List of copper alloys

 ( Sculpture Materials ) 

Copper alloys are metal Alloy that have copper as their principal component. They have high resistance against corrosion. Of the large number of different types, the best known traditional types are bronze, where tin is a significant addition, and brass, using zinc instead. Both of these are imprecise terms. Latten is a further term, mostly used for coins with a very high copper content. Today the term "copper alloy" tends to be substituted for all of these, especially by museums. British Museum, "Scope Note" for "copper alloy"

Copper deposits are abundant in most parts of the world (globally 70 parts per million), and it has therefore always been a relatively cheap metal. By contrast, tin is relatively rare (2 parts per million), and in Europe and the Mediterranean region, even in prehistoric times, it had to be traded considerable distances and was expensive, sometimes virtually unobtainable. Zinc is even more common at 75 parts per million but is harder to extract from its ores. Bronze with the ideal percentage of tin was therefore expensive, and the proportion of tin was often reduced to save cost. The discovery and exploitation of the Bolivian tin belt in the 19th century made tin far cheaper, although forecasts for future supplies are less positive.

There are as many as 400 different copper and copper alloy compositions loosely grouped into the categories: copper, high copper alloy, brasses, bronzes, cupronickel, copper–nickel–zinc (nickel silver), leaded copper, and special alloys.

---

Composition The similarity in external appearance of the various alloys, along with the different combinations of elements used when making each alloy, can lead to confusion when categorizing the different compositions. The following table lists the principal alloying element for four of the more common types used in modern industry, along with the name for each type. Historical types, such as those that characterize the Bronze Age, are vaguer, as the mixtures were generally variable.

+Classification of copper and its alloys

C1xxxx–C4xxxx,C66400–C69800

C5xxxx

C60600–C64200

C64700–C66100

C7xxxx

+Mechanical properties of common copper alloysLyons, William C. and Plisga, Gary J. (eds.) Standard Handbook of Petroleum & Natural Gas Engineering, Elsevier, 2006
Copper (ASTM B1, B2, B3, B152, B124, R133)	Cu 99.9	Annealed	10	32	45	42	Electrical equipment, roofing, screens
		Cold-drawn	40	45	15	90
		Cold-rolled	40	46	5	100
Gilding metal (ASTM B36)	Cu 95.0, Zn 5.0	Cold-rolled	50	56	5	114	Coins, bullet jackets
Cartridge brass (ASTM B14, B19, B36, B134, B135)	Cu 70.0, Zn 30.0	Cold-rolled	63	76	8	155	Good for cold-working; , hardware, electrical, drawn cartridge cases.
Phosphor bronze (ASTM B103, B139, B159)	Cu 89.75, Sn 10.0, P 0.25	Spring temper	—	122	4	241	High fatigue-strength and spring qualities
Yellow or High brass (ASTM B36, B134, B135)	Cu 65.0, Zn 35.0	Annealed	18	48	60	55	Good corrosion resistance
		Cold-drawn	55	70	15	115
		Cold-rolled (HT)	60	74	10	180
Manganese bronze (ASTM 138)	Cu 58.5, Zn 39.2, Fe 1.0, Sn 1.0, Mn 0.3	Annealed	30	60	30	95
		Cold-drawn	50	80	20	180
Naval brass (ASTM B21)	Cu 60.0, Zn 39.25, Sn 0.75	Annealed	22	56	40	90	Resistance to salt corrosion
		Cold-drawn	40	65	35	150
Muntz metal (ASTM B111)	Cu 60.0, Zn 40.0	Annealed	20	54	45	80	Condenser tubes
Aluminium bronze (ASTM B169 alloy A, B124, B150)	Cu 92.0, Al 8.0	Annealed	25	70	60	80	—
		Hard	65	105	7	210
Beryllium copper (ASTM B194, B196, B197)	Cu 97.75, Be 2.0, Co or Ni 0.25	Annealed, solution-treated	32	70	45	B60 (Rockwell scale)	National Bronze & Metals > Beryllium Copper
		Cold-rolled	104	110	5	B81 (Rockwell)
Free-cutting brass	Cu 62.0, Zn 35.5, Pb 2.5	Cold-drawn	44	70	18	B80 (Rockwell)	Screws, nuts, gears, keys
Nickel silver (ASTM B122)	Cu 65.0, Zn 17.0, Ni 18.0	Annealed	25	58	40	70	Hardware
		Cold-rolled	70	85	4	170
Nickel silver (ASTM B149)	Cu 76.5, Ni 12.5, Pb 9.0, Sn 2.0	Cast	18	35	15	55	Lewis Brass & Company > Copper Alloy Data
Cupronickel (ASTM B111, B171)	Cu 88.35, Ni 10.0, Fe 1.25, Mn 0.4	Annealed	22	44	45	–	Condenser, salt-water pipes
		Cold-drawn tube	57	60	15	–
Cupronickel	Cu 70.0, Ni 30.0	Wrought	–	–	–	–	Heat-exchange equipment, valves
Ounce metal Cast copper alloy C83600 (Ounce Metal) substech.com Copper alloy C83600 (also known as "Red brass" or "composition metal") (ASTM B62)	Cu 85.0, Zn 5.0, Pb 5.0, Sn 5.0	Cast	17	37	25	60	—
Gunmetal (known as "red brass" in US)	Varies Cu 80-90%, Zn <5%, Sn ~10%, +other elements@ <1%

