Copper Valve vs Brass Valves: What’s the Differences?

Copper and brass are commonly used as materials for valves due to their distinct properties.

One of their differences is that brass valves are often more durable than copper valves due to their composition.

Another option is distinguishing them by regulatory compliance, pricing, cost-effectiveness, and other criteria.

This article will assist you in making better production decisions as this article explores these distinctions further.

Copper Valve vs Brass Valves: What impact does brass and copper valves have on the environment?

Brass and copper are easily recycled without losing value, lessening the need for virgin metal mining and waste.

Hence, requiring far less energy than the production of new metal.

Furthermore, both have a lower risk of corrosion, but brass valves are more resilient to it because they contain zinc and naturally develop an oxide coating that prevents rust.

Copper valves, unlike brass, have antibacterial properties, which prevent harmful microorganisms and make them safer in the following applications:

Food processing
Medical applications
Drinking water treatments

Copper valve vs Brass valves: Regulatory Compliance

Copper is a naturally found material and generally has no lead, while brass often has small amounts of it.

Hence, brass valves can be affected by regulations, particularly those established by REACH, due to environmental and health risks.

Because brass is more likely to have more than 0.1% lead.

Furthermore, both valves must comply with specific requirements relevant to their intended purpose, such as:

API: For valves used in the oil and gas sectors to ensure they can withstand extreme operating conditions, like high pressure.
NSF: Important for valves that will be used in water treatment or systems to protect consumer health and safety.

Copper vs Brass Price and Cost-effectiveness

Brass Valves

Less expensive because it is combined with copper and zinc.

The price rises with the amount of copper used, yet it remains more affordable than pure copper valves.

However, they are capable of handling difficult operating situations, making them cost-effective and durable, such as:

High pressures
Moderate corrosive environments
Moderate to extremely high temperature

But, they are not suited for applications with extremely low temperatures and that need strong electrical conductivity.

Copper Valve

They are usually more expensive because they’re a naturally found material that requires difficult mining and makes them only have a finite resource.

They also have antimicrobial properties along with great electrical and thermal conductivity,

This justify their high cost for industries that require these characteristics.

Aside from their different features, they are considered to be durable; yet, because they’re more prone to corrosion than brass, they may require additional maintenance.

Copper Valve vs Brass Valves: Failure Rates

Generally, brass valves have a lower failure rate than copper valves.

Copper valves contain extremely thin calcium carbonate, which can cause corrosion when in contact with soft water.

Meanwhile, brass valves are considered to be more durable and harder than copper valves due to their zinc content.

However, brass valves tend to be more susceptible to very cold temperatures than copper valves.

Furthermore, brass cracks more easily when exposed to ammonia or mercury, and it can experience dezincification in certain settings, such as a pH level greater than 7.

Conclusion: Difference Between Copper and Brass Valves

The decision about whether to use copper or brass valves should be based on an accurate analysis of various factors such as:

Price
Failure rates
Cost-effectiveness
Environmental Impact
Regulatory Compliance

Both materials are reliable and understanding the differences will help you make an informed decision.

If you’re ready to purchase brass or copper valves, Gowin might be your long-term global partner.

Our modern facilities and innovative manufacturing system ensure that our certified copper valves and brass valves are efficient for various applications like oil and gas industries.

Thus, contact Gowin today to get high-quality, winning valves for your requirements and ensure successful operations.