Copper-zinc alloys are widely used as contact carrier materials in switching devices for electrical power engineering because of their high electrical conductivity, the higher mechanical strength combined with good formability compared to pure copper ''(Tables 5.7 and 5.8)'', and at the same time their reasonable economic costs. Especially suitable are the brasses with up to 37 wt% Zn content which are according to the phase diagram all made up from the " -phase of the CuZn system ''(Fig. 5.5)''. it It is important to note the strong dependence of the electrical conductivity and mechanical strength on the zinc content ''(Fig. 5.6)''.

Fig. 5.5:Phase diagram of copper-zinc for the range of 0-60 wt% zinc[[File:Phase diagram of copper zinc.jpg|right|thumb|Phase diagram of copper-zinc for the range of 0-60 wt% zinc]]

Fig. 5.6:Mechanical properties of brass depending on the copper content (after cold working of 0 and 50%)

Fig. 5.7:Strain hardening of CuZn36 by cold forming

Fig. 5.8:Softening of CuZn36 after 3 hrs annealing after 25% cold working