Dutch metal is a form of brass being an alloy of copper, 84% and zinc 16%.
It is very malleable and ductile and can be beaten into very thin sheets. It is these sheets that are sold as Dutch Metal, for use as metal leaf or imitation gold leaf.
The addition of arsenic produces an alloy with similar properties but coloured white.
Famous quotes containing the words dutch and/or metal:
“Too nice is neighbor’s fool.”
—Common Dutch saying, trans by Johanna C. Prins.
“There were metal detectors on the staff-room doors and Hernandez usually had a drawer full of push-daggers, nunchuks, stun-guns, knucks, boot-knives, and whatever else the detectors had picked up. Like Friday morning at a South Miami high school.”
—William Gibson (b. 1948)