Description
Dowsing refers to answering (life) questions using a pendulum, a metal, glass, or wooden object often attached to a wire or chain. Like dowsing, dowsing is considered a form of radiesthesia and divination. Dowsing is used, among other things, to find possible answers to (life) questions or to detect so-called "energies." There is no scientific proof that dowsing works, but people who use the pendulum believe it works well. When dowsing, one holds one end of a flexible wire, rope, or chain, 5 to 10 centimeters long. An object made of metal, glass, wood, or other material, which acts as a small weight, hangs from the other end. This weight can be of all shapes and sizes. Asking questions must be done carefully to obtain a good answer. Therefore, the question must be asked precisely, and only one question can be asked at a time. The pendulum can then, by moving in a specific way, confirm the question or answer it with "no." Pendulum dowsing sometimes involves the use of a pendulum chart, which depicts several possible answers or an alphabet. Because the pendulum can move in all directions, the pendulum chart not only provides orientation but also allows for more detailed readings of the answer. Pendulum chart dowsing is one of the many tools complementary therapists use to access clients' subconscious minds.
Brass (CuZn), also called brass or brass-plated copper in foil form, is an alloy of copper (55-70%) and zinc (45-30%). The resistivity of brass is 0.07 μΩm. The name "yellow brass" derives from its color. It is significantly more yellow than pure copper or bronze (an alloy of copper and tin). When exposed to the outside air for extended periods, it turns dark brown. Brass is a valuable material because of its hardness and good self-lubricating properties. There are three types of brass:
Alpha brass, with less than 40% zinc, is flexible and can be cold forged.
Beta brass, with a higher proportion of zinc, can only be hot forged. This type of brass is harder and stronger.
White brass, with more than 45% zinc, is too brittle to be of general use.
Brass has been known to humanity since prehistoric times, long before the metal zinc was discovered. It was made by smelting copper with calamine, a zinc ore. During this process, the zinc is extracted from the calamine and mixed directly with the copper. However, pure zinc is too reactive to be produced using these old techniques. Today, almost 90% of brass alloys are recycled. This means that brass scrap is collected and returned to the foundry where it is melted into the desired final product. These are usually casting billets or rods. These are later extruded into the desired shape and size. Much can be done to improve the properties of standard brass. An element like aluminum makes brass stronger and corrosion-resistant. The aluminum creates a very thin, transparent, hard, self-healing layer. The element tin has a similar effect; it is found, for example, in alloys used in marine environments (the so-called naval brasses). Combinations of elements such as iron, aluminum, silicon, and manganese can—if present in the right combination and quantities—create brasses with high wear resistance. A well-known example is the alloy LDM C673, where the right combination of manganese and silicon results in a strong and wear-resistant alloy, which has found its way into applications in the automotive industry. There are also so-called dezincification-resistant brasses. These brasses are used in situations where there is a high risk of corrosion when using standard brasses. This can occur when the water temperature is too high, chlorides are present, or when the water hardness is abnormal (too low). Consider, for example, an application in a hot water boiler system. In such an environment, a standard alloy would quickly fail. This brass is produced using a special method, with careful attention to a balanced composition and correct temperature conditions.
