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What exactly is "Ultrabrass"?

I would like to know if "Ultrabrass" is a trademark, a patented process or a generic term. If it is a patented process who is the supplier of the process.

Art Kushner
Anaheim, California
1998

I suspect "Ultrabrass" is a trade name or unregistered trademark. You can probably track it down the Patent & Trademark office in DC.

"Ultrabrass","Ultrapure","Ultraclean" are popping up all over the place. In short, I believe "Ultrabrass" is probably not even brass but Titanium Nitride (TiN) colored stainless. Unless of course, the TiN PVD technology can be used on brass. From my general knowledge brass won't hold up in the high temperature furnance needed in TiN PVD process.

I welcome all other comments...especially if I'm wrong.

Michael Liu Taylor
specialty stainless steel distributor - Dallas, Texas
1998

PVD TiN is deposited using several different methods some of which are low temperature processes. CVD TiN is typically higher temp process.

Mandar Sunthankar
- Fort Collins, Colorado
1998

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Taylor,

PVD TiN is routinely deposited on brass such as cast brass plumbing fixtures. The PVD TiN is very thin 2 microns or so and for best corrostion results the brass is electroplated with thick Ni, Pd-Ni, Cr. This also seals in the zinc of the brass allowing a higher deposition temperature though the TiN can be deposited on the brass (or even polymers) at room temperature.

Donald M. Mattox
Society of Vacuum Coaters
Albuquerque, New Mexico 1998

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