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list of copper alloys

{{short description|Metal alloy with copper as its principal component}}

File:Clevelandart 1990.31.jpgian foundation figure of Gudea, circa 2100 BC, made in the lost-wax cast method, overall: 17.5 x 4.5 x 7.3 cm, probably from modern-day Iraq, now in the Cleveland Museum of Art (Cleveland, Ohio, USA)]]

Copper alloys are metal alloys 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.[https://www.britishmuseum.org/research/search_the_collection_database/term_details.aspx?scopeType=Terms&scopeId=18864 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, and even in prehistoric times 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.

class="wikitable"

|+Classification of copper and its alloys

FamilyPrincipal alloying elementUNS numbers
Copper alloys, brassZinc (Zn)C1xxxx–C4xxxx,C66400–C69800
Phosphor bronzeTin (Sn)C5xxxx
Aluminium bronzesAluminium (Al)C60600–C64200
Silicon bronzesSilicon (Si)C64700–C66100
Cupronickel, nickel silversNickel (Ni)C7xxxx

class="wikitable"

|+Mechanical properties of common copper alloysLyons, William C. and Plisga, Gary J. (eds.) Standard Handbook of Petroleum & Natural Gas Engineering, Elsevier, 2006

Name

! Nominal composition (percentages)

! Form and condition

! Yield strength (0.2% offset, ksi)

! Tensile strength (ksi)

! Elongation in 2 inches (percent)

! Hardness (Brinell scale)

! Comments

rowspan="3" | Copper (ASTM B1, B2, B3, B152, B124, R133)

| rowspan="3" | Cu 99.9

| Annealed

| 10

| 32

| 45

| 42

| rowspan="3" | 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; radiators, 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

rowspan="3" | Yellow or High brass (ASTM B36, B134, B135)

| rowspan="3" | Cu 65.0, Zn 35.0

| Annealed

| 18

| 48

| 60

| 55

| rowspan="3" | Good corrosion resistance

Cold-drawn

| 55

| 70

| 15

| 115

Cold-rolled (HT)

| 60

| 74

| 10

| 180

rowspan="2" | Manganese bronze (ASTM 138)

| rowspan="2" | Cu 58.5, Zn 39.2, Fe 1.0, Sn 1.0, Mn 0.3

| Annealed

| 30

| 60

| 30

| 95

| rowspan="2" | Forgings

Cold-drawn

| 50

| 80

| 20

| 180

rowspan="2" | Naval brass (ASTM B21)

| rowspan="2" | Cu 60.0, Zn 39.25, Sn 0.75

| Annealed

| 22

| 56

| 40

| 90

| rowspan="2" | 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

| Condensor tubes

rowspan="2" | Aluminium bronze (ASTM B169 alloy A, B124, B150)

| rowspan="2" | Cu 92.0, Al 8.0

| Annealed

| 25

| 70

| 60

| 80

| rowspan="2" | —

Hard

| 65

| 105

| 7

| 210

rowspan="2" | Beryllium copper (ASTM B194, B196, B197)

| rowspan="2" | Cu 97.75, Be 2.0, Co or Ni 0.25

| Annealed, solution-treated

| 32

| 70

| 45

| B60 (Rockwell)

| rowspan="2" | Electrical, valves, pumps, oilfield tools, aerospace landing gears, robotic welding, mold making National Bronze & Metals | [https://www.avivametals.com/collections/beryllium-copper 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

rowspan="2" | Nickel silver (ASTM B122)

| rowspan="2" | Cu 65.0, Zn 17.0, Ni 18.0

| Annealed

| 25

| 58

| 40

| 70

| rowspan="2" | 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

| Easy to machine; ornaments, plumbing Lewis Brass & Company | [https://lewisbrass.com/copperalloydata/ Copper Alloy Data] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210512120930/https://lewisbrass.com/copperalloydata/ |date=2021-05-12 }}

