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China Bronze CNC Machining Services - High Precision Parts from Reliable Suppliers and Factory
Bronze generally refers to a group of copper‑based alloys, mainly alloyed with tin, aluminum, silicon, manganese, and other elements. Compared with brass (copper‑zinc alloys), bronze typically features higher strength, a lower friction coefficient, and better chemical corrosion resistance—especially in seawater environments. Thanks to its excellent wear resistance and self‑lubricating properties, it plays an irreplaceable role in bearings and bushings. Our machining centers are well‑equipped to process various bronze materials, supporting high‑quality production from complex prototypes to small‑batch manufacturing.
Common Bronze Alloy Grades and Characteristics
01 C93200 / SAE 660 · High-Leaded Tin Bronze — Bearing Bronze
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Characteristics: This is the most commonly used bearing bronze grade. Lead is added to form soft particles in the alloy structure, delivering exceptional self-lubrication and anti-galling performance. This makes it particularly suitable for applications with insufficient lubrication, or under high-load and low-speed operating conditions. It features good machinability and reliable wear resistance.
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Typical Applications: Suitable for general‑purpose bearings, bushings, thrust washers, pump components, and low‑load gears across various industrial applications.
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Key Advantage: High lead content provides outstanding self-lubrication — ideal for low-speed, high-load bearing applications with limited lubrication supply.
| Property | Value | Notes |
| Tensile Strength (MPa) | 240 – 330 | Good overall strength |
| Yield Strength (0.5% Extension, MPa) | 124 | |
| Elongation at Break (%) | 18 | Good ductility |
| Hardness (Brinell) | 65 | |
| Density (g/cm³) | 8.93 | |
| Key Composition | Cu-83%, Sn-7%, Pb-7%, Zn-3% | High lead content provides self-lubrication |
📌 Note: Values are typical ranges, specific to casting and processing conditions.
02 C95400 · Aluminum Bronze
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Characteristics: This is a high‑strength, high‑hardness aluminum bronze. It boasts some of the best corrosion resistance, wear resistance, and fatigue strength among all bronze alloys, with performance comparable to many steel materials. It maintains its strength at elevated temperatures and delivers excellent resistance to impact and cavitation.
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Typical Applications: Ideal for heavy-duty bearings, gears, valve seats, pump housings, marine propellers and seawater-resistant components, as well as various parts used in chemical processing equipment.
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Key Advantage: Exceptional strength and corrosion resistance — performance comparable to low-alloy steels, with superior seawater and cavitation resistance.
| Property | Value | Notes |
| Tensile Strength (MPa) | 620 – 760 | Very high strength, comparable to low-alloy steels |
| Yield Strength (0.2% Offset, MPa) | 275 | |
| Elongation at Break (%) | 12–18 | |
| Hardness (Brinell) | 170 – 210 | High hardness, very wear-resistant |
| Density (g/cm³) | 7.45 | Lighter than tin bronze |
| Key Composition | Cu-85%, Al-11%, Fe-4% | Tin-free, uses aluminum and iron as main alloying elements |
📌 Note: Values are typical ranges, specific to heat treatment condition.
03 C54400 · Phosphor Bronze
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Characteristics: This is a tin bronze with a small addition of phosphorus. Phosphorus enhances the alloy's elastic limit, fatigue strength, and wear resistance. The material exhibits excellent spring characteristics, good wear and corrosion resistance, and can be readily machined into precision components.
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Typical Applications: Perfect for electrical connectors, springs, diaphragms, bellows, wear plates, and high-precision gears across multiple industrial applications.
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Key Advantage: Phosphorus acts as both a deoxidizer and property enhancer — delivering superior spring characteristics and fatigue strength for precision elastic components.
| Property | Value | Notes |
| Tensile Strength (MPa) | 520 – 690 | High strength, especially suitable for elastic elements |
| Yield Strength (0.2% Offset, MPa) | 380 – 550 | High yield strength |
| Elongation at Break (%) | 10–15 | |
| Hardness (Rockwell B) | 78 – 90 | |
| Density (g/cm³) | 8.8 | |
| Key Composition | Cu-88%, Sn-4%, Zn-4%, P-0.2–0.5% | Phosphorus acts as a deoxidizer and enhances properties |
📌 Note: Values are typical ranges, specific to the degree of cold work.
