- Copper alloys
Copper alloys are
alloys withcopper as their principal component. They have high resistance tocorrosion .Due to its high electric conductivity, pure electrolytic copper is used mostly for making of
electrical cable s.Compositions
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, copper–nickel–zinc (nickel silver), leaded copper, and special alloys. The following table lists the principal alloying element for four of the more common types, along with the name for each type.
ome common Copper alloys [Lyons, William C. and Plisga, Gary J. (eds.) "Standard Handbook of Petroleum & Natural Gas Engineering", Elsevier, 2006]
Brasses
A
brass is an alloy of copper withzinc . 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 oftentin , but alsoaluminium andsilicon .*
Aluminium bronze s 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 thinpassivation layer on the surface of the metal.*
Phosphor bronze *
Nickel bronzes, e.g.nickel silver andcupronickel Precious metal alloys
Copper is often alloyed with
precious metal s likesilver andgold , to create, for example,Corinthian bronze ,hepatizon ,tumbaga andshakudo .ee also
*
Copper clad steel References
* Machinery's Handbook, Industrial Press Inc, New York, ISBN 0-8311-2492-X, Edition 24, page 501
External links
* [http://www.npi.gov.au/database/substance-info/profiles/27.html National Pollutant Inventory - Copper and compounds fact sheet]
* [http://www.ldmbrass.com The Dutch Brass Alloys Manufacturer]
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