Brass Ferrules or Aluminum Ferrules?

Posted by detectmetal on July 6th, 2015

The debate always crops up on which type of metal to use for ferrules. Is aluminum stronger than brass? Will brass rust? Which is the cheaper metal to use?

While pricing metals will be dependent on your company's budget and manufacturing capabilities, you can help with the decision process by basing your choice first on the type of hose you will manufacture. Are you creating water hoses or air hoses? If the hose you are creating is for air, most manufacturers will use an aluminum ferrule for the application. For water hoses, people normally pick brass ferrules.

Why is this? While neither brass or aluminum rusts when in contact with water, it does oxidize. Oxidation is a sort of protective mechanism within these metals. It will create a type of scaling and tarnishing on the metal. When brass is properly sealed with a protective coating, it can fight off oxidation and last for a very long time. Even when oxidized, brass will still last for a long time before eroding away.

Some aluminum alloys do not have the same outcome when in contact with water, as the caked oxidation causes erosion that damages the metal permanently. If you should decide to use aluminum for ferrules, then you will need to use an anode aluminum that can handle freshwater and saltwater applications as the corrosion rate is slowed down.

Ferrule shape and length can also play a factor. Aluminum ferrules have a length ranging from 0.500" up to 0.968" and can come in a smooth, cylindrical shape. Brass ferrules can normally range from 0.500" up to 1.000" in length and come in a variety of shapes such as oval, ribbed, smooth and soaker.

Choose The Right Ferrule For The Hose Application

Again, it can't be stressed enough that making your decision on brass or aluminum ferrules has to be based on the type of hose you are manufacturing and what the hose will be used for in an industrial or residential application. Make your decision on what will go through the hose and the type of seal you want to pick the best ferrule for your needs.

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