There is more information available on this subject at Brass on the English Wikipedia. |
Brass is any alloy of copper and zinc; the proportions of zinc and copper can be varied to create a range of brasses with varying properties. In comparison, bronze is principally an alloy of copper and tin. Despite this distinction, some types of brasses are called bronzes. Brass is a substitutional alloy. It is used
for decoration for its bright gold-like appearance; for applications where low friction is required such as locks, gears, bearings, ammunition, and valves; for plumbing and electrical applications; and extensively in musical instruments such as horns and bells for its acoustic properties. Brass has a muted yellow color, somewhat similar to gold. It is relatively resistant to tarnishing, and is often used as decoration and for coins. In antiquity, polished brass was often used as a mirror.
Brass has likely been known to Humans since prehistoric times, even before zinc itself was discovered. It was produced by melting copper together with calamine, a zinc ore.
Brass was still being used as a shell casing for firearms in 2552. Ash-G099 put spent brass casing on the graves of William-043 and Dante-G188.[1] It was also used for lamps. One of these lamps was found on Vice Admiral Ysionris Jeromi's Koa Wood desk in 2551.[2]
In Halo, as well as present day military, senior commissioned officers are often referred to as "the Brass." The nickname was probably bestowed because their insignias are/were once made of brass.
Sources[]
- ↑ Halo: Ghosts of Onyx, page 379
- ↑ Halo: Ghosts of Onyx, page 104