Bronze

Bronze has had many uses since it was first developed by humanity about 5500 years ago. An ancient application of bronze is in artwork and sculpture, and bronze is still widely used for these creations today.

Bronze is also traditionally used for coins and medals, where function, appearance and art must combine. Light stands, chandeliers and other fittings are also an application where the physical and artistic properties of bronze are desirable.

Bronze is an ideal material for mechanical and industrial applications where the need for overall strength and hardness is relatively low. It’s ideal for bearings, bushings and gears.

Bronze is a high-quality choice for plumbing fixtures and other water fittings, especially for moving parts such as valves, stopcocks and taps. Because of its resistance to corrosion and seizure, it’s especially used in safety-critical items such as firefighting systems.

Bronze can be used in electrical components, especially switches and connectors with spring-loaded parts.

Bronze is traditionally used in marine environments, such as for propellers, hatch and window frames, capstans, ventilators, light units and deck fittings.

Bronze is also used in musical instruments, especially percussion instruments such as bells and cymbals.

Bronze is a yellowish-brown alloy, classically consisting of about 88% copper and 12% tin. Although this means that all bronze is technically an alloy, the term ‘bronze alloy’ usually refers to varieties of bronze that have other additions to provide different properties. Phosphor bronze, manganese bronze, aluminium bronze and bell metal are varieties of bronze metal alloy, each with different compositions tailored to a specific application of bronze.

Bronze offers superior hardness and strength to both cast iron and pure copper. It’s highly resistant to corrosion and metal fatigue, making it ideal for use in wet, corrosive or other harsh environments.

It is highly machinable and offers good precision, so it can be cut or cast into intricate and tightly controlled shapes. This is one aspect that makes it so suitable for both mechanical parts and artistic creations. It also has inherently low friction, and in some forms is defined as ‘self lubricating’. These bronze alloy properties are why this metal is so commonly used in bearings and bushings.

Rapid Metals sells SAE660 bronze alloy, with a melting point of 977°C (1790°F).

There are several key reasons why you should buy bronze for your projects. It is non-magnetic and non-ferrous.

It responds very well to machining and cutting, producing clean, precise edges for features such as gear teeth, locks or hinges. Bronze alloy’s properties also include a high degree of hardness, and it is not as prone to metal fatigue as more brittle metals.

The low internal and surface friction of bronze mean that moving or rotating parts can often be used without additional lubricants to stop seizure and remove heat and wear. Where lubricants are used, bronze’s porosity means that it retains lubricant well.

Bronze metal alloy is resistant to corrosion and is electrically conductive. This makes it very suitable for welding, and bronze can be braze-welded.

Bronze is an ideal material for both your mechanical and artistic projects.

Our commercial SAE660 bronze is made of about 82% copper, 7% tin, 7% lead and small amounts of nickel and zinc.

We supply this bronze in bronze round bar, in diameters between 22.2mm and 76.2mm (1/2” and 2” Imperial sizes).

Our bronze round bar can be supplied in a custom length to suit your needs, and is priced by the metre. This means that when you buy bronze from Rapid Metals, the metal is not only the best size for your purpose, and wastage is minimised.

Our online store makes it easy to buy bronze alloy round bar in the sizes and quantities you need.