+ Mechanical properties of Copper Development Association (CDA) copper alloys
35
84
90
90
90
30
8
26
30
30
20
42
42
40
45
70
70
70
80
80
80
80
50
55
60
50
50
40
† Brinell scale with 3000 kg load

+ Comparison of copper alloy standards.

C-2229 Gr2

C-2229 Gr9

C-2229 Gr8

C-2229 Gr7

C-2229 Gr1

B-16541

C-15345 Gr10

C-15345 Gr12

C-22229 Gr3

C-22229 Gr5

C-15345 Gr13

C-22229 Gr8

The following table outlines the chemical composition of various grades of copper alloys.

+ Chemical composition of copper alloys.

Mn 4

Mn 3

Mn 3

Mn 0.25

Ni 2

Si 2

Mn 12

Mn 1

Si 4

Si 3

Si 4

Si 4.5

Si 4

Si 1

† Chemical composition may vary to yield mechanical properties

---

Brasses Brass is an alloy of copper with zinc. Brasses are usually yellow in color. The zinc content can vary between few % to about 40%; as long as it is kept under 15%, it does not markedly decrease the corrosion resistance of copper.

Brasses can be sensitive to selective leaching corrosion under certain conditions, when zinc is leached from the alloy ( dezincification), leaving behind a spongy copper structure.

• Nordic Gold

---

Bronzes A bronze is an alloy of copper and other metals, most often tin, but also alumnium and silicon.

• are alloys of copper and aluminum. The content of aluminum ranges mostly between 5% and 11%. Iron, nickel, manganese and silicon are sometimes added. They have higher strength and corrosion resistance than other bronzes, especially in marine environmentAluminium bronze, and have low reactivity to sulAluminium bronzeur compounds. Aluminum forms a thin passivation layer on the surface of the metal.
• Bell metal
• Aluminium bronzeWoldman’s Engineering Alloys, 9th Edition 1936, American Society for Metals,
• Phosphor bronze
• Nickel silver, e.g. nickel silver and cupronickel
• Speculum metal
• UNS C69100

---

Precious metal alloys Copper is often alloyed with like gold (Au) and silver (Ag).

Fe†, Hg†, Sn†, Zn†

Hg†

17.5 Zn, 11.5 Ni,

C (type I diamond)

0-4 Cd

Mn†

Pb sulfides†

Fe†, Sn†, Pb†, Zn†,

5-6 Al

Ni†, Sn†

Ni†, Zn†

† amount unspecified

---

See also

• Copper-clad steel
• Copper alloys in aquaculture
• Antimicrobial copper-alloy touch surfaces
• Lubaloy C41100

---

Bibliography

• (1992). 083112492X, Industrial Press Inc. 083112492X

---

External links

• Corrosion tests and standards: application and interpretation
• Copper Development Association
• [7]
• help for use Images of the 34 binary phase diagrams are available at http://www.gotrawama.eu/copperNIMS/PNG/

Post Comment