Applications
Aluminium bronzes are most commonly used in applications where their resistance to corrosion makes them preferable to other engineering materials. These applications include plain bearings and landing gear components on aircraft, engine components (especially for seagoing ships), underwater fastenings in naval architecture, and ship propellers. Aluminum bronze is also used to fulfill the ATEX directive for Zones 1, 2, 21, and 22. The attractive gold-toned coloration of aluminium bronzes has also led to their use in jewelry.
Aluminium bronzes are in the highest demand from the following industries and areas:
- General sea water-related service
- Water supply
- Oil and petrochemical industries (i.e. tools for use in non-sparking environments)
- Specialized anti-corrosive applications
- Certain structural retrofit building applications
Aluminium bronze can be welded using the MIG welding technique with an aluminium bronze core and pure argon gas.
Aluminium bronze is used to replace gold for the casting of dental crowns. The alloys used are chemically inert and have the appearance of gold.
Alloys similar to aluminium bronze are used in making coins, for example the one and two dollar coins of Australian and New Zealand currency produced by the Royal Australian Mint, some Mexican coins and the Nordic gold used for some Euro coins. The Canadian 2 dollar coin, produced by the Royal Canadian Mint and circulated since 1996, is a bi-metallic piece with an outer ring of nickel and an inner circle of aluminum bronze composed of 92% copper, 6% aluminum, and 2% nickel.
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