Effect of Zinc Content on the Hitting Sound Characteristics of Brass

There are many products that produce sound when external force is applied to metals and alloys, such as wind chimes, golf clubs, and metal bats. Previous studies have investigated the differences between acoustic properties and sound impressions of these products depending on the type of material. Sound is an element that influences the comfort in our daily lives and the sensation of players in sports. Therefore, it is important to clarify the differences in acoustic properties of different materials in order to design and improve products. However, the effects of changes in chemical composition in the same material on acoustic properties have not been sufficiently studied. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the change in acoustic properties due to the chemical composition of metals and to contribute to the acoustic design of products. In this study, six types of brass specimens with varying zinc content from 5% to 40% were prepared, and the differences in frequency and decay time of hitting sound were evaluated. As a result, it was confirmed that the frequency tended to decrease as the zinc content increased, and the decrease in frequency was particularly pronounced for the specimens with a zinc content of 40%. Attenuation time showed an increasing trend but decreased slightly for specimens with 40% zinc content. These results indicate that the chemical composition of brass has a significant effect on acoustic properties.