Bronze is an alloy, meaning it is made from two or more elements, one of which being a metal. The primary metal in all bronze is copper, and the common addition is usually tin or aluminum; but the remaining composition can also be elements such as other metals and alloys (manganese, zinc, nickel), or even non-metals like silicon, arsenic, and phosphorus. In fact, several types of bronze exist, and each differ based on their additional elements and chemical compositions. Continue reading to learn more about bronze and its current uses in today’s world.
Bronze Ages
Bronze was among the first metals used by man, and can be dated all the way back to 3000 BC. Early civilizations used bronze to make everything from body armor to sculptures, and more. The properties of bronze metal were highly desirable for commodities such as these, as well as, weaponry, tools, building materials, and even fashion. Today, bronze and copper alloys are generally referred to as brass or considered a type of brass. Brass being copper and zinc combined. In today’s world, the lines are blurred between copper tin alloys and copper zinc alloys since bronze can be made with all three.
Properties of Bronze
Bronze is so popular for several purposes and commodities because of its beneficial properties. Bronze is mostly copper, but it becomes what we know as bronze when other elements are added, such as tin, aluminum, zinc, nickel, manganese, phosphorus, silicon, and arsenic. Modern bronze is mostly made of copper and tin, and sometimes small percentages of additional elements. But all of these elements can be mixed and matched and combine with copper to create a long list of different types of bronze alloys.
Here are a few attributes of bronze:
↬ Harder than Copper and Iron
↬ Corrosion-Resistant
↬ Strong and Durable
↬ Ductile
↬ Lower Melting Point
↬ Easily Fusible
↬ Dull Gold-Like Color
↬ Small Surface Rings
Common Bronzes
There are infinite possibilities when it comes to creating different compositions of bronze metal, but the most commonly-used in today’s society are modern bronze, bismuth bronze, plastic bronze, commercial bronze, architectural bronze, aluminum bronze, phosphor bronze, manganese bronze, and bell bronze.
Here is the composition information about each of the aforementioned bronze alloys:
Modern – 88% Copper 12% Tin
Bismuth – 52% Copper 30% Nickel 12% Zinc, 5% Lead, and 1% Bismuth
Plastic – High Quantities of Lead
Commercial – 90% Copper 10% Zinc
Architectural – 57% Copper 3% Lead 40% Zinc
Aluminum – Combination of 5-11% Aluminum, Copper, and Varying Levels of Alloys like Manganese, Silicon, Iron, and Nickel
Phosphor – Combination of Copper, 3.5-10% Tin, and Up to 1% Phosphorus
Manganese – Copper, Aluminum, Iron, and 2-5% Manganese
Bell – 78% Copper 22% Tin, Sulfide, and Stannite
Recycle Metal in Indianapolis
Choose a local Indianapolis metal recycling center to recycle copper, brass, and bronze scrap metal for a cash profit. You can find these kinds of metals in several commodities like cars, auto parts, appliances, electronics, and more! Whether broken, old, missing parts, or brand new, you can sell them for cash on the spot at your local trusted scrap metal recycling company.
Call Zore’s Recycling division at 317-244-0700 to recycle metal in Indianapolis, Indiana for cash. Zore’s Inc. has been a family owned and operated company for over 75 years, and continues to make customer satisfaction their number one goal in their metal recycling division. And to make recycling easier for you, they offer several customer conveniences at no extra charge! Call 317-244-0700 to request a free estimate, today.