Aluminum Bronze

High Strength Corrosion Resistant Copper Alloy

Aluminum bronze offers superior mechanical strength, corrosion resistance and wear performance, making it an ideal copper alloy material for demanding industrial applications.

What is Aluminum Bronze?

Aluminum bronze is a group of copper-based alloys in which aluminum is the main alloying element, usually combined with iron, nickel, manganese and other elements to improve strength, corrosion resistance and wear performance.

Compared with traditional copper alloys such as brass and tin bronze, aluminum bronze provides higher mechanical strength, better resistance to seawater corrosion and excellent resistance to abrasion under heavy-duty working conditions.

Due to its outstanding combination of strength, toughness and corrosion resistance, aluminum bronze is widely used in marine equipment, chemical processing equipment, pumps, valves, bearings, heat exchangers and engineering components.

Chemical Composition of Aluminum Bronze

Aluminum bronze grades vary according to application requirements. Typical aluminum bronze alloys contain aluminum as the primary strengthening element with additional alloying elements to improve performance.

Element Typical Content (%) Function
Aluminum (Al) 5 - 12 Main strengthening element, improves hardness and corrosion resistance
Iron (Fe) 0 - 5 Improves strength and wear resistance
Nickel (Ni) 0 - 6 Improves corrosion resistance and toughness
Manganese (Mn) 0 - 3 Enhances mechanical properties
Copper (Cu) Balance Provides conductivity and corrosion resistance

Mechanical Properties of Aluminum Bronze

The mechanical properties of aluminum bronze depend on alloy grade, heat treatment condition and product form. Typical values are shown below.

Property Typical Value Unit
Tensile Strength 600 - 900 MPa
Yield Strength 250 - 550 MPa
Elongation 10 - 25 %
Hardness 150 - 250 HB
Density 7.5 - 8.0 g/cm³

Common Aluminum Bronze Standards

Different aluminum bronze grades are selected according to strength requirements, corrosion conditions and application environments.

Region / System Standard Codes
China National (GB/T) GB/T 5231-2012, GB/T 4423-2007, GB/T 1527-2006, GB/T 2040-2002
China Industry (YS/T) YS/T 584-2006, YS/T 649-2007, YS/T 662-2007
USA (ASTM) ASTM Series (e.g., B148, B150 for Aluminum Bronze)
Europe (DIN) DIN Series

Compliant with national, regional, and industry standards for quality assurance.

Available Forms of Aluminum Bronze Products

Aluminum bronze can be supplied in various product forms according to different industrial requirements. Sunny Steel provides aluminum bronze materials in customized dimensions and conditions for engineering applications.

Product Form Typical Size Range Main Applications
Aluminum Bronze Plate Thickness 3 - 200 mm Marine structures, wear plates, engineering components
Aluminum Bronze Bar Diameter 10 - 500 mm Shafts, bushings, gears and machining parts
Aluminum Bronze Tube Customized OD and thickness Heat exchangers, condensers and corrosion resistant systems
Aluminum Bronze Forging According to drawings High-load mechanical components
Aluminum Bronze Casting Customized Valves, pumps, marine components

Manufacturing Process of Aluminum Bronze

Aluminum bronze products require precise alloy control and processing technology to achieve stable mechanical properties and corrosion resistance.

  1. Raw Material Preparation: High purity copper and alloying elements are selected according to required grade specifications.
  2. Melting and Alloying: Copper and aluminum are melted under controlled conditions to ensure uniform chemical composition.
  3. Casting: Molten alloy is cast into billets, plates, bars or customized shapes.
  4. Heat Treatment: Controlled heat treatment improves strength, hardness and internal structure.
  5. Machining: Products are processed according to customer drawings and dimensional requirements.
  6. Quality Inspection: Chemical analysis, mechanical testing and dimensional inspection are performed before shipment.

Corrosion Resistance Performance

One of the most important advantages of aluminum bronze is its outstanding resistance to corrosion. The aluminum oxide protective film formed on the alloy surface provides excellent protection in aggressive environments.

