Bronze – Materials and norms

This aluminum bronze alloy has high strength and wear resistance and is therefore suitable for cog and worm gears, bushings or bearings.

This aluminum bronze alloy has been especially developed to be used in forming rolls and bending and wiping blocks. It exhibits outstanding hardness, great compressive strength and good friction properties at the same time.

AMPCO83 is an alloy of copper, beryllium, cobalt and nickel. It can be used in electrical and welding components where good electrical or thermal conductivity and solid mechanical properties are required.

This alloy exhibits high strength and ductility as well as high wear-, corrosion- and erosion resistance. It is used for heavy duty components, e.g. in gears (pinions), bushings, grommets, sleeves, spacers etc. CuAl9Fe3 is similar to CuAl10Fe2.

CuAl9Mn2 is a durable aluminum bronze which is used in production of gears, bushings or plastic injection

CuAl10Fe2 is an extremely hard and tough bronze that can withstand not only static and dynamic loads, but also seawater, corrosion and erosion. It works well even at higher temperatures. It is used in transmissions (shafts, worm and gear wheels, rims, bearings), but also for sliding elements, components of control systems in hydraulics (guide bushes), screws, bolts, nuts, valve seats and forgings.

CuAl10Fe3Mn2 is suitable for the construction of engine components that must withstand dynamic loads, vibrations or shocks. It is used in transmissions (shafts, worm and gear wheels, rims, bearings), but also for sliding elements, components of control systems in hydraulics (guide bushes), screws, bolts, nuts, valve seats and forgings.

CuAl10Fe4Ni4 is an older Czech designation for CuAl10Ni5Fe4 (CW307G). It is one of the most popular aluminum bronzes. This material has high strength (even at temperatures around 400°C), resistance to erosion, cavitation, abrasion, corrosion (even in seawater) and good fatigue life. However, the machinability is quite poor. Sliding properties are good if enough lubrication is provided. It is used in components exposed to high mechanical or chemical stress such as bearing bushes and pressure nuts, as well as on steam fittings, slip rings, cog and worm gears, mechanical joints, bushings, condenser plates and heat exchangers, etc. CuAl10Ni5Fe4 is similar to CuAl10Fe5Ni5.

It is one of the most popular aluminum bronzes. This material has high strength, resistance to erosion, cavitation, abrasion, corrosion (even in seawater) and good fatigue life. However, the machinability is quite poor. Sliding properties are good if enough lubrication is provided. It is used in components exposed to high mechanical or chemical stress (shocks, friction, corrosion environment at higher temperatures) such as bearing bushes and pressure nuts, as well as steam fittings, slip rings, cog and worm gears, mechanical joints, bushings, etc. CuAl10Fe5Ni5 is similar to CuAl10Ni5Fe4 and CuAl10Ni.

CuAl10Ni is the German designation for CuAl10Fe5Ni5. It is one of the most popular aluminum bronzes. This material has high strength, resistance to erosion, cavitation, abrasion, corrosion (even in seawater) and good fatigue life. However, machinability is more difficult. Sliding properties are good as long as sufficient lubrication is ensured. However, the machinability is quite poor. Sliding properties are good if enough lubrication is provided. It is used in components exposed to high mechanical or chemical stress (shocks, friction, corrosion environment at higher temperatures) such as bearing bushes and pressure nuts, as well as steam fittings, slip rings, cog and worm gears, mechanical joints, bushings, etc. CuAl10Ni is similar to CuAl10Ni5Fe4.

It is one of the most popular aluminum bronzes. This material has high strength (even at temperatures around 400° C), resistance to erosion, cavitation, abrasion, corrosion (even in seawater) and good fatigue life. However, the machinability is quite poor. Sliding properties are good if enough lubrication is provided. It is used in components exposed to high mechanical or chemical stress such as bearing bushes and pressure nuts, as well as steam fittings, slip rings, cog and worm gears, mechanical joints, bushings, condenser blades, heat exchangers, etc. CuAl10Ni5Fe4 is similar to CuAl10Fe5Ni5 and CuAl10Ni.

This material has almost the same properties as CuAl10x alloys. It has even greater strength and resistance to cavitation and wear, so it can be used in extremely heavy duty bearings, worm gears, valves, cover plates, dies or high-pressure steam fittings. CuAl11Fe6Ni is also used in production of ship components.

This material has high strength, resistance to erosion, cavitation, abrasion, corrosion (even in seawater) and good fatigue life. It is used on valves (bushings, seats, pistons), pumps, bolts, worm gears, sliding plates, welding jaws, bearings, rings, gears and generally on components that are exposed to saline water.

CuNi10Fe1.6Mn is one of the most corrosion-resistant copper alloys, so it is used in shipbuilding, desalination plants, cladding, pipes, flanges, heat exchangers, boilers, evaporators or fire extinguishing systems.

CuNi15Zn21 is also referred to as alpaca, white brass, nickel brass, pakfong or new silver. In engineering, it can be used for water pipes or heating spirals. Alpaca is known mainly for door handles and windows, jewelry, musical instruments or dishes.

