Metal Alloys -
Aluminium Brass Bronze
By Jack Lamb
Aluminium
An aluminium alloy or aluminium alloy is an alloy in which
aluminium is the predominant metal.
Is aluminium alloy safe for
cooking?
In summary, food-grade aluminium alloys are generally
safe for cooking, especially if they are anodized or coated
to reduce reactivity. Always check for manufacturer
guidelines regarding safety and care.
What are the two types of aluminum alloys?
Wrought and cast aluminum alloys use different identification systems. Wrought aluminum
is identified with a four digit number which identifies the alloying elements. Cast aluminum
alloys use a four to five digit number with a decimal point.
Aluminium
They're great for marine and industrial settings, or
other harsh environments, as they have excellent Does aluminum alloy scratch
corrosion resistance
easily?
As a material, aluminum has properties that
Will aluminium alloy rust? make it very scratch-resistant for use in gates.
Pure aluminum is soft and prone to scratching
While aluminium doesn't rust, it does corrode. The and denting easily. But garden gates are made
aluminium oxide coating is highly resistant and renews from aluminum alloys which have blended the
itself if damaged keeping the metal relatively safe from metal with others like magnesium, silicon, and
corrosion. zinc to make it much stronger
Is aluminium alloy body safe?
Only very small amounts of aluminium that you may inhale, ingest, or have skin contact
with will enter the bloodstream. Exposure to aluminium is usually not harmful, but
Aluminium 2024 Aluminium 5083
Chemical Composition
•Aluminium 94.7% Chemical Composition
•Copper 4.9% •Aluminium 95.6%
•Magnesium 1.8% •Chromium 0.25%
•Silicon 0.5% •Copper 0.1%
•Iron 0.5% •Iron 0.4%
•Manganese 0.9% •Magnesium 4.9%
•Chromium 0.1% •Manganese 1.0%
•Zinc 0.25% •Silicon 0.4%
•Titanium 0.15% •Titanium 0.15%
•Zinc 0.25%
Properties
•Copper, magnesium, and manganese greatly increase this
alloy’s strength.
Properties
•Performs exceptionally well in extreme environments such as
•The high copper percentage, however, results in low
seawater and harsh chemicals.
corrosion resistance. •Aluminium 5083 offers the highest strength of non-heat-
•This aluminium alloy offers good cyclic fatigue resistance—
treated aluminium grades and maintains exceptional strength
ideal for airplane structures.
post-welding.
•It has good machinability and surface finish, though it’s not
•It’s not recommended for use in temperatures above 65°C
as machinable and is more difficult to weld than 6061
(145°F).
Applications Applications
Widely used in structures for aerospace, such as wings and Widely used in structures subject to continuous stress and
fuselages that experience cyclic stress, as well as in truck wear, such as shipbuilding, pressure vessels, truck bodies and
Aluminium 7050 Aluminium 7075
Chemical Composition Chemical Composition
•Aluminium 89.0%
•Aluminium 90.3% •Zinc 6.2%
•Zinc 6.7% •Magnesium 2.5%
•Copper 2.6% •Copper 2.3%
•Magnesium 2.6% •Chromium 0.23%
•Iron 0.15% •Zirconium 0.12%
•Manganese 0.10%
•Silicon 0.12%
•Zirconium 0.12% Properties
•Titanium 0.06% •Aluminium 7075 is one of the strongest wrought aluminium grades.
•It’s ideal for components and structures subject to high stress and fatigue-
inducing heavy wear.
Properties •The copper content improves workability but results in low corrosion
•Aluminium 7050 has high strength and high resistance.
fatigue resistance from the zinc alloy.
•It also resists stress corrosion cracking, is
Applications
stronger than 6061, and is ideal for heavy plate
applications. Best used in industries requiring lightweight plus strength, such as
•Avoid welding to prevent cracking and porosity.aerospace, defence, worm gears, and shafts
.
By understanding these specific aluminium grades, including their properties
Applications and applications, manufacturers and engineers can make informed decisions
Most widely used where strength is a very high on selecting the most appropriate material for their projects, ensuring
priority, such as in marine, automotive, and optimal performance and durability.
aerospace structures and components, as well
Brass
Brass is an alloy of copper and zinc, in
proportions which can be varied to achieve Brass has good retention of mechanical and electrical
different colours and mechanical, electrical, properties at cryogenic temperatures, combined with its
acoustic and chemical properties, but copper non-magnetic properties, brass is well suited for use in
typically has the larger proportion, generally 2⁄3 electrical and electronic equipment and instruments.
copper and 1⁄3 zinc.
Brass has a very decorative, bright golden lustre; combined with its high workability and durability, it
provides a perfect solution for the manufacture of hard wearing components that also may need to be
aesthetically pleasing. It is used to make musical instruments, machined parts, boiler parts, fireboxes,
ornamental castings, shop fittings, extruded sections, architectural extrusions, fasteners, window frames,
stamped components, blanked plates, heat exchangers and general copper-smithing applications. Brass
does not 'spark' when it is struck, which makes it suitable for use in hazardous or potentially combustible
environments.
Brass
Brass is also renowned for its antimicrobial / bactericidal properties that are effective
against MRSA and VRSA- brass kills micro-organisms within a few hours of contact
and this antimicrobial effect is continuous in that it does not 'run out'. This
antimicrobial action is also affective for bio-fouling resistance which ensures
components such as under water pipes and surfaces do not become over-run with
algae and barnacles, this helps to dramatically reduce repair and maintenance costs .