rowspan="2" | Cupronickel (ASTM B111, B171)

| rowspan="2" | Cu 88.35, Ni 10.0, Fe 1.25, Mn 0.4

| Annealed

| 22

| 44

| 45

| –

| rowspan="2" | Condensor, salt-water pipes

Cold-drawn tube

| 57

| 60

| 15

| –

Cupronickel

| Cu 70.0, Ni 30.0

| Wrought

| –

| –

| –

| –

| Heat-exchange equipment, valves

Ounce metal[http://www.substech.com/dokuwiki/doku.php?id=cast_copper_alloy_c83600_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%

|

|

|

|

|

class="wikitable"

|+ Mechanical properties of Copper Development Association (CDA) copper alloys

rowspan=2 | Familyrowspan=2 | CDAcolspan=2 | Tensile strength [ksi]colspan=2 | Yield strength [ksi]rowspan=2 | Elongation (typ.) [%]rowspan=2 | Hardness
[Brinell 10 mm-500 kg]		rowspan=2 | Machinability [YB = 100]
Min.Typ.Min.Typ.
rowspan=3 | Red brass8333210353535
836303714173050–6584
838293512162550–6090
rowspan=2 | Semi-red brass844293413152650–6090
848253612143050–6090
rowspan=3 | Manganese bronze8629095454820170–195†30
863110119608318225†8
8656571252830130†26
rowspan=3 | Tin bronze903404518213060–7530
90540451822257530
90735441822208020
rowspan=4 | Leaded tin bronze922344016203060–7242
923364016202560–7542
926404418203065–8040
927354221207745
rowspan=7 | High-leaded tin bronze932303514182060–7070
9342532162055–6570
935253212163055–6570
936333016211579-8380
937253512182055–7080
938253014161850–6080
9432127131042–5580
rowspan=5 | Aluminium bronze9526580252735110–140†50
9536575252725140†55
9547585303518140–170†60
95590100404412180–200†50
9588595353825150-170†50
Silicon bronze878808330372911540
colspan=11 | † Brinell scale with 3000 kg load

class="wikitable"

|+ Comparison of copper alloy standards{{Citation | title = Industrial Investment Castings - Franklin Bronze | url = https://www.franklinbronze.com/capabilities/industrial-castings/ | access-date = 2009-09-07}}.

FamilyCDAASTMSAESAE supersededFederalMilitary
rowspan=3 | Red brass833
836B145-83683640QQ-C-390 (B5)C-2229 Gr2
838B145-838838QQ-C-390 (B4)
rowspan=2 | Semi-red brass844B145-844QQ-C-390 (B2)
848B145-848QQ-C-390 (B1)
rowspan=3 | Manganese bronze862B147-862862430AQQ-C-390 (C4)C-2229 Gr9
863B147-863863430BQQ-C-390 (C7)C-2229 Gr8
865B147-86586543QQ-C-390 (C3)C-2229 Gr7
rowspan=3 | Tin bronze903B143-903903620QQ-C-390 (D5)C-2229 Gr1
905B143-90590562QQ-C-390 (D6)
90790765
rowspan=4 | Leaded tin bronze922B143-922922622QQ-C-390 (D4)B-16541
923B143-923923621QQ-C-390 (D3)C-15345 Gr10
926926
92792763
rowspan=6 | High-leaded tin bronze932B144-932932660QQ-C-390 (E7)C-15345 Gr12
934QQ-C-390 (E8)C-22229 Gr3
935B144-93593566QQ-C-390 (E9)
937B144-93793764QQ-C-390 (E10)
938B144-93893867QQ-C-390 (E6)
943B144-943943QQ-C-390 (E1)
rowspan=5 | Aluminium bronze952B148-95295268AQQ-C-390 (G6)C-22229 Gr5
953B148-95395368BQQ-C-390 (G7)
954B148-954954QQ-C-390 (G5)C-15345 Gr13
955B148-955955QQ-C-390 (G3)C-22229 Gr8
958QQ-C-390 (G8)
Silicon bronze878B30878

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

class="wikitable"

|+ Chemical composition of copper alloys{{Citation | title = Brass and Bronze Alloys | url = http://www.ischumann.com/brass_bronze.html | access-date = 2009-09-08 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090825225125/http://www.ischumann.com/brass_bronze.html | archive-date = 2009-08-25 | url-status = dead }}.

