Copper alloys
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'''Copper alloys''' are [[alloys]] with [[copper]] as their principal component. They have high resistance to [[corrosion]].
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.
{| class="wikitable"
|+Classification of copper and its alloys
|-
!Family!!Principal alloying element!!UNS numbers
|-
|Copper alloys, brass||Zinc (Zn)||C1xxxx–C4xxxx,C66400–C69800
|-
|Phosphor bronzes||Tin (Sn)||C5xxxx
|-
|Aluminium bronzes||Aluminium (Al)||C60600–C64200
|-
|Silicon bronzes||Silicon (Si)||C64700–C66100
|-
|Copper nickel, nickel silvers||Nickel (Ni)||C7xxxx
|}
===Some common Copper alloys<ref>Lyons, William C. and Plisga, Gary J. (eds.) ''Standard Handbook of Petroleum & Natural Gas Engineering'', Elsevier, 2006</ref>===
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Name
! Nominal composition<ref>percent</ref>
! Form and condition
! Yield strength<ref>0.2% offset, 1000 lb /in²</ref>
! Tensile strength<ref>1000 lb /in²</ref>
! Elongation<ref>in 2 inches, percent</ref>
! Hardness<ref>[[Brinell scale]]</ref>
! Comments
|-
| Copper ([[ASTM International|ASTM]] B1, B2, B3, B152, B124, R133)
| Cu 99.9
| Annealed
| 10
| 32
| 45
| 42
| Electrical equipment, roofing, screens
|-
| <center>"</center>
| <center>"</center>
| Cold-drawn
| 40
| 45
| 15
| 90
| <center>"</center>
|-
| <center>"</center>
| <center>"</center>
| Cold-rolled
| 40
| 46
| 5
| 100
| <center>"</center>
|-
| [[Gilding metal]] (ASTM B36)
| Cu 95.0, Zn 5.0
| Cold-rolled
| 50
| 56
| 5
| 114
| Coins, ammunition casings
|-
| [[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
|-
| [[Phosphor bronze]] (ASTM B103, B139, B159)
| Cu 70.0, Sn 10.0, P 0.25
| Spring temper
| —
| 122
| 4
| 241
| High fatigue-strength and spring qualities
|-
| Yellow or High brass (ASTM B36, B134, B135)
| Cu 65.0, Zn 35.0
| Annealed
| 18
| 48
| 60
| 55
| Good corrosion resistance
|-
| <center>"</center>
| <center>"</center>
| Cold-drawn
| 55
| 70
| 15
| 115
| <center>"</center>
|-
| <center>"</center>
| <center>"</center>
| Cold-rolled (HT)
| 60
| 74
| 10
| 180
| <center>"</center>
|-
| Manganese bronze (ASTM 138)
| Cu 58.5, Zn 39.2, Fe 1.0, Sn 1.0, Mn 0.3
| Annealed
| 30
| 60
| 30
| 95
| Forgings
|-
| <center>"</center>
| <center>"</center>
| Cold-drawn
| 50
| 80
| 20
| 180
| <center>"</center>
|-
| Naval brass (ASTM B21)
| Cu 60.0, Zn 39.25, Sn 0.75
| Annealed
| 22
| 56
| 40
| 90
| Resistance to salt corrosion
|-
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| <center>"</center>
| Cold-drawn
| 40
| 65
| 35
| 150
| <center>"</center>
|-
| [[Muntz metal]] (ASTM B111)
| Cu 60.0, Zn 40.0
| Annealed
| 20
| 54
| 45
| 80
| Condensor tubes
|-
| [[Aluminium bronze]] (ASTM B169 alloy A, B124, B150)
| Cu 92.0, Al 8.0
| Annealed
| 25
| 70
| 60
| 80
| —
|-
| <center>"</center>
| <center>"</center>
| Hard
| 65
| 105
| 7
| 210
| <center>"</center>
|-
| [[Beryllium copper]] (ASTM B194, B196, B197)
| Cu 97.75, Be 2.0, Co or Ni 0.25
| Annealed, solution-treated
| 32
| 70
| 45
| B60 ([[Rockwell scale|Rockwell]])
| Electrical, valves, pumps
|-
| <center>"</center>
| <center>"</center>
| Cold-rolled
| 104
| 110
| 5
| B81 (Rockwell)
| <center>"</center>
|-
| Free-cutting brass
| Cu 62.0, Zn 35.5, Pb 2.5
| Cold-drawn
| 44
| 70
| 18
| B80 (Rockwell)
| Screws, nuts, gears, keys
|-
| [[Nickel silver]] (ASTM B112)
| Cu 65.0, Zn 17.0, Ni 18.0
| Annealed
| 25
| 58
| 40
| 70
| Hardware
|-
| <center>"</center>
| <center>"</center>
| Cold-rolled
| 70
| 85
| 4
| 170
| <center>"</center>
|-
| 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
|-
| [[Cupronickel]] (ASTM B111, B171)
| Cu 88.35, Ni 10.0, Fe 1.25, Mn 0.4
| Annealed
| 22
| 44
| 45
| –
| Condensor, salt-water pipes
|-
| <center>"</center>
| <center>"</center>
| Cold-drawn tube
| 57
| 60
| 15
| –
| <center>"</center>
|-
| Cupronickel
| Cu 70.0, Ni 30.0
| Wrought
| –
| –
| –
| –
| Heat-exchange equipment, valves
|-
| [[Gunmetal|Red brass]] (ASTM B30 4A)
| Cu 85.0, Zn 5.0, Pb 5.0, Sn 5.0
| Cast
| 17
| 35
| 25
| 60
| —
|}
{{reflist}}
==Brasses==
{{main|Brass}}
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==
{{main|Bronze}}
A [[bronze]] is an alloy of copper and other metals, most often [[tin]], but also [[aluminium]] and [[silicon]].
* [[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 thin [[passivation layer]] on the surface of the metal.
* [[Phosphor bronze]]
* [[Nickel]] bronzes, e.g. [[nickel silver]] and [[cupronickel]]
==Precious metal alloys==
Copper is often alloyed with [[precious metal]]s like [[silver]] and [[gold]], to create, for example, [[Corinthian bronze]], [[hepatizon]], [[tumbaga]] and [[shakudo]].
==See 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]
[[Category:Alloys]]
[[Category:Copper alloys| ]]
[[Category:Cables]]
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