Brush Bristle Materials

Metal filaments offer the advantage of durability, corrosion, resistance, and electrical conductivity, depending on the material. Metal filaments will often be found in brushes used in deburring and cleaning applications.

• Brass. A copper-zinc alloy, brass is the least abrasive metal filament material and is ideal for light cleaning and finishing applications. Brass is highly electrically conductive and is spark- and corrosion-resistant, which makes it ideal for use in hazardous environments where the brush may be exposed to flammable or corrosive substances.
• Bronze. Bronze is a copper alloy that includes tin, which makes it harder and more durable than brass. It is equally corrosion- and spark-resistant to brass and exhibits a similar level of electrical conductivity. The added strength of bronze makes it useful for metal cleaning applications that require more force than brass.
• Carbon steel. Carbon steel is one of the most commonly used filament materials due to its versatility and low cost. It is available in a wide range of shapes and sizes and is valued for its exceptional durability and long service life. Carbon steel filaments are used for cleaning, rust removal, roughening, and deburring applications.
• Stainless steel. Stainless steel is notable for its superior corrosion resistance and strength. Filaments composed of stainless steel are particularly useful for applications in which contamination and high levels of moisture are a concern. The protective chromium oxide coating of stainless steel prevents rust, pitting, and contamination that could occur with other materials operating in moist environments.

Natural fibers such as animal hair and plant-based materials offer a broad range of textures, lengths, and elasticity.

• Chungking bristle. Chungking bristles are taken from hogs raised in Chungking, China. The bristles are hollow,with curved interlocked heads and long, tapered strands with split branches or flags. They are ideal for painting applications and are often found in oil and acrylic paint brushes.
• White boar bristle. White boar bristles are rare and valued for their resilience and multitude of divided flags.These bristles make a highly durable filament material with excellent water resistance, and they are often used for electrostatic discharge operations.
• Horsehair. Horsehair is harvested from tails and manes of horses. It is soft, straight, and durable, with a
  stiff, long-lasting texture that makes it ideal for cleaning and dusting applications. The soft nature of the material allows safe use even on materials that scratch easily. Horsehair exhibits a high level of heat resistance but may be damaged by acidic or alkaline chemicals.
• Goat hair. Goat hair is very fine with a natural curl. It absorbs dyes easily and exhibits a low level of
  elasticity. Goat hair is often found in small, soft brushes for light applications.
• Tampico. Tampico is a rough fiber derived from the leaves of the Agave Lechuguilla plant native to Mexico. The fiber is easy to dye and exhibits high thermal and chemical resistances. It is often used for polishing and buffing, where its rough but flexible qualities and anti-static properties facilitate light polishing without damaging materials. Tampico is very water absorbent and retains moisture easily.

Synthetic materials offer a broad range of benefits. They are highly durable and can be tailored to meet the needs of particular applications. Synthetic materials tend to be more readily available, and therefore less expensive.

• Nylon. Nylon is highly flexible, durable, and abrasion resistant. Nylon is highly resistant to abrasion and most chemicals, but can be damaged when exposed to certain acids, alcohols, and oxidizers. Different grades of nylon have been developed for various applications from heavy scrubbing to light brushing. Some Nylon formulations absorb water, which reduces its stiffness when used in wet environments. Nylon 6.12 absorbs almost no water and is often specified in industrial applications.
• Anti-static nylon. Anti-static nylon incorporates a conductive material to reduce the risk of static discharge. This makes it particularly useful for sensitive applications where static charges and sparks may impact operations or cause accidents.
• PVC. Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) is a commonly used, cost-effective plastic that exhibits a high level of durability, moderate flexibility, and low friction resistance. Unlike nylon, PVC does not lose its rigidity in water, which makes it useful for cleaning and buffing applications in wet environments.
• Polyethylene. Polyethylene is a soft polymer that exhibits similar durability to PVC, but with enhanced flexibility. It is ideal for brush bristles in applications where abrasion is undesirable and also an excellent choice for wiping rather than brushing motions. It is resistant to most solvents, but can be negatively affected by oil, grease, and hydrocarbons.
• Styrene/polystyrene. Styrene or polystyrene is a stiff, highly durable material ideal for scrubbing metal and other durable products. It is often used to remove rust and mineral deposits from steel and aluminum components that have been exposed to high levels of moisture.