal with a characteristic red-orange color, easy to recognize. Red copper has extremely high electrical and thermal conductivity, widely used in the fields of: electricity - electronics, precision mechanical processing, production of high-tech components...

Outstanding features of copper:

Color: Metallic orange red.
Density: About 8.96 g/cm³.
Conducts electricity and heat very well.
High ductility, easy to bend and form.
Non-magnetic, good corrosion resistance.

What is brass?

Brass is an alloy of copper (Cu) and zinc (Zn) , with the zinc content typically ranging from 5% to 45%. Depending on the zinc content, the color and properties of brass can vary.

Outstanding features of brass:

Color: Light yellow to dark yellow, metallic shine.
Easy to process, hardness and mechanical strength are higher than red copper.
Good corrosion resistance, especially in seawater environments.
May become slightly magnetic when containing high levels of zinc or other elements.

How to distinguish brass from copper

Criteria	Copper	Brass
Color	Orange red, pink	Shiny gold, almost like real gold
Ingredient	Almost pure copper	Copper + Zinc
Electrical/thermal conductivity	Very high	Lower than copper
Hardness	Soft, pliable	Harder, easier to machine
Main application	Electricity - electronics, precision mechanics	Decoration, manufacturing machine parts

Quick tips:

Look at the color: If the metal has a bright red color -> red copper; if it has a yellow shine like yellow gold -> brass.
Using a magnet: Copper is not attracted, brass can sometimes be slightly attracted if iron is added.
Tap: The sound emitted from copper is usually deeper and warmer.

Practical application

Oristar now offers both high quality copper and brass product lines, meeting diverse industry specifications and requirements:

Red copper: Cu-HC, Cu-ETP, Cu-DLP, Cu-OFE…
Brass: CuZn30, CuZn37, CuZn40, CuZn39Pb3...

We support sheet cutting, coil slitting, milling, heat treatment... ensuring absolute precision for each product, from small orders to large industrial requirements.

Where to buy reputable copper and brass?

Oristar is a trusted partner of thousands of domestic and foreign enterprises. With over 20 years of experience in the field of non-ferrous metals, Oristar.vn commits to:

Standard quality products, clear origin.
Dedicated technical advice, fast delivery.
Technical support for processing on request.

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Oristar – Leading Metal Supplier in Asia
⚡ Core product lines: Copper, Aluminum, Steel
⚡ Main product grades provided by Oristar: Aluminum alloys, Copper alloys, Aluminum alloy plates, Aluminum coil grades, Tool steel, Special steel: A5052, A6061, A7075, C1100, C2680, C3604, SUS303, SUS304, SKD11, SKD61,...
For product consultation, please contact:
⚡ Hotline: 0988 750 686
⚡ Email: info@oristar.vn
⚡ Zalo OA
⚡ ️Website E-commerce
⚡ Official Website

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