What are brass adapters and what are they for?
Modern pipelines are highways assembled from different materials with different pipe diameters.This became possible for one reason - the variety of connecting elements (fittings). One of them is very popular today. This is a brass adapter.
The content of the article:
Where is it used?
More often, this type of fitting is used in the process of assembling household water supply (cold, hot) and heating networks. But with the improvement in the quality of products, they began to be used in other engineering communication systems:
- drainage on a personal plot;
- watering systems for gardens and vegetable gardens;
- Summer shower;
- water supply for swimming pools.
According to purpose, this element is divided into two groups:
- For connecting pipes of different diameters.
- For connecting pipes made of different materials.
For connecting pipes of different diameters
This is a double-sided coupling, divided into 2 parts by a turnkey shaped element. One part has a larger diameter, the second – a smaller one. Such products can be for connecting hoses (that is, straight) and for threading. In the latter, it is cut as an external connecting element.
Fittings are often used in the transition from the main line to the internal one, where pipes of smaller diameter are installed. To make a connection, it is necessary to select the correct part for the diameter of the pipe sections being connected.
Typically, the joint is a tee, selected for the cross-section of the main pipe line. To switch to a pipe of smaller diameter, an adapter is installed in the tee.
If a bend was welded to the main steel pipe, then an adapter is used, the smaller part of which has an external thread, the larger part has an internal thread.The photo below shows this fitting.
For connecting pipes made of different materials
There are various situations that violate the technology for assembling pipe structures. It is believed that for the formation of utility networks it is best to use pipes made of the same material. But imagine a situation where the public water supply system is a steel pipe, and plastic products are installed inside the apartment. Here you cannot do without brass adapters for water supply.
Other situations:
- It is necessary to reduce the cost of some area where cheaper pipes are installed.
- Lack of required pipe products. Installation deadlines are running out. Install those pipes that are available.
Brass fittings of this type belong to the combined category. In addition to brass, they also contain polymer. The first side is connected to a metal pipe, the second to a plastic pipe.
What advantages does it have?
The initial raw material for production is brass grade L59-1 or L58-2. Essentially, it is a combination of two metals: copper and zinc. So, these grades contain 57-60% copper, which determines the technical characteristics of the material:
- high strength and wear resistance;
- 100% hygienic safety;
- easy to process (cutting, drilling, etc.);
- ease of installation;
- corrosion-resistant material;
- Compared to other metals, brass is cheaper;
- The brass adapter can withstand temperatures up to +200 ℃ and pressure up to 2.0 MPa, which is sufficient for most engineering systems.
Brass fittings are manufactured using casting technology with subsequent processing.It is the casting process that makes the metal homogeneous if all technological stages are carried out correctly. The workpiece, ready for processing, is drilled and threaded.
Types of adapters
Brass fittings are collapsible connecting elements. With their help it is impossible to “tightly” connect pipes. Brass can be soldered, but brass cannot be welded. The adapter will simply melt under the influence of an electric arc.
As for the types, there are only two of them:
- threaded;
- non-threaded
An example of the latter is a brass adapter for hoses, which is used to connect rubberized products of the same or different diameters. It is often used by gas welders, who thus extend the hoses.
There is a so-called brass fitting, which is also an adapter. On one side, its design has a pipe for a hose, on the other, there is an internal thread with which it is connected to the pipe.
One of its varieties is a brass tap adapter. This is a standard ball valve made of brass, which is designed with two different connections. There are three options:
- both pipes are designed for hoses;
- one for a threaded connection, the other for a hose connection;
- both are threaded.
The connection is simple. The hose is placed on the pipe and clamped with a clamp. There is a variety that uses a crimp nut. It comes as an addition to the main design.
Why is a protective coating applied to the adapter?
Pure copper brass loses in anti-corrosion resistance. But this problem can be easily solved today. Brass products are coated with protective compounds. Usually it is either nickel or chromium. The first is used in most parts, so nickel-plated adapters are more common.
The protective composition is applied in a layer thickness ranging from 12.6-15.3 mm. If it is thinner, then the anti-corrosion qualities are reduced, which leads to the appearance of rust on the surface of the adapters. And this reduces the quality of the product and its service life. If the layer is thicker, it will quickly crack.
Chrome-plated products can be installed in pipelines through which aggressive media flow. The optimal thickness of the chrome layer is 0.327-1.47 mm.
Brass adapters, threaded and without thread, are products that today are often used for laying, reconstructing and repairing engineering pipe systems. They have good technical characteristics, which ensures a service life of up to 50 years (depending on operating conditions).
Have you ever used similar parts to lay a pipeline? Write in the comments. Share the article on social networks and save it to your bookmarks.
How to choose a brass fitting? Theory and practice in the video below.
Sources:
- https://www.san.team/articles/naznachenie-i-sposoby-montazha-latunnykh-perekhodnikov
- https://santehstandart.com/poleznye-materialy/perekhodnik-latunnyy
It was clearly noted that brass cannot be welded, even with gas welding. But you can solder. But you shouldn’t do this in home communications. Long and expensive. It's easier to install threaded ones.