List of Copper Alloys
List of Copper Alloys
List of Copper 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. There are as many as 400 different copper and copper-alloy compositions loosely grouped into the categories: copper, high copper alloy, brasses, bronzes, copper nickels, coppernickelzinc (nickel silver), leaded copper, and special alloys. 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.
Copper (ASTM B1, B2, B3, B152, B124, R133) " " Gilding metal (ASTM B36)
Cu 99.9
Annealed
32
45
42
40 40 50
45 46 56
15 5 5
90 100 114
Cartridge brass (ASTM Cu 70.0, Zn 30.0 B14, B19, B36, B134, B135)
Cold-rolled
63
76
155
Good for cold-working; radiators, hardware, electrical, drawn cartridge cases. High fatigue-strength and spring qualities
Spring temper
122
241
2
Cu 65.0, Zn 35.0 Annealed 18 48 60 55 Good corrosion resistance
" "
55 60
70 74
15 10
115 180
" "
Cu 58.5, Zn 39.2, Fe 1.0, Sn 1.0, Mn 0.3 " Cu 60.0, Zn 39.25, Sn 0.75 " Cu 60.0, Zn 40.0
30
60
30
95
Forgings
" Naval brass (ASTM B21) " Muntz metal (ASTM B111) Aluminium bronze (ASTM B169 alloy A, B124, B150) " Beryllium copper (ASTM B194, B196, B197)
Cold-drawn Annealed
50 22
80 56
20 40
180 90
Cold-drawn Annealed
40 20
65 54
35 45
150 80
Cu 92.0, Al 8.0
Annealed
25
70
60
80
65 32
105 70
7 45
" Electrical, valves, pumps, oilfield tools, aerospace landing gears, robotic welding, mold [3] making "
"
"
Cold-rolled
104
110
Free-cutting brass
Cu 62.0, Zn 35.5, Pb 2.5 Cu 65.0, Zn 17.0, Ni 18.0 " Cu 76.5, Ni 12.5, Pb 9.0, Sn 2.0 Cu 88.35, Ni 10.0, Fe 1.25, Mn 0.4 " Cu 70.0, Ni 30.0
Cold-drawn
44
70
18
Nickel silver (ASTM B112) " Nickel silver (ASTM B149) Cupronickel (ASTM B111, B171) " Cupronickel
Annealed
25
58
40
Hardware
Cold-rolled Cast
70 18
85 35
4 15
170 55
" Easy to machine; ornaments, plumbing Condensor, salt-water pipes " Heat-exchange equipment, valves
Annealed
22
44
45
60
15
[4] Ounce metal Copper Cu 85.0, Zn 5.0, Pb Cast 5.0, Sn 5.0 Alloy C83600 (also known as "Red brass" or "composition metal") (ASTM B62) Gunmetal (known as "red brass" in US) Varies Cu 80-90%, Zn <5%, Sn ~10%, +other elements@ <1%
17
37
25
60
Typ. 32
Hardness [Brinell 10mm-500kg] 35 5065 5060 5060 5060 170195 225 130 6075 75 80 6072 6075 6580 77 6070 5565 5565 79-83 5570 5060 80 110140 140 140170 180200 150-170 115
35 30 25 26 30 20 18 30 30 25 20 30 25 30 20 20 20 30 15 20 18 4255 35 25 18 12 25 29
35 84 90 90 90 30 8 26 30 30 20 42 42 40 45 70 70 70 80 80 80
30 29 29 25 90 110 65 40 40 35 34 36 40 35 30 25 25 33 25 25 27 65 65 75 90 85 80
37 35 34 36 95 119 71 45 45 44 40 40 44 42 35 32 32 30 35 30
80 75 85 100 95 83
25 25 30 40 35 30
50 55 60 50 50 40
878
The following table outlines the chemical composition of various grades of copper alloys.
85 81 4
4 4
11 11 7
Ni 2
[10] 91 [11] 75 81 2 5 3 4
Si 2 Mn 12 Mn 1
8 9
6
Si 4 Si 3 Si 4 Si 4.5 Si 4 Si 1
Silicon bronze
Brasses
A 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 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.
Bronzes
A bronze is an alloy of copper and other metals, most often tin, but also aluminium and silicon. Aluminium bronzes are alloys of copper and aluminium. The content of aluminium ranges mostly between 5-11%. Iron, nickel, manganese and silicon are sometimes added. They have higher strength and corrosion resistance than other bronzes, especially in marine environment, and have low reactivity to sulfur compounds. Aluminium forms a thin passivation layer on the surface of the metal. Bell metal Phosphor bronze Nickel bronzes, e.g. nickel silver and cupronickel Speculum metal UNS C69100
References
[1] British Museum, "Scope Note" for "copper alloy" (http:/ / www. britishmuseum. org/ research/ search_the_collection_database/ term_details. aspx?scopeType=Terms& scopeId=18864) [2] Lyons, William C. and Plisga, Gary J. (eds.) Standard Handbook of Petroleum & Natural Gas Engineering, Elsevier, 2006 [3] National Bronze & Metals | http:/ / www. nbmmetals. com/ products/ copper-alloys/ beryllium-copper. html [4] Cast copper alloy C83600 (Ounce Metal) (http:/ / www. substech. com/ dokuwiki/ doku. php?id=cast_copper_alloy_c83600_ounce_metal) substech.com [5] . [6] . [7] . [8] . [9] . [10] . [11] .
Bibliography
Erik Oberg, Franklin D. Jones and Holbrook L. Horton (1992). Machinery's Handbook (24 ed.). New York: Industrial Press Inc. p.501. ISBN0-8311-2492-X.
External links
Corrosion tests and standards: application and interpretation (http://books.google.com/ books?id=8C7pXhnqje4C&pg=PA565&dq=alloy+number+copper&as_brr=3& ei=qdamSqTdKZK0MKmcvKoK&client=firefox-a#v=onepage&q=alloy number copper&f=false) Copper Development Association (http://www.copper.org/) Free Cutting Brass and Copper Alloys (http://www.jayjalaramext.com/ free-cutting-brass-rods-chemical-composition/)
License
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