Various materials are used for the manufacture of furnishings. The most commonly used metals for items which are made from a combination of wood, glass and metal such as tables etc., are copper alloys such as brass (copper-zinc alloys, e.g. CuZn37) or nickel silver alloys (copper-nickel-zinc alloys, e.g. CuNi12Zn24, CuNi18Zn20).
Impressive examples of nickel silver uses for interior designs are the Jil Sander und Salvatore Ferragamo boutiques at home and abroad: Wieland semis have been used for the furnishings, i.e. counters and shelves were made using Wieland sheet and sectional tubes.
In terms of processing there is hardly any difference between CuZn37 and CuNi18Zn20: both materials have excellent cold working properties and can be manipulated, stamped, riveted or crimped into any conceivable shape and have excellent mechanical and electrolytic polishing properties. In addition, they are ideally suited for plating. For example,
a silvery colour can be achieved through the chromium plating of CuZn37 or the surface can be protected against tarnishing by a coat of lacquer.
The fundamental difference between the materials is the colour: brass is gold-coloured, whereas nickel silver has a silvery surface with good resistance to tarnishing. Sectional tubes used for furniture are generally made from round tubes and their wall thickness is therefore uniform over the entire cross-section.
