- Gunmetal
Gunmetal is a type of
bronze – analloy ofcopper ,tin , andzinc .cite web | last = | first = | title =Gunmetal | url=http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-gunmetal.html | accessdate = 2008-04-09] Originally used chiefly for making guns, gunmetal was superseded bysteel . It is called red brass in America. [cite web | last = | first = | title =Gunmetal | url=http://www.diracdelta.co.uk/science/source/g/u/gunmetal/source.html | accessdate = 2008-04-09] Gunmetal is resistant to corrosion fromsteam andsalt water , and is thus suitable forvalve s,pump parts and steam fittings.cite web | last = | first = | title =Gunmetal | url=http://www.britannica.com/eb/article-9038526/gunmetal | accessdate = 2008-04-09]Gunmetals produced for different purposes vary slightly in composition. In some cases, the alloy may be composed only from copper and tin, or from copper, tin, and
lead . It has many uses in industry, and is used for statues and various small objects, e.g. buttons. U.S. Government bronze specification G is a gunmetal composed of 88% copper, 10% tin, and 2% zinc. U.S. Government bronze specification H is composed of 83% copper, 14% tin, 3% zinc, and 0.8% phosphorus.Fact|date=April 2008Gunmetal can also mean steel treated to simulate gunmetal bronze. Brushes made of this metal are used in machinery.
Other uses
The British
Victoria Cross , the highest award for military valour, is made using metal from a cannon captured at the Siege of Sevastopol during theCrimean War .References
External links
* [http://www.npi.gov.au/database/substance-info/profiles/27.html National Pollutant Inventory (Australia) - Copper and compounds fact sheet]
Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.