alpha brass
- noun
- /ˈælfə bræs/
- Specialized
:
latón alfa
- The pipes were formed by cold working sheets of alpha brass.
Examples
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Engineers selected alpha brass for the project because it bends easily without cracking.
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This manufacturer specializes in components made from alpha brass due to its ductility.
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The manufacturer uses alpha brass for its durability.
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Is alpha brass better than regular brass?
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Engineers selected alpha brass for the project because it bends easily without cracking.
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The pipes were formed by cold working sheets of alpha brass.
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This manufacturer specializes in components made from alpha brass due to its ductility.
How Strong
Surface Forms
Morphology
alpha + brass
The modifier 'alpha' will signal to a learner that this is a particular variety or subtype of 'brass', so a B1 learner who knows the words would likely infer it is a kind of brass. However, the precise metallurgical sense (specific zinc percentage, 'alpha' phase behavior and suitability for cold working) is technical and not derivable from the constituents, so full meaning requires specialized knowledge.
Etymology
Alpha brass comes from making metal: brass is copper mixed with zinc, and alpha was used as a simple label for the softer, copper-rich kind that bends easily without heating. That's why 'alpha brass' means a type of brass you can 'bend' or shape without cracking.