What types of alloys are included in copper alloys?
Copper alloys are alloys that are based on copper and other metal elements (such as zinc, tin, aluminum, manganese, nickel, etc.) are added to improve their properties. Different types of copper alloys have different characteristics and are widely used in many fields such as construction, electronics, electrical, machinery, etc. The following are common types of copper alloys:
Brass
Main ingredients: copper and zinc.
Features: Brass has good machinability, corrosion resistance, good electrical and thermal conductivity. Its color varies from golden yellow to red, depending on the content of zinc.
Common types:
Pure brass: The zinc content is usually between 5% and 45%, and it is often used to make coins, hardware, musical instruments, etc.
Lead brass: Lead (usually 1% -3%) is added to improve cutting performance and is used in the manufacture of precision machinery parts.
Aluminum brass: Aluminum (usually 3% -10%) is added to improve corrosion resistance and is widely used in ships, seawater equipment, etc.
Bronze
Main components: copper and tin.
Features: Bronze has high corrosion resistance, good strength and toughness, and is often used to make mechanical parts that withstand high loads and require wear resistance.
Common types:
Tin Bronze: An alloy of copper and tin, with a tin content usually between 5% and 15%. It is often used in the manufacture of electrical contacts, bearings, and gears.
Aluminum bronze: Added to aluminum (usually 5% -12%), it has high strength and corrosion resistance, and is suitable for applications in high-load, corrosive environments, such as seawater and chemical equipment.
Phosphorus bronze: contains a small amount of phosphorus (0.1% -0.5%), has good wear resistance and elasticity, and is often used in springs and wear-resistant parts.
Copper (Electrolytic Copper)
Main ingredient: pure copper (copper content is usually more than 99.9%).
Features: Copper has very high electrical and thermal conductivity, making it suitable for use in the power and electronics industries.
Application: Widely used in wires, cables, transformers, motors and electrical contacts, etc.
Copper-Nickel Alloys
Main components: copper and nickel.
Features: Copper-nickel alloys have good seawater corrosion resistance, high temperature resistance and strength. Often used in marine environments.
Common types:
CuNi10Fe: contains nickel (10%) and iron, has good corrosion resistance, and is widely used in marine, marine and chemical equipment.
CuNi30: containing 30% nickel, it has strong resistance to seawater corrosion and is often used in shipbuilding and marine engineering.
Copper Aluminum Alloy (Aluminum Bronze)
Main components: copper and aluminum.
Features: Copper-aluminum alloy has high strength, excellent wear resistance and corrosion resistance, especially in seawater.
Application: Used in high wear-resistant mechanical parts, ship parts, aerospace and other fields.
Manganese Bronze
Main components: copper, manganese, aluminum and iron.
Features: It has high strength, wear resistance and good corrosion resistance. It is often used in heavy machinery, ships, bridges and other structural components.
Application: Usually used to make high-strength gears, bearings, valves and other mechanical components.
Beryllium Copper
Main components: copper and beryllium (usually 0.5% -3%).
Features: Beryllium copper alloy has high strength, good electrical conductivity, thermal conductivity and corrosion resistance, and good elasticity. Due to the presence of beryllium, its strength and hardness are significantly improved.
Applications: Widely used in high-precision electronic components, springs, connectors, aerospace, and military applications.
Nickel Bronze
Main ingredients: copper, nickel, zinc and iron.
Features: Nickel bronze alloys have excellent corrosion resistance and good mechanical properties, and are often used in the manufacture of high-strength components in marine, chemical, and marine applications.
Leaded Copper Alloys
Main components: copper and lead (lead content is generally 2% -4%).
Features: The addition of lead makes it have excellent processing performance, suitable for areas requiring high cutting performance.
Application: Widely used in the manufacture of precision machinery parts, automotive parts, etc.
The combination and proportion of these copper alloys will be adjusted according to the different applications to meet various needs. Different alloys have different advantages and disadvantages in terms of strength, corrosion resistance, electrical conductivity, thermal conductivity, etc., and the selection needs to be determined according to the actual working environment and application.