CuNi30 is characterized by excellent corrosion resistance in seawater and high strength. It is thus used in shipbuilding, on pipes exposed to saline water, heat exchangers, condensers, oil coolers, desalination plants, etc.

CuSn3Pb7Zn9 (CB490K) is characterized by excellent mechanical properties and resistance to wear and corrosion. This alloy contains approximately 3% tin, 7% lead, and 9% zinc, combining strength, wear and corrosion resistance, and machinability. Its tensile strength ranges between 180–220 MPa and hardness reaches 60–70 HB, ensuring reliable performance even in demanding operating conditions. CuSn3Pb7Zn9 (CB490K) is suitable for manufacturing components exposed to high mechanical stress and requiring long-term durability: valves, pumps, plain bearings, marine shafts, gears, and electrical contacts.

CuSn5Zn5Pb5 can be classified somewhere between tin and lead bronze and it is also known under the name Rg5 or as red bronze. This alloy has good casting, machining and soldering properties. It is used in production of normal duty pump housings, water or steam fittings, low-pressure valves, gate valves, small gears, thin-walled castings, bushings, grommets, bearings, etc.

CuSn6 offers an excellent combination of strength, hardness and cold formability. This alloy also has good corrosion resistance and soldering properties. It is used in springs, for tubes where flexibility is needed (e.g. as a Bourdoun tube in pressure gauges), in small metal products, for metal fabric or for wires or knives for paper mills.

CuSn7Pb15 exhibits excellent machinability and very low coefficient of friction. The bearings for which it is used work well even under emergency operating conditions - in the absence of lubricant and water. It is resistant to sulfuric acid, but not suitable for temperatures above 120 °C.

CuSn7Zn4Pb7 can be classified somewhere between tin and lead bronze and it is also known under the trivial name Rg7 or as red bronze. It is one of the most popular bronze alloys because it can be used in various machine parts. CuSn7Zn4Pb7 is a medium-hardness material and it works well under emergency conditions. It has very good machining, welding and soldering properties. It is used for bearings in various engineering branches, medium duty sliding plates and rails, piston pin bushes, connecting rods, gears, etc.

Due to its high strength and good corrosion resistance (better than CuSn6), alloy CuSn8 can be used in production of various machines. Thanks to its sliding properties, it is particularly suitable for bearing and guide bushings for pumps or machining tools. It is also used in production of springs, bolts, couplings, connectors, fuses, paper net warps, art objects, etc.

CuSn9P is comparable to CuSn8 (CW453K) and CuSn8P. It is therefore a strong material with high corrosion resistance. It is used when confronting problems with friction in rings and bushings. Thanks to its sliding properties, it is particularly suitable for bearing and guide bushings for pumps or machining tools. It is also used in production of springs, bolts, couplings, connectors, fuses, paper net warps, art objects, etc.

CuSn10 alloy exhibits higher resistance than CuSn8 and it is thus suitable for components exposed to friction under high pressure (up to 300°C), such as impellers in pumps, clamping (pressure) nuts, plain bearings of machine tools and gearboxes, components for chemical appliances or centrifuges, etc.

CuSn10P exhibits high tensile strength and resistance to fatigue or corrosion. It is suitable for heavy duty components (e.g. working at high speeds) such as rings, sleeves, segments, valve guides, bearings, etc. but enough lubrication has to be provided.

CuSn10Pb10 has very good sliding properties even in the temporary absence of a lubricant. It also exhibits good solderability and weldability. It is used for bearings that must withstand high surface pressure, and also for high-speed worms and worm gears, piston pin housings or fittings exposed to acidic environments.

CuSn10Zn2 resists hard water well, so it is used in plain bearings and couplings that are not exposed to another high loads. 

CuSn11Pb2 alloy exhibits similar properties as CuSn10, but thanks to lead surcharge, it offers better machinability and sliding properties. Therefore, it is suitable for bearings and slide rails.

CuSn12 alloy is characterized by strength, hardness and high resistance to corrosion, impacts and cavitation. It therefore works well in components that are exposed to heavy loads, friction and pressure. It is therefore used for bearing housings, gear rings, pressure nuts, gears, impellers and guide wheels, pump seats, bearing shells and linings, flanges or rings.

CuSn12Ni is equivalent to CuSn12Ni2. Thanks to nickel surcharge, this alloy exhibits higher hardness and corrosion resistance. It is recommended for gearbox housings, gears or bearings that work under heavy loads but at relatively low speeds.

Thanks to nickel surcharge, CuSn12Ni2 alloy exhibits higher hardness and corrosion resistance. It is recommended for gearbox housings, gears or bearings that work under heavy loads but at relatively low speeds.

CuSn14 alloy is very similar to grade CuSn12. Therefore, it is characterized by strength, hardness and high resistance to corrosion, impacts and cavitation. It therefore works well in components that are exposed to heavy loads, friction and pressure. It is therefore used for bearing housings, gear rings, pressure nuts, gears, impellers and guide wheels, pump seats, bearing shells and linings, flanges or rings.

This special aluminum bronze alloy combines high tensile strength with resistance to wear, corrosion and cavitation. Slower wear of tools during machining is an advantage. It is used for heavy duty bearings, guide bushes, sliding elements, mold cores, etc.