Bronze is the melting point. How are products made of bronze

Bronze is an alloy of copper and another additional element, which is mostly tin, lead, aluminum or silicon. Depending on the percentage of these metals, bronze can have different colors and additional characteristics.

A bit of history

Bronze is actually the first alloy that has begun to be used by mankind. In the 3rd millennium BC. E. Masters actively used copper for a variety of purposes. Some grades of ore contained a small percentage of tin. When processing this material, people noticed that such copper is denser and harder than usual. Thus, it became the birth of a new historical and cultural period, which is now known as the "Bronze Age". Further studies led to the discovery of tin, which was specially added to copper to produce a high-quality alloy for making tools and ornaments.

Metallurgy of bronze has qualitatively raised productivity of the most different branches with which the mankind at that time was occupied. Melting gradually improved, and people began to make special stone shapes, in which different products could be cast repeatedly. Gradually, closed forms were invented, which made it possible to make weapons and ornaments with a complex design and pattern.

Main characteristics

The wide application of this material is determined by its basic indicators. Bronze is characterized by such distinctive features as:

• High resistance to corrosion;
• strength;
• High level of electrical and thermal conductivity;
• Increased wear resistance;
• Low coefficient of friction process;
• Excellent indicators of resistance in sea water, in the open air and in various organic solutions;
• High rates of steam resistance;
• Ease of handling.

Bronze, the melting point of which is about 930-1100 degrees, has excellent strength and durability. Especially if you compare it with other similar alloys.

Classification of bronze

Despite the fact that the "Bronze Age" has long since passed, today several versions of this material are used. In composition, the alloy is divided into the following types:

• Tinless (does not contain tin);
• tin.

The first group additionally includes beryllium, aluminum, lead and silicicine types.

1. Beryllium bronze is the most stable and durable alloy, which in its basic characteristics exceeds even high quality steel.
2. Silicon zinc in the molten state is characterized by high flow characteristics.
3. Lead bronze is a kind of alloy that has increased resistance and resistance.
4. Aluminum bronze differs from other types of resistance to chemical irritants and negative environmental influences.

As for the second subspecies of bronze, the tin type is today considered to be the most common in the industry, despite the fact that other types of alloys exceed it by certain characteristics.

Areas of use of bronze

The use of this alloy is determined by its basic characteristics. It is quite often that various additional components are added to bronze, which in a characteristic way change and supplement its features.

As for the tin alloy of the alloy, it has been used since ancient times. Especially popular were various products from bronze - ornaments, figurines, household items, etc.

To increase the resistance of the alloy to corrosion, it adds nickel, zinc, phosphorus and other similar elements. Most often this material is used for making all kinds of instruments for navigation.

Aluminum and silicon zinc species are used, as a rule, for the creation of art objects.

Melting bronze at home

In the modern world, many products based on this alloy are manufactured. In order to make any decoration or product at home, it is necessary to take into account factors such as the main characteristics that bronze possesses - the melting point of the material, etc. The following things will be needed as auxiliary devices:

• crucible;
• forceps;
• charcoal;
• Furnace with the support of the required temperature range;
• Horn;
• Finished form for harvesting;
• hook.

Sequence of process execution

1. In the crucible separate pieces of metal are laid, and he himself is placed in the furnace. Then a heating regulator is installed, and the bronze, whose melting temperature depends on its constituent elements, begins to change shape.
2. After that, the crucible is extracted from the oven with a hook, and the alloy is poured into the prepared mold.
3. Bronze, whose melting point is relatively low, allows replacing the muffle furnace with an autogen or blowtorch.

This sequence is also suitable for working with other copper alloys. Since, for example, the melting point of bronze and brass is approximately in the same range - 930-1140 and 880-950 degrees, respectively.

Precautionary measures

Melting metals at home does not mean that it can be done simply in a living room without any restrictions. For bronze casting, a separate room will be needed, which functions as a workshop, which must be equipped with all the necessary equipment and personal protective equipment for this process. The workshop must necessarily be equipped with a working fire extinguisher, and in the room itself, flammable materials and substances can not be stored.

In addition, the melting of bronze is considered to be quite a traumatic activity, therefore, all the necessary steps in this procedure must be performed only by a trained person.

Special moments

For the casting of various thin metal products, brass should be preferred, since it melts much more easily than bronze. As for the equipment, the choice should be made towards crucibles made of ceramics and clay, as they are more suitable for working with this alloy.

Concerning the remelting of old bronze, it should be said that with this procedure one must be especially careful, since it can contain arsenic.

It should also take into account the amount of impurities that bronze has. The melting point of the material, depending on this, can vary considerably. For the tin alloy, the indices are in the range of 900-950 degrees, whereas for the tinless alloy it is necessary to have about 950-1080.

Bronze is an alloy of copper with the addition of various non-ferrous metals. This material is resistant, hard and resistant to corrosion. In the past, bronze was used to make various tools, ornaments, weapons and sculptures, and now other metals are added to this alloy to obtain special characteristics. Due to this, aluminum bronze is used in the manufacture of various parts of pipelines and aircraft, silicon is used in navigation, and phosphoric for various springs and parts of electrical equipment.