Development of a lead free brass alloy

The European Union continuously increases the pressure on its member states to restrict harmful substances in daily use, particularly heavy metals like lead, which can cause serious health issues. In response to the EU directives aimed at minimizing exposure to carcinogenic substances, there is a growing demand for ecologically compatible materials such as lead-free brass alloys. This paper presents a research project focused on developing alternative brass alloys incorporating silicon and manganese for various applications, including sand and mould casting. An experimental plan was crafted utilizing MODDE 7® software to identify crucial material characteristics and appropriate measurement methods. A series of experiments provided material-specific and cast-technological data, which were analyzed using MODDE to generate empirical models predicting the essential characteristics of the new lead-free brass alloys. The results of this study demonstrate the potential of these models in advancing the development of lead-free brass with optimized properties, addressing both regulatory demands and industry requirements.