What is Gilding Metal

Gilding metal is a copper based alloy containing lower levels of zinc than the Brass group of alloys. The two most common Gilding metal are C22000 or also known as Red Brass with 10% zinc and C23000 also known as Commercial bronze with 15% zinc.

90/10 Gilding metal exhibits a rich golden colour, while 85/15 Gilding metal has a rich bronze appearance.

Does gilding metal tarnish?

Whilst the gilding metlas have good corrosion resistance, it will tarnish or patinated in most environments. Mostly this will be a mild tarnish which is easily removed with a polish if done so regularly. Alternatively a clear protective coating can be applied to maintain the bright rich natural colours.

How do you clean gilded metal?

Refer Cleaning Copper and Copper Alloys for advice on cleaning Gilding Meta.

Available Forms Austral Wright Metals can supply this alloy as sheet, strip and round bar.

General Description C22000 combines a rich golden colour with the best combination of strength, ductility and corrosion resistance of the plain copper-zinc alloys. It weathers to a rich bronze colour, and can be supplied in pre-patinated colours ranging from deep brown to green.
It has a lower rate of work hardening than the copper-zinc alloys with higher zinc content, such as 260 and 272. This is an advantage in multistage pressing applications without interstage annealing. It has excellent deep drawing characteristics and resistance to pitting corrosion when exposed to severe weather and water environments.

Typical applications. Architectural fascias, grillwork, jewellery, ornamental trim, vitreous enamel base, badges, door handles, escutcheons, marine hardware, munitions, primer caps, rotating bands, metallic bellows, pen, pencil and lipstick tubes etc.

Benefits of Gilding Metal

Unlike the Brasses, Gilding metal has a lower rate of work hardening yet still maintain moderate strength. This is an advantage in deep drawing multistage pressing applications without interstage annealing as used in production of various items of builders hardware and cosmetic hardware, such as metallic bellows aerial, pen, pencil, and lipstick tubes. Also used for munition (Gilding metal jackets) and primer caps.

They have a reputation for durability and resistance to pitting corrosion when exposed to sever weather and water environments which accounts for its extensive use in architectural and building components.

The low levels of zinc means it has an alpha phase structure (see below phase diagram) and therefore has superior resistance to stress corrosion cracking and dezincification.

Chemical Composition

 Equivalent Alloy Specifications

 Australian Product Specifications

ASTM Product Specifications

Fabrication Properties

Mechanical Properties of Gilding Metal

Available Forms Austral Wright Metals can supply this alloy as sheet, strip and round bar.

General Description C22000 combines a rich golden colour with the best combination of strength, ductility and corrosion resistance of the plain copper-zinc alloys. It weathers to a rich bronze colour, and can be supplied in pre-patinated colours ranging from deep brown to green.
It has a lower rate of work hardening than the copper-zinc alloys with higher zinc content, such as 260 and 272. This is an advantage in multistage pressing applications without interstage annealing. It has excellent deep drawing characteristics and resistance to pitting corrosion when exposed to severe weather and water environments.

Typical applications. Architectural fascias, grillwork, jewellery, ornamental trim, vitreous enamel base, badges, door handles, escutcheons, marine hardware, munitions, primer caps, rotating bands, metallic bellows, pen, pencil and lipstick tubes etc.

Physical Properties of Gilding Metal

Phase Diagram & Mechanical Properties

Corrosion Resistance

As an alpha brass with low zinc content, C22000 has excellent corrosion in most media. It is less susceptible to stress corrosion cracking than the higher zinc brasses such as 70/30 brass C26000, and is not considered susceptible in marine atmospheres. However, it should not be used in contact with aqueous ammonia and amines.

C22000 should not be used with acetic acid, acetylene, brines, calcium chloride, moist chlorine, chromic acid, hydrochloric acid, mercury or its compounds, nitric acid and sodium hypochlorite.

Please consult Austral Wright Metals for advice on your specific application.