  • Excellent seawater corrosion resistance for marine applications
  • Good resistance to salt water and atmospheric corrosion
  • High resistance against erosion corrosion caused by high-speed fluids
  • Suitable for chemical equipment exposed to corrosive media
  • Better corrosion resistance than many conventional copper alloys

Wear Resistance of Aluminum Bronze Alloy

Aluminum bronze combines high hardness with excellent toughness, making it suitable for components exposed to friction, impact and sliding conditions.

Material Wear Performance Typical Application
Pure Copper Low wear resistance Electrical applications
Brass Medium wear resistance General mechanical parts
Tin Bronze Good wear resistance Bearing applications
Aluminum Bronze Excellent wear resistance Heavy-duty bearings, pumps, valves

Main Grades — Aluminium Bronze

Comparison of common Chinese (GB) and equivalent US (ASTM) aluminium bronze grades, with principal alloying elements expressed as wt.%. Copper (Cu) is the balance.

China Grade
(GB)
US Equivalent
(ASTM)
Nominal Composition (wt.%)
Al Fe Ni Mn
QAl9-2 8.0–10.0 1.5–2.5
QAl9-4 C62300 8.0–10.0 2.0–4.0
QAl10-3-1.5 C61600 8.5–10.0 2.0–4.0 1.0–2.0
QAl10-4-4 C63000 9.5–11.0 3.5–5.5 3.5–5.5
QAl11-6-6 C63200 10.0–12.0 5.0–7.0 5.0–7.0
Note: Cu = balance. "—" indicates not specified or not applicable. Composition ranges are indicative; refer to the applicable standard for exact limits.

Aluminum Bronze Compared with Other Copper Alloys

Material Strength Corrosion Resistance Wear Resistance
Pure Copper Low Good Low
Brass Medium Medium Medium
Tin Bronze Good Good Good
Aluminum Bronze Excellent Excellent Excellent

Key Features of
Aluminum Bronze Alloy

Aluminum bronze provides excellent comprehensive properties for applications requiring long service life and stable performance in harsh environments.

  • Excellent corrosion resistance, especially in seawater and marine environments
  • High mechanical strength compared with ordinary copper alloys
  • Outstanding wear resistance for bearings, gears and sliding components
  • Good fatigue resistance under repeated loading conditions
  • Excellent resistance to cavitation and erosion corrosion
  • Good machinability and fabrication performance
  • Non-sparking characteristics suitable for special industrial environments
Property Typical Value
Density Approx. 8.9 g/cm³
Melting Range Approx. 1080–1085°C
Electrical Conductivity High conductivity copper alloy
Thermal Conductivity Excellent
Hardness Higher than pure copper
Aluminium Bronze tube
Standard Products

Aluminium Bronze

Mechanical properties of commonly supplied aluminium bronze grades in bar and tube form. Values are typical minimums unless otherwise noted.

Grade Form Condition Size Range (mm) Tensile Strength Elongation
A (%) min
Brinell
Hardness (HB)
ksi (min) MPa (min)
QAl9-2 Bar R ≤ 40 ≥ 71 ≥ 490 15
QAl9-4 Bar R ≤ 40 ≥ 78 ≥ 540 15 110–190
QAl10-3-1.5 Bar R ≤ 40 ≥ 85 ≥ 590 12 140–200
QAl10-4-4 Bar R ≤ 40 ≥ 99 ≥ 685 10 170–230
QAl10-5-5 Bar R ≤ 40 ≥ 99 ≥ 685 10 180–240
QAl11-6-6 Bar R ≤ 40 ≥ 107 ≥ 740 8 200–260
C62400 Tube R OD ≤ 200, WT 5–25 ≥ 92 ≥ 635 10
Notes: Condition "R" = as-rolled / hot-worked. "—" indicates not specified. Size = diameter for bar, OD/WT for tube. Values are indicative; refer to the applicable standard for exact limits.

Machining and Fabrication of Aluminum Bronze

Aluminum bronze can be machined using conventional methods. Proper cutting parameters and tooling selection are recommended because of its high strength and hardness.

Quality Control and Testing

Every aluminum bronze product should undergo strict inspection to ensure chemical composition, mechanical performance and dimensional accuracy.

