Alphametals

Copper Alloys

Copper alloys are alloys based on copper, in which the main alloying elements are Zn, Sn, Si, Al, Ni. Cu-based alloys constitute mostly substitutional solid solutions, for which solute or impurity atoms replace or substitute for the host atoms.

Copper alloys have high resistance against corrosion. The best known traditional types are bronze, where tin is a significant addition, and brass, using zinc instead. Both of these are imprecise terms, having both been commonly referred to as lattens in the past. Today the term copper alloy tends to be substituted, especially by museums.

PROPERTIES OF COPPER ALLOYS

Copper is a soft, tough, ductile, and malleable material, and these properties make copper extremely suitable for tube forming, wire drawing, spinning, and deep drawing. The other key properties exhibited by copper and its alloys include:

• Excellent thermal conductivity.
• Excellent electrical conductivity.
• Good corrosion resistance.
• Good biofouling resistance
• Good machinability.
• Retention of mechanical and electrical properties at cryogenic temperatures
• Diamagnetic

APPLICATIONS OF COPPER ALLOYS

Copper and Copper alloys can be used in an extraordinary range of applications. Some of the applications fro Copper include:

• Power transmission lines
• Architectural applications
• Cooking utensils
• Spark plugs
• Electrical wiring, cables and busbars
• High conductivity wires
• Electrodes
• Heat exchangers
• Refrigeration tubing
• Plumbing
• Water-cooled Copper crucibles