There are over 60 types of brass, the most basic categorisation can be
considered to group all brasses into three main families, copper zinc
brasses (Cu-Zn), Leaded brasses (Cu, Zn, Pb) and tin brasses (Cu, Zn, Sn)
these can then be further sub-divided by their more specific properties and
uses.
I will now discus these in further detail on the next slide
Brass – Different types
White brass
White brass contains more than 45% by weight of zinc
and has little significance industrially. It is mainly used as Beta brass
a base for casting alloys and granulated for use in brazing Beta brass contains more zinc than alpha
and soldering consumables as it is too brittle for other brass; over 45%. Beta brasses can only be
applications hot worked and are less ductile but much
stronger than alpha and alpha-beta
brasses. These brasses have a body
centred cubic crystal structure and are
Alpha brass most usually used for the manufacture of
Alpha brasses generally contain less than 37% zinc. The
castings for parts with complex shapes,
microstructure of these brasses is a face centred cubic
water taps, ornamental fountains and
crystal structure which can be cold worked. Alpha brasses
water feature structures, and antique and
are used for the manufacture of items such as pins, bolts,
architectural feature replication.
screws, cold headed components, heat exchangers,
fasteners, rivets and other machined parts.
There are many more these are just a few
examples
Brass
Cleaning brass
Corrosion resistance
As with all metals, cleaning brass should be done by starting
with the gentlest process first and slowly moving through to the
Brass has 'very good' to 'excellent' corrosion
resistance in most atmospheric and harsher techniques if the previous options have failed.
First, try a warm water and soap solution applied with a soft
submerged applications. The addition of
cloth in the direction of the grain and buffed dry.
arsenic elevates its corrosion resistance
Then, try a proprietary metal polish formulated for use on brass;
properties making it suitable for sub soil,
these are widely available commercially.
subsea, chemical processing and steam
turbine use
A superficial surface tarnish will naturally Recycling
form on the surface of brass in external
applications creating a protective green All grades of brass can be recycled without losing the integrity
patina; the underlying brass will be of the initial chemical properties. Brass maintains a good
unaffected by the patina and will not rust. proportion of its initial purchase value, swarf and offcuts can
also be recycled which will add to the economy of use; this is
particularly applicable when working with larger quantities of
CZ121 free machining brass.
Bronze
Bronze is an alloy consisting primarily of copper,
commonly with about 12–12.5% tin and often with the
addition of other metals and sometimes non-metals or
metalloids.
Bronze, like other mixtures of metals, is called an
alloy. Bronze is harder and stronger than copper. It also
does not wear away as easily as either copper or tin.
Why is bronze so
special?
Bronze is a versatile and popular metal How many years does bronze
to work with for different projects, last?
ranging from automobile and marine
parts to musical instruments and tools.
Bronze, practically lasts forever. The durability of bronze
It can support applications within
is due to its high copper content. Copper develops a
various industries thanks to some of its
protective barrier when exposed to the elements.
properties, including corrosion
Aluminium and zinc do this too, but copper is the old pro
resistance and low friction levels.
here -- it'll easily last for 1,000 years or more.
Bronze
Advantages: Bronze is an alloy consisting mainly
of copper but the addition of other metals (usually tin)
produces an alloy much harder than plain copper. Bronze Why is bronze not used
resists corrosion and metal fatigue better, and conducts anymore?
heat and electricity, better than most steels.
Tarnishing: Bronze can tarnish over time,
Disadvantages: Bronzes are generally softer, leading to discoloration and the formation of
weaker and more expensive than steel. a green patina (copper oxide) when exposed
to moisture and air. While some people
appreciate this aging process, many prefer
the longevity and shine of precious metals.
Applications: Bronze is widely used for springs,
bearings, bushings, automobile transmission pilot
bearings and is particularly common in the bearings of
small electric motors.
Bronze
Is bronze bad for you?
In solid form, bronze is not hazardous. In dust or
fume form: carcinogen, irritant, lung toxin,
sensitizer. The hazard classes listed above are
based on the presence of nickel and cobalt metals
What happens when bronze gets
wet?
Bronze jewellery requires some special care to
keep it looking its best over time. Here are some
tips for maintaining bronze jewellery: Keep it
dry: Moisture can cause bronze jewellery to tarnish
and lose its shine.
Differences between Bronze and Brass
Bronze Brass
Harder, more brittle Greater malleability
Melting point of 950 degrees Celsius Melting point of 900 degrees Celsius
Excellent corrosion resistance (incl. saltwater) Good corrosion resistance
Suitable for some decorative applications More suited for decorative applications
(e.g., sculptures, musical instruments, etc.) (due to gold colour)
Dates back to 3500 BCE Dates back to 500 BCE
Links For Different Information
Aluminium Alloys
https://industrialmetalservice.com/metal-university/different-types-of-aluminum-alloys/
https://www.weerg.com/guides/what-are-aluminium-alloys
Brass
https://www.metals4u.co.uk/blog/brass-in-depth-guide#:~:text=There%20are%20over%2060%20types,
more%20specific%20properties%20and%20uses
.
https://nfm.co.za/product/cda485-naval-brass-high-leaded/
Bronze
https://www.xometry.com/resources/materials/types-of-bronze/
https://www.zintilon.com/blog/bronze-material-guide/
Thank You For Listening
Any Questions?