04 C65500 · High-Silicon Bronze
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Characteristics: This bronze features exceptional corrosion resistance, especially in sulfuric acid and sulfate environments. It combines high strength, excellent corrosion resistance, good formability and weldability, making it widely applied in the chemical and marine industries.
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Typical Applications: Ideal for components in chemical processing equipment, heat exchanger tube sheets, marine hardware and fittings, pump and valve parts, fasteners, as well as welded structural parts.
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Key Advantage: Outstanding resistance to sulfuric acid and sulfate environments — combined with excellent weldability, making it a top choice for chemical and marine structural applications.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
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What is the difference between bronze and brass?
Bronze is a copper-based alloy primarily alloyed with tin, aluminum, silicon, or manganese, while brass is a copper-zinc alloy. Bronze generally offers higher strength, a lower friction coefficient, and better corrosion resistance—particularly in seawater environments—compared to brass. Bronze is preferred for heavy-duty mechanical components such as bearings, bushings, and marine hardware.
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Which bronze alloy is best for bearings and bushings?
C93200 (SAE 660 / High-Leaded Tin Bronze) is the most widely used bearing bronze. Its high lead content creates soft particles within the alloy structure, providing exceptional self-lubrication and anti-galling performance. It is especially suitable for high-load, low-speed conditions or environments with limited lubrication.
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What makes C95400 Aluminum Bronze suitable for marine applications?
C95400 Aluminum Bronze offers some of the best corrosion resistance, wear resistance, and fatigue strength among all bronze alloys. It is particularly resistant to seawater corrosion and cavitation, maintains its strength at elevated temperatures, and delivers performance comparable to low-alloy steels. These properties make it ideal for marine propellers, pump housings, and seawater-resistant components.
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Why is phosphorus added to Phosphor Bronze (C54400)?
Phosphorus serves two key roles in C54400 Phosphor Bronze: it acts as a deoxidizer during casting to improve the alloy's purity, and it significantly enhances the material's elastic limit, fatigue strength, and wear resistance. This results in excellent spring characteristics, making Phosphor Bronze ideal for electrical connectors, springs, diaphragms, and precision gears.
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What are the key advantages of C65500 High-Silicon Bronze?
C65500 High-Silicon Bronze is renowned for its exceptional corrosion resistance, especially in sulfuric acid and sulfate environments. It also offers high strength, good formability, and excellent weldability. These combined properties make it a preferred material for chemical processing equipment, heat exchanger tube sheets, marine hardware, and welded structural components.
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Can these bronze alloys be used for CNC machining and custom part production?
Yes. All of the bronze alloys listed—C93200, C95400, C54400, and C65500—are well-suited for CNC machining. Each grade offers good to excellent machinability depending on composition. Our machining centers are fully equipped to process these materials, supporting everything from complex prototypes to small-batch and high-volume production with tight tolerances and high surface quality.
Finishes and Post-Processing Options
The zinc alloy substrate is highly suitable for various surface treatments to enhance decoration, protection, or functionality:
Electroplating: Such as chrome, nickel, gold, or silver plating, providing a highly decorative appearance, excellent wear and corrosion resistance. This is the most common choice.
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Passivation or Chromate Conversion Coating:
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Powder Coating:
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Painting:
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Physical Vapor Deposition (PVD):
Design and Machining Considerations
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Process Selection:
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Design Considerations:
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Material Selection:
Zamak 3 and 5 are suitable for the vast majority of general-purpose parts requiring good appearance and strength; ZA-8 is better for wear and bearing applications; for making rapid tooling, choose specialized alloys like Kirksite.
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