FamilyCDAAMSUNSCu [%]Sn [%]Pb [%]Zn [%]Ni [%]Fe [%]Al [%]Other [%]
rowspan=4 | Red brass833C83300931.51.54
C83400{{Citation | title = UNS C83400 | url = http://www.efunda.com/materials/alloys/copper/show_copper.cfm?ID=UNS_C83400&show_prop=all&Page_Title=UNS%20C83400 | access-date = 2009-09-08}}.9010
8364855BC8360085555
838C8380083467
rowspan=3 | Semi-red brass844C8440081379
845C84500783712
848C84800763615
rowspan=4 | Manganese bronzeC86100{{Citation | title = UNS C86100 | url = http://www.efunda.com/materials/alloys/copper/show_copper.cfm?ID=UNS_C86100&show_prop=all&Page_Title=UNS%20C86100 | access-date = 2009-09-08}}.670.52135Mn 4
862†C86200642634Mn 3
863†4862BC86300632536Mn 3
8654860AC86500580.539.511Mn 0.25
rowspan=3 | Tin bronze903C903008884
9054845DC9050088100.3 max2
907C9070089110.5 max0.5 max
rowspan=4 | Leaded tin bronze922C922008861.54.5
923C923008781 max4
9264846AC92600871012
927C92700881020.7 max
rowspan=6 | High-leaded tin bronze932C9320083773
934C9340084880.7 max
935C93500855910.5 max
9374842AC937008010100.7 max
938C93800787150.75 max
9434840AC94300705250.7 max
rowspan=8 | Aluminium bronze952C952008839
953C9520089110
9544870B
4872B		C9540085411
C95410{{Citation | title = UNS C95410 | url = http://www.efunda.com/materials/alloys/copper/show_copper.cfm?ID=UNS_C95410&show_prop=all&Page_Title=UNS%20C95410 | access-date = 2009-09-08}}.85411Ni 2
955C95500814411
C95600{{Citation | title = UNS C95600 | url = http://www.efunda.com/materials/alloys/copper/show_copper.cfm?ID=UNS_C95600&show_prop=all&Page_Title=UNS%20C95600 | access-date = 2009-09-08}}.917Si 2
C95700{{Citation | title = UNS C95700 | url = http://www.efunda.com/materials/alloys/copper/show_copper.cfm?ID=UNS_C95700%20&show_prop=all&Page_Title=UNS%20C95700 | access-date = 2009-09-08}}.75238Mn 12
958C9580081549Mn 1
rowspan=6 | Silicon bronzeC87200{{Citation | title = UNS C87200 | url = http://www.efunda.com/materials/alloys/copper/show_copper.cfm?ID=UNS_C87200&show_prop=all&Page_Title=UNS%20C87200 | access-date = 2009-09-08}}.89Si 4
C87400{{Citation | title = UNS C87400 | url = http://www.efunda.com/materials/alloys/copper/show_copper.cfm?ID=UNS_C87400&show_prop=all&Page_Title=UNS%20C87400 | access-date = 2009-09-08}}.8314Si 3
C87500{{Citation | title = UNS C87500 | url = http://www.efunda.com/materials/alloys/copper/show_copper.cfm?ID=UNS_C87500&show_prop=all&Page_Title=UNS%20C87500 | access-date = 2009-09-08}}.8214Si 4
C87600{{Citation | title = UNS C87600 | url = http://www.efunda.com/materials/alloys/copper/show_copper.cfm?ID=UNS_C87600&show_prop=all&Page_Title=UNS%20C87600 | access-date = 2009-09-08}}.905.5Si 4.5
878C87800{{Citation | title = UNS C87800 | url = http://www.efunda.com/materials/alloys/copper/show_copper.cfm?ID=UNS_C87800&show_prop=all&Page_Title=UNS%20C87800 | access-date = 2009-09-08}}.8014Si 4
C87900{{Citation | title = UNS C87900 | url = http://www.efunda.com/materials/alloys/copper/show_copper.cfm?ID=UNS_C87900&show_prop=all&Page_Title=UNS%20C87900 | access-date = 2009-09-08}}.6534Si 1
colspan=12 | † Chemical composition may vary to yield mechanical properties

