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Phosphor Bronze

What Is Phosphor Bronze?

Phosphor bronze is a copper alloy that is commonly used for applications requiring a high degree of corrosion resistance and electrical conductivity. The composition of this alloy includes a mixture of copper tin and phosphorus. Other metals such as lead are also commonly included to achieve certain desirable properties.

Benefits and Properties of Phosphorus Bronze

Due to its combination of copper, tin, and phosphorus, this material offers a wide range of desirable attributes. This highly valuable, specialty metal offers excellent formability, solderability, fatigue resistance, and spring qualities that make it a popular choice for several industries and applications.

Other key benefits and properties of phosphor bronze include the following:

• High corrosion resistance.  Phosphor bronze resists corrosion and rusting in the face of physical elements (such as humidity and rain) or chemical exposure. 
• Electrical conductivity. The metal can conduct electricity well, making it a popular option for manufacturing electrical parts.

• Strength. The inclusion of tin and phosphorus gives this metal added strength, as well as the ability to resist fatigue and wear.
• Elasticity. Due to phosphor bronze’s fine grain size, the material is highly elastic and offers a greater degree of springback.

Industry Applications

Because of its favorable characteristics, manufacturers across a wide array of industries use it to produce a variety of specialty components. Any industry that requires high-density, high-performance components that resist damage from corrosion, fatigue, and mechanical wear can turn to phosphorus bronze for a versatile, easily formable option. Whether used in wire, strip, or rod form, phosphor bronze can be found in various applications, such as:

Automotive

Due to its electrical conductivity and other beneficial properties, phosphor bronze is used to produce a variety of automotive electrical parts, including terminals, lighting components, cable harnesses, connectors, springs, and relays.

Electronics

Manufacturers across the electronics industry use phosphor bronze to produce a variety of electronic components, including:

• Circuit breaker contacts
• Connectors
• Fuse clips
• Relay contacts
• Rotary switch slides
• Transistor terminals

Industrial

Phosphor bronze offers great fatigue, wear, and corrosion resistance, making it an ideal material for a variety of industrial applications. The most common industrial uses include fasteners, bolts, springs, truss wire, diaphragms, bushings, and other machinery components.

Musical Instruments

Compared to brass, another popular metal in the musical industry, phosphor bronze offers a higher level of resiliency. When used to produce musical instruments, phosphor bronze can deliver a larger tonal spectrum and more consistent sounds over time. This metal is commonly used in trombones, trumpets, and reed instruments such as saxophones.

Alloy Metals by Sequoia Brass & Copper

Choosing the right metal alloy is essential in ensuring the success of your project. While phosphor bronze may be an ideal option for the above use cases, other metals may be the stronger choice for different industries and applications. At Sequoia Brass & Copper, we offer a variety of copper, brass, and bronze alloys in bar, plate, and sheet forms. We’re here to assist you. Please  contact us or request a quote for more information.