Phosphor Bronze – Copper Alloy UNS C51000

Phosphor Bronze – Copper Alloy UNS

C51000
Nov 13 2012

Topics Covered
Introduction
Chemical Composition
Physical Properties
Mechanical Properties
Thermal Properties
Other Designations
Fabrication and Heat Treatment
Annealing
Cold Working
Welding
Machinability
Hot Working

Introduction
UNS C51000 phosphor bronze copper alloy has an excellent combination of ductility and
strength and possess good spring qualities.

A few other bronze copper alloys excluding the phosphor bronze copper alloy include:

Tin bronze
Aluminum bronze
Silicon bronze
Architectural bronze
Manganese bronze

The addition of phosphor in bronze alloys results in increased wear resistance, fatigue
resistance and hardness, thus allowing the usage of the phosphor bronze alloys in shafts,
fasteners, valve spindles, masonry fixings, bearings, springs and gears.

The datasheet given below provides an overview of UNS C51000 phosphor bronze copper
alloy.

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Phosphor Bronze – Copper Alloy UNS C51000

Chemical Composition
The chemical composition of UNS C51000 phosphor bronze copper alloy is outlined in the
following table.

Element Content (%)

Copper, Cu 95.0
Tin, Sn 5.0
Phosphorous, P trace

Physical Properties
The following table shows the physical properties of the UNS C51000 copper alloy.

Properties Metric Imperial

Density 8.86 g/cm3 0.320 lb/in³
Melting point 954°C 1750°F

Mechanical Properties
The mechanical properties of the UNS C51000 copper alloy are displayed in the following
table.

Properties Metric Imperial

Tensile strength 324-965 MPa 47000-140000 psi
Yield strength (depending on temper) 131-552 MPa 19000-80100 psi
Elongation at break (in 50.8 mm) 64% 64%
Machinability (UNS C36000 (free-cutting brass) = 100) 20 20
Shear modulus 41 GPa 5950 ksi
Poisson's ratio 0.34 0.34
Elastic modulus 117 GPa 16969 ksi

Thermal Properties
The thermal properties of the UNS C51000 copper alloy are given in the following table.

Properties Metric Imperial

Thermal expansion co-efficient (@20-300°C/68-572°F) 17.8 µm/m°C 9.89 µin/in°F
Thermal conductivity (@20°C/68°F) 84 W/mK 583 BTU in/hr.ft².°F

Other Designations

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Phosphor Bronze – Copper Alloy UNS C51000

Equivalent materials to the UNS C51000 copper alloy are given in the table below.

AMS4720
ASTM B100
ASTM B103
ASTM B139
ASTMB159
ASTM F467
ASTM F468
MILB-13501
MIL W-6712
QQ W321
SAE J461
SAE J463

Fabrication and Heat Treatment

Annealing
UNS C51000 copper alloy is annealed between 482 and 677°C (900 and 1250°F).

Cold Working
UNS C51000 copper alloy has excellent cold working capacity.

Welding
Welding processes suitable for UNS C51000 copper alloy include brazing, soldering, butt
welding, seam welding, oxyacetylene welding, coated metal arc welding, spot welding and
gas shielded arc welding.

Machinability
The machinability rating of UNS C51000 copper alloy is 20.

Hot Working
UNS C51000 copper alloy is rated with poor hot forming capacity.

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