Properties and Uses of the Non-ferrous Alloys

Non-ferrous Light Alloy

Sr.

No.

Alloy Group Constituents approximate percent Properties Uses

1 Brass
Copper - 4.5
Manganese - 0.7
Magnesium - 0.7
silicon - 0.7
Aluminium remainder
Having light weight, one third that of steel. Strong like mild steel. Can be heat treated and age-hardened.
Aircraft sheets, engines and airframe structural parts rivets, tubes etc.
2 Alclad
It is a duralumin sheet but having coating of pure aluminium on each side.
Having all the properties of duralumin with the resistance to corrosion of aluminium.
Aircraft sheets and wing coverings.
3 Y-alloy
Copper - 4
Nickel - 2
Magnesium - 1.5
Aluminium remainder
Resistant to corrosion and fatigue. Withstands relatively high temperatures. Can be heat treated and age-hardened.
Used for making pistons and cylinder heads.
4 Hiduminium
Copper - 2.5
Nickel - 1.5
Iron - 1.5
Magnesium - 1.2
Silicon - 1.0
Aluminium remainder
Strong as mild steel. Can be heat treated and age-hardened at low temperatures.
Used for making air-craft structural parts, pistons, cylinder heads etc.
5 Aluminium bronze
Copper - 90
Aluminium - 10
It is a copper-aluminium alloy having high strength.
Used for diecasting and pump-rods also in place of steel for non-sparking chisels.



Non-ferrous Heavy Alloys

Sr.

No.

Alloy Name Constituents approximate percent Properties Uses

1 Brass
Copper 70
Zinc - 30
Good wearing, antifriction, corrosion resistant.
Used for making pipe fittings, tubing, filter, gauges, bearing bushes etc.
2 Bronze
Copper - 95
Tin - 5
Good wearing, antifriction, corrosion resistant.
Used for making bearing bushes.
3 Phospher bronze
Copper - 89
Tin - 10
Phosphorous - 1
Has good tensile strength and resists corrosion by seawater.
Used for bearings and gears.
4 Solder
Tin - 60
Lead - 40
Low melting point which depends upon the proportion of constituents.
Used for bearings the metal sheets.
5 White metal
Copper - 5
Tin - 85
Antimony - 10
Tough, antifriction properties, melts at a low temperature when bearing is over-heated, and prevents seizure.
Used for making heavy duty bearings.
6 Gun metal
Copper - 88
Tin - 10
Zinc - 2
Tough, strong and hard, suitable for sound castings.
Used for making bearings.
7 Bell metal
Copper - 80
Tin - 20
Hard and brittle.
Used for making bells
8 Naval brass
Copper - 60
Zinc - 39
Tin - 1
Has high strength and resists corrosion.
Used for marine and engineering castings, condenser tubes, pump parts, motor boat shaftings etc.
9 Monel metal
Nickel - 68
Copper - 29
Iron - 3
Little quantity of manganese silicon and carbon
High corrosion resistance, excellent mechanical properties.
Used for condenser tubes propellers, pump fittings, turbine blades and chemical and food-handling plants.