Elemental Composition and Alloying Content

The main difference between aluminum bronze and tin bronze is their major alloying elements. Aluminum bronze, as the name implies, is a copper-based alloy with aluminum as the main alloying element. In practice, the aluminum content of aluminum bronze is usually between 5% and 12%. Aluminum bronze with an aluminum content of 5% to 7% has good plasticity and is suitable for cold working use. When the aluminum content exceeds 7% to 8%, although the strength increases, the plasticity decreases sharply, so it is mostly used in the cast state or after hot working.

On the other hand, tin bronze is a bronze with tin as the main alloying element. Most of the tin bronzes used in industry have a tin content between 3% and 14%. Depending on the tin content, the physical and mechanical properties of tin bronze vary. For example, tin bronzes with a tin content of less than 5% are suitable for cold working; those with a tin content of 5% to 7% are suitable for hot working; and those with a tin content of more than 10% are suitable for casting.

Appearance Characteristics

In terms of appearance, there are also some differences between aluminum bronze and tin bronze. Although both have the basic color of bronze, their color and luster will differ due to the different alloying elements and contents. In general, aluminum bronze may be a bit lighter in color and have a brighter luster, while tin bronze may be darker in color and have a slightly lower luster. However, this difference is not absolute, as different heat treatments and surface finishes can also affect the appearance of the material.

Mechanical Properties and Corrosion Resistance

Aluminum bronze and tin bronze also have significant differences in mechanical properties and corrosion resistance. Aluminum bronze has high strength and good wear resistance, and its mechanical properties are superior to those of brass and tin bronze. This high strength and wear resistance makes aluminum bronze in the manufacture of high-strength wear parts, such as gears, bushings and worm gears have a wide range of applications. In addition, aluminum bronze has good resistance to high-temperature oxidation and is suitable for high-temperature environments.

In contrast, tin bronze is widely used in shipbuilding, chemical, machinery, instrumentation and other industries due to its good corrosion resistance, friction reduction and high mechanical properties. It is mainly used in the manufacture of bearings, bushings and other wear-resistant parts and springs and other elastic components, as well as corrosion-resistant, anti-magnetic parts. These properties of tin bronze enable it to perform well in complex working environments.

Performance difference between aluminum bronze and tin bronze

Hardness

Aluminum bronze and tin bronze are both harder than brass, but aluminum bronze is harder. Aluminum bronze hardness is mainly due to the addition of aluminum elements, aluminum is a metal material with high hardness and high strength.

Weldability

Aluminum bronze is more difficult to weld than tin bronze, the coefficient of thermal expansion of aluminum bronze is higher than that of tin bronze, which can easily lead to problems such as bending and deformation when welding. Tin bronze is easier to weld, combined with better performance.

Oxidation

Aluminum bronze has good oxidation properties, can form a layer of dense oxide film, thus improving its corrosion resistance and wear resistance. Tin bronze is easy to rust, not conducive to long-term use.

The use of

Aluminum bronze due to high hardness, high strength, good flame retardant properties, suitable for the production of high-speed movement of mechanical parts; and tin bronze combination of good performance, sealing performance is also better, suitable for the production of conductive, thermal conductivity, sound-absorbing materials.

Processing and heat treatment characteristics

Aluminum bronze: can be processed by hot pressing, cold pressing, welding and other processes, and has good heat processing performance. Tin bronze: has good cold working performance, can be processed by cold forging, cutting and other ways. At the same time, the performance of the two in the heat treatment is also different, according to the specific needs of the selection of the corresponding heat treatment process.

Summary

Overall, there are obvious differences between aluminum bronze and tin bronze in terms of elemental composition, appearance characteristics, mechanical properties and corrosion resistance. These differences make them play an important role in their respective fields of expertise. Understanding these differences helps us to choose the right bronze material according to the actual needs to ensure the performance and reliability of the product.