Bronzes generally are used to describe many different copper-base alloys in which the major alloying addition is neither zinc nor nickel. They are generally classified by their major alloying elements, for example, tin bronzes with phosphorus used as a deoxidizer, aluminum bronzes, nickel-aluminum bronzes, silicon bronzes, and beryllium bronzes. This article briefly discusses the types, hardening mechanisms, heat treatment processes, applications, and mechanical properties of these bronzes and high-copper alloys.

This article provides information on the Unified Numbering System designations and temper designations of copper and copper alloys. It discusses the basic types of heat treating processes of copper and copper alloys, namely, homogenizing, annealing, and stress relieving, and hardening treatments such as precipitation hardening, spinodal hardening, order hardening, and quench hardening and tempering. The article presents tables that list the compositions and mechanical properties of copper alloys. It also discusses two strengthening mechanisms of copper alloys, solid-solution strengthening and work hardening. Finally, the article provides information on the equipment used for the heat treating of copper and copper alloys, including batch-type atmosphere furnaces, continuous atmosphere furnaces, and salt baths.

Bronze and brass alloys are two key classes of materials in copper-base powder metallurgy applications. They are often compacted using mechanical or hydraulic pressing machines. This article provides an overview of the powder pressing process, providing information on the powder properties of bronze and brass and the roles of lubricant and compaction dies in the pressing process. It discusses the structural defects that originate during the compaction process. The article also describes the major factors that influence the sintering response in bronze, prealloyed bronze, brass, and nickel-silver.

Selection of the process steps used, powder chosen, and lubricant choice have marked effects on the quality of a sintered component. This article describes the alloy composition, mechanical and structural properties, processing routes, and advantages of the common members of the copper alloy family, namely, pure copper, brass, and bronze, which all aid in the selection of the suitable material for structural and bearing applications. It outlines the structural applications of nickel silver alloys.

This article describes the fundamentals of various techniques used for the production of copper and copper alloy powders. These include atomization (water, air, and gas), oxide reduction, and electrolysis. The article discusses the effects of electrolyte composition and operating conditions on the characteristics of copper and copper alloy powders.

This article provides an overview of key abradable thermal spray coating systems based on predominant function and key design criteria. It describes two families of coatings which have evolved for use at higher temperature: flame (combustion)-sprayed abradable powders and atmospheric plasma-sprayed abradable powders. Three classic examples of flame spray abradables are nickel-graphite powders, NiCrAl-bentonite powders, and NiCrFeAl-boron nitride powders. The article provides information on various abradable coating testing procedures, namely, abradable incursion testing; aging, corrosion, thermal cycle and thermal shock testing; hardness testing; and erosion resistance testing.

This article reviews the production variables that influence the selection of various stamping die materials: ferrous, nonferrous, and plastic die materials. It provides a discussion on the specific types of die materials for tool steels, cast irons, plastics, aluminum, bronze, zinc-aluminum, and steel-bonded carbides. The article describes factors to be considered during the selection of materials for press-forming dies.

This article describes the microstructure of copper alloys, including copper-zinc (brasses), bronzes, copper-nickel, and copper-nickel-zinc, and examines the effect of oxygen content on alloy phases observed in different product forms. The article also discusses inclusions, etchants, and the effect of composition and processing on grain structure and growth rates.

This article discusses the classification of sliding bearings and describes the major groups of soft metal bearing materials: babbitts, copper-lead bearing alloys, bronze, and aluminum alloys. It provides a discussion on the methods for fluid-film lubrication in bearings. The article presents the variables of interest for a rotating shaft and the load-carrying capacity and surface roughness of bearings. Grooves and depressions are often provided in bearing surfaces to supply or feed lubricant to the load-carrying regions. The article explains the effect of contaminants in bearings and presents the steps for failure analysis of sliding bearings. It also reviews the factors responsible for bearing failure with examples.

Copper alloys are classified by the International Unified Numbering System designations to identify alloy groups by major alloying element. This article presents the designations and compositions of various copper alloys, such as brasses, nickel silvers, bronzes, beryllium coppers, and spinodal alloys. It discusses the fatigue testing of the copper alloys and tabulates the tensile and fatigue strengths of the copper alloys. The article schematically illustrates S-N curves for the solid-solution (non-aging) strengthened alloys. It concludes with a discussion on the role of microstructure in the fatigue performance of beryllium copper alloys.

