When building a vessel or vehicle, fitwerk plays a crucial role in the design and construction of various systems and components. Fitwork components are commonly used as fittings of piping, water, cooling water, fuel and hoses aboard a boat or in a vehicle, providing durability and reliability.

Methods

• Casting: Filling a mold with hot liquid.
• Hot Pressing: Forming by heat and pressure.
• Turning Rod: Turning lathe for smoother results.

Most common fittings:

• ​Diverting Coupling / Double Nipple: To connect pipes or connections.
• Knee Piece: To create a 45 or 90 degree bend between piping or connections.
• T-piece: To create a split between pipes or connections.
• Blind plug: To create a seal on a water pipe.
• Socket: To connect two male threaded ends of a water pipe.
• Hose barbs and hose grommets: The simplest way to mount a hose.
• Fittings, connection nuts, reducers, skin grommets and caps.

In this article, we will focus on three common types of fitting in the marine industry: bronze fitting, brass fitting and CR fitting. We will discuss the features, applications and advantages of each type.

Bronze Fittiings

Bronze is an alloy composed of copper and tin. It has been used in the maritime industry for centuries because of its durability and corrosion resistance. Bronze fitwork is often used in systems where seawater comes in contact with components, such as cooling systems, pumps and valves. Some of the advantages of bronze fitwork include:

• Excellent corrosion resistance: Bronze resists corrosion from saltwater and has a longer service life than some other materials.
• Strength: It is a strong alloy and practically has the same working pressure as brass: 40 bar to 1", 25 bar 1 1/4 to 2" and 16 bar to 5".
• Formability: Bronze is easily machined and can be formed into complex shapes.
• Not protected from oxygen: Because the brass can come in contact with oxygen, it can develop a green oxide layer.

Brass Fittings

Brass is an alloy of copper and zinc and is widely used in the marine industry because of its good mechanical properties and aesthetic value. Brass fitwork is often used in interior and exterior applications on ships, such as handrails, handles and decorative elements. Some advantages of brass fitwork include:

• Corrosion resistance: Brass has good corrosion resistance in freshwater. In salt water, it can dissolve zinc
• Appearance: Brass has an attractive golden color and is often used for decorative purposes.
• Machineability: Brass is easily machined and can be milled, drilled and turned.

CR fittings (Corrosion resistance)

CR fitting stands for Corrosion resistant fitting and consists of zinc which is encapsulated. It is widely used in the marine industry because of its excellent corrosion resistance and strength. CR fittings are often used in environments with high corrosion loads, such as ship hulls, exhaust systems and tanks. Some advantages of CR fittings include:

• Corrosion resistance: Resistant to corrosion caused by seawater, chemicals and other aggressive environments.
• Strength: CR fittings have high mechanical strength and can withstand high pressure and stress.
• Maintenance-friendly: Requires little maintenance.

Our products are made of dezincification-resistant brass (CR), also known as DeZincification Resistant Brass or CR fitwork, and are made of a special alloy: CW602N. Standard brass corrodes between 0.05 and 0.2 millimeters per year, and with dezincification-resistant brass (CR) it is less than 0.02 millimeters.

Assesment of the three materials

*(Maximum score is three stars)

With this rating, we can conclude that each type of fitwork has its own advantages and applications, depending on the specific requirements of the marine project.