Aluminium, Copper and Its Alloys

Aluminium and its
alloys
Properties
• Strength to Weight Ratio

• Aluminium has a density around one-third that of steel and is used advantageously in
applications where high strength and low weight are required. This includes vehicles
where low mass results in greater load capacity and reduced fuel consumption.
• Corrosion Resistance
• When the surface of aluminium metal is exposed to air, a protective oxide coating forms
almost instantaneously. This oxide layer is corrosion resistant
• Toxicity
• Aluminium is not only non-toxic but also does not release any odours or taint products
with which it is in contact. This makes aluminium suitable for use in packaging for
sensitive products such as food or pharmaceuticals where aluminium foil is used.
Applications
• Heat sinks for cooling CPU's and graphics processors
• The heavy thermal, corrosion and biofouling resistance of aluminium alloys, plus its
thermal conductivity, have made them the key material of choice for most
commercial heat sinks.
• Construction:
• aluminium is pretty much necessary in construction work! From skylights to bridges
and ladders to railings, whether implemented as rods, doors or wiring, the low
maintenance and ability to paint, mould and join with other materials leaves little
reason to not consider it for your chosen project
• Power Lines
• Aluminium's light weight and durability would make it an ideal candidate for
transporting energy across long distances, but as a pretty poor conductor it needs to
be mixed with the properties of copper
• Precision Tubing in motor vehicles, refrigerators,
• the strong heat transfer applications allow it to be used extensively for the
automotive, AC and solar market industries, as well as for carrying liquids or gases.
• air conditioning, solar panels etc.
Aluminium alloys
• Aluminium alloys are based on aluminium, in which the main alloying elements are Cu,
Mn, Si, Mg, Mg+Si, and Zn. Aluminium alloy compositions are registered with The
Aluminum Association. The aluminium alloys are divided into 9 families (Al1xxx to
Al9xxx). The different families of alloys and the major alloying elements are:
• 1xxx: no alloying elements
• 2xxx: Copper
• 3xxx: Manganese
• 4xxx: Silicon
• 5xxx: Magnesium
• 6xxx: Magnesium and silicon
• 7xxx: Zinc, magnesium, and copper
• 8xxx: other elements which are not covered by other series
Example –
Aluminium
Alloys – 6061
Alloy
Copper and its
alloys
• Copper is the oldest metal used by man, its use dates back
to prehistoric times. Copper has been mined for more than
10,000 years with a copper pendant found in current day
Iraq being dated to 8700BC.
Types of Copper Alloys
• Brasses
• Brasses are copper zinc alloys containing up to about 45% zinc, with possibly small additions of
lead for machinability, and tin for strength. Copper zinc alloys are single phase up to about 37%
zinc in the wrought condition. The single phase alloys have excellent ductility, and are often used
in the cold worked condition for better strength. Alloys with more than about 37% zinc are dual
phase, and have even higher strength, but limited ductility at room temperature compared to the
single phase alloys. The dual phase brasses are usually cast or hot worked.
• Typical uses for brasses are architecture, drawn & spun containers and components, radiator cores
and tanks, electrical terminals, plugs and lamp fittings, locks, door handles, name plates, plumbers
hardware, fasteners, cartridge cases, cylinder liners for pumps.
• Brasses are divided into two classes. These are:

