Many people are aware of the bronze is that it is cast from sculptures and monuments.In fact, this metal unfairly deprived of national attention.Not in vain in the history of mankind was even a Bronze Age - a whole era, during which the alloy has held a dominant position.This is one of the few materials that are used both in industry and in the arts.Qualities which has an alloy of copper and tin, are simply irreplaceable in many industries.Its use in the manufacture of tools, engineering, by injection church bell, and so on.Thus today there are a large number of brands of metal, each of which has specific pre-modeled properties.
Application bronze last
first mention of an alloy of copper and tin dated IV century BC.It is this technological breakthrough, according to historians, let civilization of Mesopotamia to take a while leading position.Archaeological excavations carried out in southern Iran, suggest widespread use for the manufacture of bronze arrowheads, daggers, spears, axes, swords.Among the finds are even home furnishings, such as furniture and mirrors, as well as jars, amphorae, vases and plates.For minting ancient coins and jewelery used the same alloy.
bronze begins in the Middle Ages used extensively in Europe.From it produce such massive objects like cannons and church domes.More recently, with the development of mechanical engineering, metal so versatile also did not go unnoticed.It appreciated primarily for anti-friction and anti-corrosion properties.However, it should be noted that the material used earlier, is somewhat different from that now a bronze.The alloy composition comprises a plurality of minor impurities, significantly impair its quality.
chemical composition of modern bronze
Today in materials called bronze alloy of two metals: copper and tin, which can be used in various proportions.To impart predetermined properties to the metal of the pair may be added to the zinc, phosphorus, magnesium, lead and silicon.The presence of random impurities with today's technology is practically reduced to zero.
In most cases considered acceptable ratio of copper to tin in proportions of 85 to 15 percent.Reducing the proportion of the second component below this mark gives rise to a number of problems, the main of which is the segregation.This term is called metallurgical process of stratification and his uneven alloy solidification.
Color Effect of alloy on its quality
Knowledgeable people can learn a lot about the material, just by looking at the color, which has a bronze.The composition has a direct impact on this parameter.As you might guess, the red hue gives copper alloy.Therefore, reducing its percentage in favor of the other components will mean a gradual transition to a more dull color tones.
In normal balance of components (85% copper) bronze molds yellowish.Such a version can meet more often.White alloy obtained after adjusting the ratio to 50:50.But gray to bronze was necessary to reduce the amount of copper to 35%.
for a change in the practical characteristics of the alloy while experimenting with his staff, the situation is as follows.The ductility of the material will depend on the content of tin.The less it is, the more pliable be bronze, but this statement is true only to a certain limit.Thus, when the level of 50% the alloy becomes soft again.
Bronze art
strong and durable material, which has at the same time sufficiently low melting point and good ductility, could not have been interested in creative people, particularly sculptors.Already in the V-IV century BC in Greece was worked out to the smallest detail the technology of manufacturing of bronze statues, which is still relevant today.It consists in that statue fireproof initially replaced with wax, which itself is destroyed during casting.To do this, a drawing must first be made a plaster model, and after the mold for casting.The wax content when exposed to a temperature just melts, and his place is bronze, which cools and solidifies.After that, it can only process and bring to perfection.
Artillery metal
to manufacture guns, and in the future and other military equipment, has always used bronze.The alloy composition which is used for these purposes usually contains 90% copper and 10% tin only.This is due to the fact that the material for the guns must be very strong and possess a high tensile strength.These qualities have brand bronze BrAZhMts10-3-1.5.Besides the main components in its composition contains 1-2% manganese, which enhances frictional characteristics and temperature.
making church bells
Bells have to be melodic, but its sound should please the ear at a distance.Oddly enough, but bronze has such musical talents.To improve the sound bell it is made from an alloy with a high tin content (20 to 22%).Sometimes, it also adds a bit of silver.Stamps of bronze, which are used in the manufacture of bells and other percussion instruments for practical application in other industries totally unsuitable.This is due to the fact that this alloy has a fine-grained structure and increased fragility.
phosphate and aluminum bronze
first alloy consisting of 90% copper, 9% tin and 1% of the phosphorus was applied Künzel in 1871.He was named phosphor bronze, and the material found its application mainly in mechanical engineering.From a different cast machine parts, which are subject to increased friction.Phosphorus is necessary for increasing the elasticity and improving anticorrosive properties.The main advantage of this metal is that it perfectly fills any depressions in the cast.
Aluminum bronze, the composition of which differs a high content of copper (95%), appearance is very similar to gold.In addition to beauty, it has several other advantages.For example, the addition of 5% aluminum alloy allows to withstand long exposure to corrosive environments, such as high acidity.
As the material for the manufacture of various parts of machines, the metal is almost universally replaced phosphor bronze in paper mills and in the manufacture of gunpowder from the higher counter rupture.
silicon and manganese bronze
Silicon is added to the alloy to increase conductivity.It is the quality used in the manufacture of telephone wires.Reference silicon bronze composition is as follows: 97.12% copper, 1.14% tin, 0.05% silicon.
most difficult process of obtaining boasts alloy containing manganese.The entire procedure takes place in several stages.Ferromangan first added to the molten copper.Then, after a predetermined temperature, is added to the tin, and zinc, if necessary.British firm Bronce Company manufactures several varieties of manganese bronze, having different viscosity and hardness.Applying such an alloy can in almost all industries.