This article briefly reviews the subject of copper-base powder-metallurgy (P/M) products in terms of powder production methods (atomization, oxide reduction, electrolysis, and hydrometallurgy) and the product properties/consolidation practices of the major applications. Of the four major methods for making copper and copper alloy powders, atomization and oxide reduction are presently practiced on a large scale in North America. The article provides information on the mechanism, production, properties, composition and applications of different types of copper-base P/M products, including self-lubricating sintered bearings, structural parts, oxide-dispersion-strengthened copper, sintered metal friction materials, and porous filters.

Copper alloys are widely used as electroplated coatings. They can also be used with practically any substrate material that is suitable for electroplating. This article focuses on the solution composition and operating conditions for brass and bronze plating solutions. It describes the decorative and engineering applications of brass and bronze plating. The article also provides information on the treatment of waste water from brass and bronze plating operations.

Hardfacing is defined as the application of a wear-resistant material, in depth, to the vulnerable surfaces of a component by a weld overlay or thermal spray process Hardfacing materials include a wide variety of alloys, carbides, and combinations of these materials. Iron-base hardfacing alloys can be divided into pearlitic steels, austenitic (manganese) steels, martensitic steels, high-alloy irons, and austenitic stainless steel. The types of nonferrous hardfacing alloys include cobalt-base/carbide-type alloys, laves phase alloys, nickel-base/boride-type alloys, and bronze type alloys. Hardfacing applications for wear control vary widely, ranging from very severe abrasive wear service, such as rock crushing and pulverizing to applications to minimize metal-to-metal wear. This article discusses the types of hardfacing alloys, namely iron-base alloys, nonferrous alloys, and tungsten carbides, and their applications and advantages.

Copper can be electrodeposited from numerous electrolytes. Cyanide and pyrophosphate alkalines, along with sulfate and fluoborate acid baths, are the primary electrolytes used in copper plating. This article provides information on the chemical composition, plating baths, and operating conditions of electrodeposition processes for chromium plating, nickel plating, iron plating, cadmium plating, zinc plating, indium plating, lead plating, tin plating, silver plating, gold plating, brass plating, bronze plating, tin-lead plating, zinc-iron plating, and zinc-nickel plating. The article also discusses selective plating, electroforming, and other processes and where they are typically used.

This article reviews the failure analysis process with specific reference to the considerations that should be addressed when a casting has failed. It describes the failure analysis methodology for three failed cast components: an aluminum bracket, a bronze suction roll, and a steel automotive spindle. The article discusses failure analysis investigation by obtaining casting background information, planning the evaluation and selecting the appropriate casting for analysis, conducting a preliminary examination, conducting the proper material evaluations, and thoroughly evaluating the test data. It concludes with information on case studies that show how the methodology is adapted for differing materials, failure mechanisms, and failure circumstances.

This article discusses the characteristics, properties, and production methods of copper powders and copper alloy powders. Bulk of the discussion is devoted to production and applications of powder metallurgy (P/M) parts, including pure copper P/M parts, bronze P/M parts, brass and nickel silver P/M parts, copper-nickel P/M parts, copper-lead P/M parts, copper-base P/M friction materials, copper-base P/M electrical contact materials, copper-base P/M brush materials, infiltrated parts, and oxide-dispersion-strengthened copper P/M materials.

This article contains a table that lists the thermal conductivity of selected metals and alloys near room temperature. These include aluminum and aluminum alloys; copper and copper alloys; iron and iron alloys; lead and lead alloys; magnesium and magnesium alloys; nickel and nickel alloys; tin and tin alloys; titanium and titanium alloys; zinc and zinc alloys; and pure metals.

Copper alloy castings are used in applications that require superior corrosion resistance, high thermal or electrical conductivity, good bearing surface qualities, or other special properties. Discussing the types and compositions of copper alloy used for casting, this article describes the major factors considered in alloy selection for casting, including raw material cost, castability, machinability, and the bearing and wear properties. It also provides information on the cost of the final product.

Copper alloy castings are used in applications that require superior corrosion resistance, high thermal or electrical conductivity, good bearing surface qualities, or othe