Difference between revisions of "Bronze" - New World Encyclopedia
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== History == | == History == | ||
| − | The introduction of bronze was significant | + | The introduction of bronze was significant for every civilization that encountered it. Tools, weapons, armor, and various building materials like decorative tiles made of bronze were harder and more durable than their stone and copper ("[[Chalcolithic]]*") predecessors. In early use, the natural impurity [[arsenic]] sometimes created a superior natural alloy called [[arsenical bronze]]*. |
| − | The earliest tin | + | The earliest bronzes made with [[tin]] date to the late fourth millennium BCE in [[Susa]]* (Iran), and some ancient sites in [[Luristan]]* (Iran) and [[Mesopotamia]]* (Iraq). |
| − | + | The [[ore]]s of copper and tin are rarely found together in nature, although an ancient site in [[Thailand]] and another in [[Iran]] provide counterexamples. Consequently, serious bronze work has always involved trade. In fact, archeologists suspect that a serious disruption of the tin trade precipitated the transition to the [[Iron Age]]. In Europe, the major source for [[tin]] was [[Great Britain]]. Phoenician traders visited Great Britain to trade goods from the Mediterranean for tin. It has been suggested that the etymology of Britain is the Phoenician name ''Barr Tan'', meaning "tin wilderness".[http://phoenicia.org/britmines.html] | |
| − | Bronze was stronger than the era's [[iron]] | + | Bronze was stronger than the era's [[iron]]. Quality [[steel]]s were not widely available until thousands of years later, although they were produced in late Celtic oppida and China. But the Bronze Age gave way to the [[Iron Age]], perhaps because the shipping of tin around the [[Mediterranean]] (or from Great Britain) became more limited during the major population migrations around 1200]]–1100 BCE, which dramatically limited supplies and raised prices [http://www.claytoncramer.com/Iron2.pdf]. Bronze was still used during the Iron Age, but the weaker iron was found to be sufficiently strong for many applications. As iron working improved, iron became both cheaper and stronger, eclipsing bronze in Europe by the early to mid-[[Middle Ages]]. |
== Properties == | == Properties == | ||
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|+Classification of Copper and Its Alloys - Wrought / Extruded<ref>Machinery's Handbook, Industrial Press Inc, New York, ISBN 0-8311-2492-X, Edition 24, page 501</ref> | |+Classification of Copper and Its Alloys - Wrought / Extruded<ref>Machinery's Handbook, Industrial Press Inc, New York, ISBN 0-8311-2492-X, Edition 24, page 501</ref> | ||
|- | |- | ||
| − | !Family!!Principal alloying element!![[Unified numbering system|UNS numbers]] | + | !Family!!Principal alloying element!![[Unified numbering system|UNS numbers]]*<ref>The Unified Numbering System (UNS) is an alloy designation system widely accepted in North America. It consists of a prefix letter and five digits. A prefix of C indicates alloys of copper, such as brass or bronze.</ref> |
|- | |- | ||
|Copper alloys, Brass||[[Zinc]] (Zn)||C1xxxx–C4xxxx,C66400–C69800 | |Copper alloys, Brass||[[Zinc]] (Zn)||C1xxxx–C4xxxx,C66400–C69800 | ||
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*[[Aluminum bronze]] | *[[Aluminum bronze]] | ||
*[[Brass]] | *[[Brass]] | ||
| − | *[[ | + | *[[Copper]] |
| − | |||
| − | |||
*[[Cupronickel]], an alloy used on ships | *[[Cupronickel]], an alloy used on ships | ||
*[[Gunmetal]], various copper-zinc-tin alloys, some including phosphorus | *[[Gunmetal]], various copper-zinc-tin alloys, some including phosphorus | ||
| Line 61: | Line 59: | ||
*[[Luristan bronze]] - bronze age artifacts recovered from areas of present day Iran | *[[Luristan bronze]] - bronze age artifacts recovered from areas of present day Iran | ||
*[[Phosphor bronze]], with properties useful in making springs | *[[Phosphor bronze]], with properties useful in making springs | ||
| − | *[[ | + | *[[Tin]] |
| − | |||
| − | |||
| − | |||
== Footnotes == | == Footnotes == | ||
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== References == | == References == | ||
| + | |||
| + | * Davis, J.R. (editor) (2001). ''ASM Specialty Handbook: Copper and Copper Alloys''. ASM International. ISBN 0871707268 (ISBN-13: 978-0871707260). | ||
| + | |||
| + | * Flinn, Richard Alfred (1961). ''Copper, brass, and bronze castings: Their structures, properties, and applications''. Non-ferrous Founders Society. ASIN: B0007EHBWO. | ||
==External links== | ==External links== | ||
Revision as of 06:26, 25 January 2007
Bronze refers to a broad range of copper alloys, usually with tin as the main additive, but sometimes with other elements such as phosphorus, manganese, aluminum, or silicon. It is strong and tough and has myriad uses in industry. It was particularly significant in antiquity, giving its name to the Bronze Age.
History
The introduction of bronze was significant for every civilization that encountered it. Tools, weapons, armor, and various building materials like decorative tiles made of bronze were harder and more durable than their stone and copper ("Chalcolithic") predecessors. In early use, the natural impurity arsenic sometimes created a superior natural alloy called arsenical bronze.
