Silicon bronze is a low-lead brass alloy largely made up of copper (94–96%) and a tiny bit of silicon (2.5–6%). Aside from those two elements, it typically contains other alloys such as tin, manganese, iron, and zinc. It’s known for its smooth-looking finish and resistance to corrosion. If you’re not sure what you should know about silicon bronze, we provided insight to help you determine if it’s the right alloy for your manufacturing efforts.
 

Physical Properties

Knowing the physical properties of silicon bronze is important to understanding how it will react to different processes such as welding and casting. These are some important things to note about its physical properties:

  • It has a density of 8.53 g/cm. Alloys with this range of density are well suited for welding and casting.
  • It has good corrosion resistance, formability, and strength.
  • It has low magnetic permeability.

Mechanical Properties

The mechanical properties of silicon bronze are just as important. Mechanical properties tell you how an alloy will react to different mechanical forces. The most important mechanical properties of silicon bronze include its tensile yield strength. The tensile yield strength observes the amount of stress a metal can endure before it permanently deforms. For silicon bronze, the tensile yield strength comes in various ranges due to the range of metals it typically contains. Its yield strength can be between 105 and 415 MPa.
 
Another important mechanical property is the hardness rating. The hardness scale measures how well a metal can resist things such as etching and scratching. The hardness rating also depends on the scale used. Silicon bronze tends to receive a hardness rating that indicates it’s stronger than its base metal copper.

These are two useful examples of silicon bronze’s mechanical properties. Having an idea of what its tensile yield strength and hardness ratings are can tell you what working with this metal alloy will be like.
 

Common Applications

The last thing to know about silicon bronze is its common everyday applications. Here’s a quick rundown of how it’s currently being used in today’s society:

  • As a filler metal in welding practices
  • For pleasing architectural appearance
  • In marine shafting and hardware

These three things are the most crucial things to know about silicon bronze. For inquiries regarding this alloy, give us a call. Weiland Diversified is the largest stocking distributor of silicon iron bronze. If AMS 4616 isn’t the right alloy for your project, we can help you find the right bronze alloy for all your different needs.