List of copper alloys


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.
Copper deposits are abundant in most parts of the world, and it has therefore always been a relatively cheap metal. By contrast, tin is relatively rare, and in Europe and the Mediterranean region, even in prehistoric times, it 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, 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.
FamilyPrincipal alloying elementUNS numbers
Copper alloys, brassZinc C1xxxx-C4xxxx,C66400-C69800
Phosphor bronzeTin C5xxxx
Aluminium bronzesAluminium C60600-C64200
Silicon bronzesSilicon C64700-C66100
Cupronickel, nickel silversNickel C7xxxx

NameNominal composition Form and conditionYield strength Tensile strength Elongation in 2 inches Hardness Comments
Copper Cu 99.9Annealed10324542Electrical equipment, roofing, screens
Copper Cu 99.9Cold-drawn40451590Electrical equipment, roofing, screens
Copper Cu 99.9Cold-rolled40465100Electrical equipment, roofing, screens
Gilding metal Cu 95.0, Zn 5.0Cold-rolled50565114Coins, bullet jackets
Cartridge brass Cu 70.0, Zn 30.0Cold-rolled63768155Good for cold-working; radiators, hardware, electrical, drawn cartridge cases.
Phosphor bronze Cu 89.75, Sn 10.0, P 0.25Spring temper—1224241High fatigue-strength and spring qualities
Yellow or High brass Cu 65.0, Zn 35.0Annealed18486055Good corrosion resistance
Yellow or High brass Cu 65.0, Zn 35.0Cold-drawn557015115Good corrosion resistance
Yellow or High brass Cu 65.0, Zn 35.0Cold-rolled 607410180Good corrosion resistance
Manganese bronze Cu 58.5, Zn 39.2, Fe 1.0, Sn 1.0, Mn 0.3Annealed30603095Forgings
Manganese bronze Cu 58.5, Zn 39.2, Fe 1.0, Sn 1.0, Mn 0.3Cold-drawn508020180Forgings
Naval brass Cu 60.0, Zn 39.25, Sn 0.75Annealed22564090Resistance to salt corrosion
Naval brass Cu 60.0, Zn 39.25, Sn 0.75Cold-drawn406535150Resistance to salt corrosion
Muntz metal Cu 60.0, Zn 40.0Annealed20544580Condenser tubes
Aluminium bronze Cu 92.0, Al 8.0Annealed25706080—
Aluminium bronze Cu 92.0, Al 8.0Hard651057210—
Beryllium copper Cu 97.75, Be 2.0, Co or Ni 0.25Annealed, solution-treated327045B60 Electrical, valves, pumps, oilfield tools, aerospace landing gears, robotic welding, mold making
Beryllium copper Cu 97.75, Be 2.0, Co or Ni 0.25Cold-rolled1041105B81 Electrical, valves, pumps, oilfield tools, aerospace landing gears, robotic welding, mold making
Free-cutting brassCu 62.0, Zn 35.5, Pb 2.5Cold-drawn447018B80 Screws, nuts, gears, keys
Nickel silver Cu 65.0, Zn 17.0, Ni 18.0Annealed25584070Hardware
Nickel silver Cu 65.0, Zn 17.0, Ni 18.0Cold-rolled70854170Hardware
Nickel silver Cu 76.5, Ni 12.5, Pb 9.0, Sn 2.0Cast18351555Easy to machine; ornaments, plumbing
Cupronickel Cu 88.35, Ni 10.0, Fe 1.25, Mn 0.4Annealed224445–Condenser, salt-water pipes
Cupronickel Cu 88.35, Ni 10.0, Fe 1.25, Mn 0.4Cold-drawn tube576015–Condenser, salt-water pipes
CupronickelCu 70.0, Ni 30.0Wrought––––Heat-exchange equipment, valves
Ounce metal Copper alloy C83600 Cu 85.0, Zn 5.0, Pb 5.0, Sn 5.0Cast17372560—
Gunmetal Varies Cu 80-90%, Zn <5%, Sn ~10%, +other elements@ <1%-

FamilyCDAASTMSAESAE supersededFederalMilitary
Red brass833
Red brass836B145-83683640QQ-C-390 C-2229 Gr2
Red brass838B145-838838QQ-C-390
Semi-red brass844B145-844QQ-C-390
Semi-red brass848B145-848QQ-C-390
Manganese bronze862B147-862862430AQQ-C-390 C-2229 Gr9
Manganese bronze863B147-863863430BQQ-C-390 C-2229 Gr8
Manganese bronze865B147-86586543QQ-C-390 C-2229 Gr7
Tin bronze903B143-903903620QQ-C-390 C-2229 Gr1
Tin bronze905B143-90590562QQ-C-390
Tin bronze90790765
Leaded tin bronze922B143-922922622QQ-C-390 B-16541
Leaded tin bronze923B143-923923621QQ-C-390 C-15345 Gr10
Leaded tin bronze926926
Leaded tin bronze92792763
High-leaded tin bronze932B144-932932660QQ-C-390 C-15345 Gr12
High-leaded tin bronze934QQ-C-390 C-22229 Gr3
High-leaded tin bronze935B144-93593566QQ-C-390
High-leaded tin bronze937B144-93793764QQ-C-390
High-leaded tin bronze938B144-93893867QQ-C-390
High-leaded tin bronze943B144-943943QQ-C-390
Aluminium bronze952B148-95295268AQQ-C-390 C-22229 Gr5
Aluminium bronze953B148-95395368BQQ-C-390
Aluminium bronze954B148-954954QQ-C-390 C-15345 Gr13
Aluminium bronze955B148-955955QQ-C-390 C-22229 Gr8
Aluminium bronze958QQ-C-390
Silicon bronze878B30878

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