The earliest bronzes made with tin date to the late fourth millennium B.C.E. in Susa (Iran), and some ancient sites in Luristan (Iran) and Mesopotamia (Iraq).
The ores of copper and tin are rarely found together in nature, although an ancient site in Thailand and another in Iran provide counterexamples. Consequently, serious bronze work has always involved trade. In fact, archeologists suspect that a serious disruption of the tin trade precipitated the transition to the Iron Age. In Europe, the major source for tin was Great Britain. Phoenician traders visited Great Britain to trade goods from the Mediterranean for tin. It has been suggested that the etymology of Britain is the Phoenician name Barr Tan, meaning "tin wilderness".[1]
Bronze was stronger than the era's iron. Quality steels were not widely available until thousands of years later, although they were produced in late Celtic oppida and China. But the Bronze Age gave way to the Iron Age, perhaps because the shipping of tin around the Mediterranean (or from Great Britain) became more limited during the major population migrations around 1200]]–1100 B.C.E., which dramatically limited supplies and raised prices [2]. Bronze was still used during the Iron Age, but the weaker iron was found to be sufficiently strong for many applications. As iron working improved, iron became both cheaper and stronger, eclipsing bronze in Europe by the early to mid-Middle Ages.
Properties
With the exception of steel, bronze is superior to iron in nearly every application. Although bronze develops a patina, it does not oxidize beyond the surface. It is considerably less brittle than iron and has a lower casting temperature.
Copper-based alloys have lower melting points than steel and are more readily produced from their constituent metals. They are generally about 10 percent heavier than steel, although alloys using aluminium or silicon may be slightly less dense. Bronzes are softer and weaker than steel, bronze springs are less stiff (and so store less energy) for the same bulk. It resists corrosion (especially seawater corrosion) and metal fatigue better than steel and also conducts heat and electricity better than most steels. The cost of copper-base alloys is generally higher than that of steels but lower than that of nickel-base alloys.
Copper and its alloys have a huge variety of uses that reflect their versatile physical, mechanical, and chemical properties. Some common examples are the high electrical conductivity of pure copper, the excellent deep-drawing qualities of cartridge case brass, the low-friction properties of bearing bronze, the resonant qualities of bell bronze, and the resistance to corrosion by sea water of several bronze alloys.
In the twentieth century, silicon was introduced as the primary alloying element, creating an alloy with wide application in industry and the major form used in contemporary statuary. Aluminium is also used for the structural metal aluminium bronze.
Bronze is the most popular metal for top-quality bells and cymbals, and more recently, saxophones. It is also widely used for cast metal sculpture (see bronze sculpture). Common bronze alloys often have the unusual and very desirable property of expanding slightly just before they set, thus filling in the finest details of a mould. Bronze parts are tough and typically used for bearings, clips, electrical connectors and springs.
Bronze also has very little metal-on-metal friction, which made it invaluable for the building of cannons where iron cannonballs would otherwise stick in the barrel. It is still widely used today for springs, bearings, bushings, automobile transmission pilot bearings, and similar fittings, and is particularly common in the bearings of small electric motors. Phosphor bronze is particularly suited to precision-grade bearings and springs.
Bronze is typically 60% copper and 40% tin. Alpha bronze consists of the alpha solid solution of tin in copper. Alpha bronze alloys of 4–5% tin are used to make coins, springs, turbines and blades.
Commercial bronze (otherwise known as brass) is 90% copper and 10% zinc, and contains no tin. It is stronger than copper and it has equivalent ductility. It is used for screws and wires.
Another useful property of bronze is that it is non-sparking. That is, when struck against a hard surface, unlike steel, it will not generate sparks. This is used to advantage to make hammers, mallets, wrenches and other durable tools to be used in explosive atmospheres or in the presence of flammable vapours.
Classification of copper and its alloys
| Family | Principal alloying element | UNS numbers[2] |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
See also
- Aluminum bronze
- Brass
- Copper
- Cupronickel, an alloy used on ships
- Gunmetal, various copper-zinc-tin alloys, some including phosphorus
- lost-wax casting
- Luristan bronze - bronze age artifacts recovered from areas of present day Iran
- Phosphor bronze, with properties useful in making springs
- Tin
Footnotes
- ↑ Machinery's Handbook, Industrial Press Inc, New York, ISBN 0-8311-2492-X, Edition 24, page 501
- ↑ The Unified Numbering System (UNS) is an alloy designation system widely accepted in North America. It consists of a prefix letter and five digits. A prefix of C indicates alloys of copper, such as brass or bronze.
ReferencesISBN links support NWE through referral fees
- Davis, J.R. (editor) (2001). ASM Specialty Handbook: Copper and Copper Alloys. ASM International. ISBN 0871707268 (ISBN-13: 978-0871707260).
- Flinn, Richard Alfred (1961). Copper, brass, and bronze castings: Their structures, properties, and applications. Non-ferrous Founders Society. ASIN: B0007EHBWO.
External links
- 19th century bronze sculpture sand casting
- Bronze Casting process explained - good pictures
- National Pollutant Inventory - Copper and compounds fact sheet
- Photos of antique bronze bells
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