Tin brass is used for its increased corrosion resistance and somewhat higher strength than straight brass.
Tin reduces susceptibility of the high zinc brass to dezincification.
Dezincification is the selective leaching of zinc from the brass leaving a porous copper structure. Arsenic, antimony and phosphorus also reduce the susceptibility of brasses to dezincification. The tin brasses are economical and have slightly better properties than the straight brasses. They have good hot forgeability and reasonably good cold formability. The tin brasses are used in applications such as high strength fasteners, electrical connectors, springs, corrosion resistant mechanical products, marine hardware, pump shafts, and corrosion resistant screw machine parts.