Copper and bronze are two different metals that are often confused with each other. While they share some similarities, there are also several key differences between the two. In this blog post, we will discuss the characteristics of both metals and help you decide which one is right for your needs!
What is Bronze?
Bronze is an copper alloys, usually in a ratio of 90–95% copper to 5–10% tin. It has been used for centuries due to its strength and durability – it’s perfect for applications that require good wear resistance and high tensile strength. Bronze also has excellent corrosion resistance, making it an ideal choice for outdoor applications.
What is Copper?
Copper is a pure metal element that has been used since ancient times to create tools, ornaments, and other items. It’s often used in electrical wiring due to its good conductivity and corrosion resistance. Copper is also widely used in plating and decorative finishes, as well as components in automotive and aerospace applications.
The Difference Between Bronze and Copper
Bronze is an metal alloy of copper and tin, while copper is a pure element. This means that different metals can be added to bronze to affect its strength, hardness, or other properties, while this isn’t possible with copper.
Aside from the fact that bronze is an alloy while copper is a pure metal element, there are several other differences between these two metals. These include:
Bronze Vs Copper #1: Density
Bronze is much denser than copper and has a higher specific gravity. Copper has an approximate density of 8.93 g/cm3, while bronze is approximately 9.8 g/cm3. This makes bronze heavier and more difficult to work with than copper in many applications.
Bronze Vs Copper #2: Melting Point
Copper has a much higher melting point than bronze – 1083.4°C to be exact. Bronze’s melting point is around 900-930°C. This difference makes it easier and cheaper to cast copper parts, while bronze alloys requires more heat energy and specialized equipment in order to do the same job.
Bronze Vs Copper #3: Corrosion Resistance
Both bronze and copper have excellent corrosion resistance, but bronze is slightly better when it comes to long-term use. This makes it an ideal choice for marine applications, where parts need to last a long time in harsh environments.
Bronze Vs Copper #4: Strength
Bronze is actually stronger than copper, as it has a higher tensile strength. Depending on the alloy composition, bronze can have a tensile strength of up to 500 MPa – three times that of pure copper.
Bronze Vs Copper #5: Electrical Conductivity
Copper is the more conducive of the two metals. It has an electrical conductivity rating of approximately 61% at RT (Room Temperature), compared to bronze’s approximate 11–16%. This makes copper much more suitable for applications that require electrical wiring or components.
Bronze Vs Copper #6: Thermal Conductivity
Bronze is a better conductor of heat than copper, but not by much. Bronze has a thermal conductivity rating of approximately 110 W/(mK), while copper is around 401 W/(mK). This makes bronze slightly better at dissipating heat, but only marginally.
Bronze Vs Copper #7: Durability
Bronze is more resistant to wear and tear than copper, meaning it lasts longer in both indoor and outdoor applications. This makes bronze the ideal choice for items that need to stay strong for long periods of time without corroding or breaking down.
Bronze Vs Copper #8: Machinability
Copper is much easier to machine than bronze, as it’s softer and less prone to galling. This makes copper preferable for applications that require precise tolerances or complex shapes.
Bronze Vs Copper #9: Formability
Bronze is more easily formed than copper, as it’s more malleable and ductile. This makes bronze preferable for items that need to be bent or shaped into specific shapes.
Bronze vs copper #10: Weldability
Copper is more easily welded than bronze, as it’s easier to fuse and form a strong joint. This makes copper more suitable for applications that require welding or soldering.
Bronze vs copper #11: Price
Red copper is pure copper with high precision and relatively the highest value. Bronze contains many impurities. In general, The price of red copper is higher than bronze.
Bronze vs Copper #12: Applications
Copper is used in a wide range of applications including plumbing, electrical wiring, electronics components, coins and medals.
Bronze is used mainly for its strength and corrosion resistance properties, and is commonly found in marine hardware, cylinder liners, sculptures and architectural features.
How to choose the right materials for your projects?
When choosing the right material for a project, it is important to consider all the properties of each metal and how they will affect your project.
For example, bronze may be more suitable outdoors due to its corrosion resistance, while copper may be more suitable indoors due to its electrical conductivity. Consider your project’s requirements and use this guide to make an informed decision.
To further explore the differences between bronze and copper, it’s best to consult with our engineer, we can provide more information on the individual properties of each metal, as well as help you decide which material is best suited for your application. For example, we will suggest using a certain alloy composition based on your specific needs.
Bronze & Copper CNC Machining Precision Parts
If you are looking for precision parts made of bronze or copper, then CNC machining is the best option. Our engineers will help you have a better understanding of the materials used and how to get them machined to your exact specifications. We can offer both short-run prototyping services as well as mass production services with our advanced CNC machine capabilities.
At Aria Manufacturing, we offer a wide range of bronze and copper materials for your machining needs. We can custom-make any part according to your drawings or samples; from simple parts up to complex components with tight tolerance requirements. With our advanced CNC machines, experienced engineers and skilled workers, we can guarantee the quality of all our precision parts made of bronze and copper.
Whether you need one-off prototypes or mass production, Aria Manufacturing is your one stop shop for all your machining needs. Contact us today to get a free quote and see what we can do for you.
Author
Gavin Leo is a technical writer at Aria with 8 years of experience in Engineering, He proficient in machining characteristics and surface finish process of various materials. and participated in the development of more than 100complex injection molding and CNC machining projects. He is passionate about sharing his knowledge and experience.