The bronzes is the generic name of the Alliages of copper and tin. The term bronze indicates also bronze, but is used however less.

Bronzes are normally composed of more than 60% of Cuivre and a variable proportion of tin, and they contain moreover variable proportions of Aluminum, Plomb, Béryllium, Manganèse and Tungstène, incidentally of the Silicium and Phosphore, but not of Zinc in notable quantity (not to confuse with the Laiton).

Their principal characteristics are a good resistance to the wear and the Corrosion and good a electric Conductivité. One often uses them like material of friction opposite the Acier.

These alloys for the first time were used during the Bronze Age to manufacture Outil S, weapons, musical instruments and more robust and resistant armor S that their predecessors out of copper or stone. During the Bronze Age, Arsenic was often added to bronze (mainly in the form of impurities) what increased hardness by it.

Alloys

Besides some exceptions, bronzes contain between three and twenty percent of tin.

The Alliage S of this family contain only copper and tin. One distinguishes two types based on the phases:

  • bronzes containing only phase alpha (α): until approximately tin 16%
  • bronzes containing of the phase alpha (α) and delta (δ).

The first are alloys for Corroyage. Their mechanical characteristics increase with the rate of welding and the tin content. The second are alloys of foundry.

The bronzes used for the manufacture of the Cloche S contain between 20 and 25% of tin. It is the phase delta which gives sonority. This phase is hard.

Bronzes with mirror are composed of 30 to tin 35%. Bronze does not oxidize, whereas copper alone oxidizes by forming the Vert of gray (oxidation).

Bronzes with elements of addition

In certain alloys one adds: Phosphorus, Zinc, Lead.

Phosphorus makes it possible to increase the mechanical characteristics. Zinc increases the Coulabilité as well as the malleability of alloy. Lead (until 6%) allows a better workability. The bronzes used for the parts of friction can contain up to lead 30%. Lastly, the Béryllium brings an exceptional hardness to the bronze, which approaches the hardness of steels, while keeping all qualities of friction specific to bronze.

Symbolic system

  • the Noces of bronze symbolize the 22 years of Mariage in the French folklore.

  • bronze is the material symbolic system of the sporting medals corresponding to the third place after the Or and the money.
  • bronze is the 8th level in the progression of the sporting Sarbacane.

See too

Simple: Bronze Zh-min-nan: Chheⁿ-tâng

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