Bronze is made of a blend of copper and tin. The amounts that are blended can vary, but the most common composition is usually 88% copper and 12% tin.
As it is made up of a mixture of two metals, bronze is technically known as an alloy metal. There are also a number of other bronze alloys that are slightly less popular than the tin and copper alloy. These include the following:
* Commercial bronze: 90% copper and 10% zinc.
* Architectural bronze: 57% copper, 3% lead and 40% zinc.
* Bismuth bronze: 52% copper, 30% nickel, 12% zinc, 5% lead & 1% bismuth.
Other bronze alloys include aluminium bronze, bell metal, cymbal alloys and phosphor bronze.
Bronze got its name as it started becoming very popular during the Bronze Age. It was not until the third millennium BC that the bronze alloy was made by combining tin and copper though as prior to this, arsenic was mixed with the copper. This alloy turned out to be toxic though so copper was then mixed with the readily available metal, tin.
Although the new metal alloy was brittle, it was also very hard which allowed people to create new tools and weapons that were stronger than their predecessors. Bronze was also used in building materials and in components such as decorative tiles.
Today bronze has many uses and can be used for a number or purposes including:
* Bed coils and mattress springs
* Fireplaces
* Building work
As it is made up of a mixture of two metals, bronze is technically known as an alloy metal. There are also a number of other bronze alloys that are slightly less popular than the tin and copper alloy. These include the following:
* Commercial bronze: 90% copper and 10% zinc.
* Architectural bronze: 57% copper, 3% lead and 40% zinc.
* Bismuth bronze: 52% copper, 30% nickel, 12% zinc, 5% lead & 1% bismuth.
Other bronze alloys include aluminium bronze, bell metal, cymbal alloys and phosphor bronze.
Bronze got its name as it started becoming very popular during the Bronze Age. It was not until the third millennium BC that the bronze alloy was made by combining tin and copper though as prior to this, arsenic was mixed with the copper. This alloy turned out to be toxic though so copper was then mixed with the readily available metal, tin.
Although the new metal alloy was brittle, it was also very hard which allowed people to create new tools and weapons that were stronger than their predecessors. Bronze was also used in building materials and in components such as decorative tiles.
Today bronze has many uses and can be used for a number or purposes including:
* Bed coils and mattress springs
* Fireplaces
* Building work