Brasses

File:Section 23 2D CU-SI.png

File:Section 1 2D AL-CU.png

File:Binary Cu Sn phase diagram, generated using NIMS Open database Cu-Sn and Computherm Pandat https---computherm.com-.png

File:Cu Zn phase diagram.png

{{main|Brass}}

A brass is an alloy of copper with zinc. Brasses are usually yellow in colour. 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

{{main|Bronze}}

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% and 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 sulphur compounds. Aluminium forms a thin passivation layer on the surface of the metal.
  • Bell metal
  • Brastil{{cite web | url=https://www.utoledo.edu/library/canaday/HTML_findingaids/MSS-202.html | title=Doehler-Jarvis Company Collection, MSS-202 }}Woldman’s Engineering Alloys, 9th Edition 1936, American Society for Metals, {{ISBN|978-0-87170-691-1}}
  • Phosphor bronze
  • Nickel bronzes, e.g. nickel silver and cupronickel
  • Speculum metal
  • UNS C69100

Precious metal alloys

Copper is often alloyed with precious metals like gold (Au) and silver (Ag).

class="wikitable sortable"
NameCu [%]Au [%]Ag [%]Other [%]
Auricupride††
Ashtadhatu†††Fe†, Hg†, Sn†, Zn†
Billon††Hg†
Chinese silver58217.5 Zn, 11.5 Ni,
Corinthian bronze†††
CuSil2872
Dymalloy2080C (type I diamond)
Electrum, Green gold6-2375-800-150-4 Cd
Grey gold††Mn†
Guanín255618
Hepatizon†tracetrace
Niello††Pb sulfides†
Panchaloha†††Fe†, Sn†, Pb†, Zn†,
Rose, red, and pink gold20-5050-750-5
Spangold18-19765-6 Al
Shakudō90-964-10
Shibuichi40-770-123-60
Tibetan silver††Ni†, Sn†
Tumbaga3-973-97
White gold††Ni†, Zn†

† amount unspecified

See also

References

{{reflist|25em}}

=Bibliography=

  • {{cite book |first1=Erik |last1=Oberg |first2=Franklin D. |last2=Jones |first3=Holbrook L. |last3=Horton |year=1992 |title=Machinery's Handbook |edition=24 |page=501 |publisher=Industrial Press Inc |location=New York |isbn=0-8311-2492-X}}

External links

  • [https://books.google.com/books?id=8C7pXhnqje4C&dq=alloy+number+copper&pg=PA565 Corrosion tests and standards: application and interpretation]
  • [http://www.copper.org/ Copper Development Association]
  • [http://www.tarasreetechnocast.com/]
  • Copper Binary Phase Diagrams generation code (batch file - http://www.gotrawama.eu/copperNIMS/ramefabio.txt ) using open thermodynamic databases available at NIMS https://cpddb.nims.go.jp/cpddb/periodic.htm and a commercial software, Computherm Pandat, available for free at https://computherm.com/ ( help for use https://computherm.com/docs/pandat_manual.pdf. Images of the 34 binary phase diagrams are available at http://www.gotrawama.eu/copperNIMS/PNG/

Category:Sculpture materials