copper alloys Materials available for forging from the group of non - ferrous metals of copper base: pure non - alloyed copper The technically unique wrought electrolytic copper, which is pure and non - alloyed, is used after forging for general purposes where conductive materials are needed. Copper is a material with a high capacity for heat and electric conductivity. It also has a strong resistance to corrosion, midrange sturdiness and is easily reshapable. For forging purposes, two technically unique copper materials are differentiated, namely the electrolytic copper and oxigen free copper. low - alloyed wrought copper materials For forging purposes, two technically unique copper alloys are differentiated, namely the age - hardened and non age - hardened alloys. copper - zinc - (brass and special brass) - alloys Technically unique copper - zinc - alloys are used in the forging process. Up to 5% Lead can be added to these copper and zinc alloys, which are also described as brass, in order to improve their machineablility. These alloys are described as special brass, because besides copper and zinc there are also other elements such as aluminium, iron, manganese, nickel, silicon and / or tin. These additional elements predominantly improve the stability of these alloys, as well as the antifriction properties and resistance to corrosion. copper - aluminium - (aluminium - bronze) - alloys Technically unique copper - aluminium alloys, which can also be described as aluminium - bronze, are used in the forging process in order to improve the stability and sturdiness of the iron, nickel and manganese. Whereby at the same time, iron refines the structure, the nickel improves the corrosion resistence, and the manganese raises the stability of the alloy under higher temperatures. Alloys with these additional elements are commonly described as complex aluminium - bronze. The physical strength and sturdiness of these important copper - aluminium alloys, in particular their elastic limits and tensile strength, can easily be ranked with the better carbon steels. copper - tin - (tin - bronze) - alloys As a rule of thumb, the tin content is limited to a maximum of 9% for the forging process to create the copper - tin - alloy. Alloy elements include phosphorus and zinc. These additional elements influence various physical qualities. copper - nickel - alloys Nickel is influential in the forging process for copper - nickel - alloys and is a determinant of the alloy's physical and mechanical qualities. As the nickel content is increased, the tensile strength, resistance to corrosion and heat are raised. However, the heat and electric conductivity are reduced. The most common elements which are used to improve the quality include: manganese, iron, tin, silicon, niob, lead, zinc, titanium and phosphorus. Less commonly used alloy elements include chrome, aluminium und beryllium. These additions help age - harden the copper - nickel - alloys. copper - nickel - zinc - (nickel silver) - alloys For the forging process of copper - nickel - zinc - alloys, the percentage of copper lies at 47 - 64%, the percentage of nickel at 10 - 25% and the percentage of zinc at 15 - 42%. Other further alloy elements include manganese and tin. From: http://www.weisensee.com/e_buntm.htm