Inspection Item Testing Method Purpose
Chemical Composition Spectrometer Analysis Confirm alloy grade
Tensile Test Mechanical Testing Verify strength requirements
Hardness Test Brinell Hardness Check wear performance
Dimensional Inspection Precision Measurement Ensure machining accuracy

Packaging and Transportation

Aluminum bronze products are carefully packed to prevent surface damage, deformation and contamination during transportation.

Plates, bars and tubes are normally protected with moisture-proof wrapping, wooden cases or steel frames according to product dimensions and shipping requirements.

Complete material certificates, inspection reports and packing lists can be provided together with the shipment to support customer quality control procedures.

Frequently Asked Questions
Aluminum bronze is a copper-based alloy with aluminum as the main alloying element. It provides excellent strength, corrosion resistance and wear resistance compared with many traditional copper alloys.
The main advantages of aluminum bronze include high mechanical strength, excellent seawater corrosion resistance, superior wear resistance, good fatigue resistance and long service life in harsh environments.
Common standards include ASTM B148 for aluminum bronze castings, ASTM B150 for aluminum bronze rod and bar products, and EN 1982 for copper alloy castings.
Common aluminum bronze grades include C95400, C95500, C95800, and CuAl10Fe3. Different grades are selected according to strength, corrosion resistance and application requirements.
Yes. Aluminum bronze has excellent resistance to seawater corrosion, erosion corrosion and cavitation, making it widely used for ship propellers, marine valves, pumps and offshore equipment.
Aluminum bronze generally has significantly higher tensile strength and wear resistance than common brass alloys, making it more suitable for heavy-duty mechanical applications.
Yes. Due to its high hardness, toughness and low friction characteristics, aluminum bronze is widely used for bearings, bushings, gears, valve seats and sliding components.
We can supply aluminum bronze plates, bars, tubes, forgings, castings and customized machined components according to customer drawings and specifications.
Typical aluminum bronze contains approximately 5-12% aluminum, with copper as the balance. Some grades also contain iron, nickel and manganese to improve strength and corrosion resistance.
Yes. Aluminum bronze can be machined using CNC machining and conventional processing methods. Proper cutting tools and parameters are recommended due to its high strength.
Yes. Aluminum bronze can be welded using suitable welding processes and filler metals. Welding procedures should be selected according to alloy grade and service conditions.
Aluminum bronze is widely used in marine engineering, shipbuilding, oil and gas, chemical processing, power generation, mining equipment and general mechanical industries.
Aluminum bronze offers excellent seawater corrosion resistance and lower density, while stainless steel generally provides higher temperature resistance and different mechanical characteristics depending on grade.
Yes. Aluminum bronze products can be customized according to dimensions, chemical composition, mechanical requirements, machining drawings and special application conditions.
Yes. Material certificates including chemical composition analysis, mechanical test reports and inspection documents can be provided according to customer requirements.
Delivery time depends on product type, quantity and customization requirements. Standard sizes can usually be supplied quickly, while customized products require additional manufacturing time.

Main Applications of Aluminum Bronze

Due to its excellent combination of strength, corrosion resistance and wear performance, aluminum bronze is widely used in demanding industrial fields.

Marine Industry

Ship propellers, marine valves, seawater pumps and offshore components.


Oil and Gas Industry

Valve components, pump parts and corrosion resistant equipment.


Chemical Industry

Corrosion resistant mechanical components and processing equipment.


Power Industry

Heat exchanger components, bushings and special fittings.


Mining Industry

Wear resistant parts operating under impact and friction conditions.


Mechanical Engineering

Bearings, gears, shafts and precision components.

Iridium Unique Properties

Sunny Steel supplies Aluminum Bronze materials in various forms to meet different industrial manufacturing requirements.

Aluminum Bronze Tube

Aluminum Bronze Rod

Aluminum Bronze Plate

Aluminum Bronze Coil

Aluminum Bronze Foil

Aluminum Bronze Sheet

Aluminum Bronze Bar

Aluminum Bronze Components

Aluminum Bronze Wire

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