"Right off the bat, I would say this in answer to my manager's question: 'Of course, it will depend on the exact composition of the alloy, but brass is generally thought of as easier to shape than bronze, since it melts at a lower temperature. Brass has a more yellowish color, like gold. Think of a brass instrument, like the tuba. Most brass applications are for plumbing parts or decorative items. They are pretty corrosion resistant, with an adherent oxide layer. Bronze is more of a red-brown color, and it's harder and more brittle. Think ancient swords. When the first iron - not steel, iron - swords were made, they were not any harder than the bronze ones, and they were harder to make because they melted at a higher temperature. But bronze is especially resistant to saltwater corrosion, and that is obviously valuable for marine applications. Why don't we sit down and make a list of the real technical requirements for this new application, and then I will do some more research and come back to you with a specific alloy recommendation based on the requirements, how the material properties of brass and bronze match up to the requirements, and the potential cost?'

Hopefully this would be enough for the two-minute explanation. In terms of my interview here with you today, the truth is that most of my emphasis, both in school and in my first job, was on ferrous metallurgy. However, the same principles of physical metallurgy apply to all alloy systems, and I am ready and willing to work to quickly come up to speed on other materials than those on which I currently have more knowledge."