High Copper Alloys
High Copper Alloys are those that usually contain more than 95% copper with only a small addition of elements such as nickel, silicon, chromium and beryllium. These additions are used to enhance properties such as strength, hardness, corrosion resistance and wear resistance, whilst maintaining some of the benefits of pure copper such as a high electrical or thermal conductivity.
Alloys that fall into this category include silicon bronze, copper nickel silicon and beryllium copper. These alloy grades are among the most important and widely used copper alloys due to the impressive range of attributes that can be attained. When fully heat-treated the beryllium copper (Becol-25) offers the highest strength of any commercially available copper alloy, whilst the copper nickel silicon alloys including COLSIBRO® and TROJAN offer a remarkable blend of physical and mechanical properties at competitive prices.
Other alloys such as silicon bronze (COLDUR-A®) have been developed to offer excellent hot and cold formability combined with corrosion resistance, strength and toughness.
The copper nickel silicon’s and the beryllium copper are available ex-stock in a comprehensive range of diameter sizes. The silicon bronze is also available in sheet and plate, square and hexagon as well as round rod.