Phosphor bronze is a specialty metal made up of tin and phosphorus. It’s a copper alloy and has many uses. Phosphor bronze is a great metal to use in manufactured parts because the phosphorus increases the stiffness of the alloy and the tin makes the metal more corrosion resistant. Check out the many common uses for phosphor bronze.
Electrical applications
Phosphor bronze has many electrical applications. It is used in the following items:
Relay contacts
Relay contacts are switches that are used to open or close electrical circuits either by electromechanical or other electronic means. Phosphor bronze is used for these because of its fair electrical conductivity and reasonable cost.
Circuit breaker contacts
A circuit breaker contact is a device that serves the purpose of carrying a load of electricity without overheating. It also must endure the heat of any arc produced to prevent electrical fires. These are commonly made of phosphor bronze due to its high strength and wear resistance.
Fuse clips
Fuse clips are put on fuses to connect them to PCBs without major alterations or complex tools. They are often made of phosphor bronze because it is a strong material that can perform reliably at a low cost.
Industrial applications
The conductive metal phosphor bronze alloy is also used in many industrial items. Check out the most common ones:
Wire
The material is often used in wirings because of its high electrical conductivity and low elasticity. It is a very strong material that is also corrosion-resistant. Corrosion resistance is important in metals as it can eat away at essential parts and cause major issues.
Springs
While not used in springs that are utilized for high impact or heavy loads, phosphor bronze is a good material to use for springs designed to endure medium or low impact. This material is a popular choice because it is strong and corrosion-resistant, so it does not need replaced as often.
Musical applications
A fun use for prosper bronze is in the construction of certain musical instruments. This material is typically preferred over brass in instrument making because it has a better build. It has a high copper content, meaning it has a golden color that looks similar to brass, which most “brass” instruments are made out of—or were. Phosphor bronze is used in conjunction with other high-copper content materials to create instruments such as trombones, trumpets, and some reed instruments such as the saxophone.