• The alpha alloys, with less than 37% Zinc. These alloys are ductile and can be cold worked.
• The alpha/beta or duplex alloys with 37-45% Zinc. These alloys have limited cold ductility and are
typically harder and stronger.
Copper and its alloys
Bronzes are alloys of copper with tin, plus at least one of phosphorus, aluminum, silicon, manganese
and nickel. These alloys can achieve high strengths, combined with good corrosion resistance. They are
used for springs and fixtures, metal forming dies, bearings, bushes, terminals, contacts and connectors,
architectural fittings and features. The use of cast bronze for statuary is well known.
Copper nickel are alloys of copper with nickel, with a small amount of iron and sometimes other minor
alloying additions such as chromium or tin. The alloys have outstanding corrosion resistance in waters,
and are used extensively in sea water applications such as heat exchangers, condensers, pumps and
piping systems, sheathing for boat hulls.
Nickel silvers contain 55–65% copper alloyed with nickel and zinc, and sometimes an addition of lead to
promote machinability. These alloys get their misleading name from their appearance, which is similar
to pure silver, although they contain no addition of silver. They are used for jewelry and name plates and
as a base for silver plate (EPNS), as springs, fasteners, coins, keys and camera parts.
Properties of Copper Alloys
• Corrosion Resistance of Copper. All copper alloys resist corrosion by fresh water and steam. In most rural, marine and industrial
atmospheres copper alloys are also resistant to corrosion. Copper is resistant to saline solutions, soils, non-oxidizing minerals, organic acids
and caustic solutions. Moist ammonia, halogens, sulfides, solutions containing ammonia ions and oxidizing acids, like nitric acid, will attack
copper. Copper alloys also have poor resistance to inorganic acids.
• The corrosion resistance of copper alloys comes from the formation of adherent films on the material surface. These films are relatively
impervious to corrosion therefore protecting the base metal from further attack.
• Ductility can be restored by annealing. This can be done either by a specific annealing process or by incidental annealing through welding or
brazing procedures.
• There are four common ways to harden (strengthen) copper. A fifth, spinodal composition, is currently used commercially only in certain
copper-nickel-tin alloys. Combinations of strengthening mechanisms are often used to provide higher mechanical properties in high-copper
alloys.
• Strain Hardening. The application of cold work, usually by rolling or drawing, hardens copper and copper alloys. Strength, hardness and
springiness increase, while ductility decreases. Conductivity is reduced to a small extent, normally not to the extent that it hinders use of the
alloys in electrical products. The effect of cold work can be removed by annealing, in which case full conductivity returns. Strain hardening is
the only strengthening mechanism that can be used with pure copper.
• Solid-Solution Hardening. Alloying elements that remain dissolved in solidified copper strengthen the lattice structure. If the addition is
within the limit of the element’s solid solubility, no secondary phases form, and the appearance under the microscope is similar to that of pure
copper.
• Precipitation Hardening. Some alloying elements exhibit higher solubility in solid copper when hot than when cold. This means they can be dissolved by solution
treatment (solution annealing) at high temperatures, around 950–1000°C, and then removed from solution by a precipitation (or "aging") treatment at a lower
temperature, commonly around 1200°F (650°C).
Applications of Copper
• Copper and copper alloys can be used in an extraordinary range of

applications. Some of these applications include:
• Power transmission lines
• Architectural applications
• Cooking utensils
• Spark plugs
• Electrical wiring, cables and busbars
• High conductivity wires
• Electrodes
• Heat exchangers and refrigeration tubing
• Plumbing
• Water-cooled copper crucibles.
Difference
between
brass and
bronze
Difference Between Brass and Bronze
• Definition
• Brass: Brass is a metal alloy composed of copper and zinc.
• Bronze: Bronze is a metal alloy composed of copper and tin.
• Appearance
• Brass: Brass is often bright golden in color.
• Bronze: Bronze is reddish-brown in color.
• Components
• Brass: Brass is mainly composed of copper and zinc. But sometimes aluminum and lead are also added.
• Bronze: Bronze is mainly composed of copper and tin metals. But sometimes, arsenic, phosphorous, aluminum,
manganese and silicon are also added.
• Malleability
• Brass: Brass has a high degree of malleability.
• Bronze: Bronze is hard and brittle.
Continue……
Corrosion Resistance
Brass: Brass is corrosion resistant, but not towards salt water.
Bronze: Bronze is resistant to corrosion that occur from salt water.
Uses
Brass: Brass is mainly used for decorative purposes.
Bronze: Bronze is used in the production of boat and ship fittings due to corrosion resistance towards salt water.
Hardness
Brass: Brass is a soft metal and should not be used around flammable materials.
Bronze: Bronze is a hard metal, so it can be used around flammable and explosive materials.

Aluminium, Copper and Its Alloys

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Aluminium, Copper and Its Alloys

Uploaded by

Document Information

Original Title

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

Aluminium, Copper and Its Alloys

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Aluminium and its

• Strength to Weight Ratio

• Brasses are divided into two classes. These are:

• Copper and copper alloys can be used in an extraordinary range of

Brass: Brass is corrosion resistant, but not towards salt water.

Bronze: Bronze is resistant to corrosion that occur from salt water.

Brass: Brass is mainly used for decorative purposes.

You might also like