Two important principal classes of copper alloys are brass and bronze. Brass is primarily an alloy of copper and zinc, whereas bronze is a combination of copper and tin.
Brasses are formed with 5–45% of zinc and copper. Brasses possess excellent mechanical properties. They are corrosion resistant and are readily machinable.
The mechanical properties of brass and the corrosion resistance of the brasses are further improved by the addition of one or more non-ferrous metals. Thus, manganese brass, iron brass, tin brass, lead brass and aluminium brass are modified brasses.
Bronze has varied physical properties. An increase in the percentage of tin increases the tensile strength of bronze. Bronze is most ductile when it contains about 5% of tin, but it decreases with increase in the percentage of tin. Like brass, bronze in modified forms is available as phosphor bronze, silicon bronze and aluminium bronze.
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