The oldest metal in history has always new usages

1. Press brake bending copper, bronze,
and brass
The oldest metal in history has always new usages

2. At an annual consumption exceeding 18 million tons, copper and its alloys are among the
most used materials in industry, in spite of its high cost. Its versatility, its electrical and
chemical properties, and its appearance make it irreplaceable. The main users of about
370 copper alloys are construction (roofs, gutters, piping, electrical wiring), electronic
industry, transport, and machine tools.

3. To eliminate the oxide or the rolling scale, we can use a very fine abrasive, possibly
followed by a pickling bath. To preserve the typical reddish color, a clear coat is applied.
Like stainless steel, copper also forms a surface oxide coating that protects it from
corrosion, especially when it is alloyed with the aluminum.

4. Copper must be handled carefully, avoiding steping on it or denting it. The surface should
remain wrapped in the protective adhesive film, and sheets should be kept separate with
paper, wood or other material to prevent scratches. Copper can be cleaned with warm
water and soap. Specific chemical detergents are available for industrial use.
During shearing and bending, we can follow the same techniques used to protect
stainless steel.

5. Common cutting processes for copper alloy sheets are:
• Shearing/guillotining
• Laser cutting
• Plasma cutting
• Longitudinal and transverse slitting
• Waterjet cutting
• Abrasive disc cutting
• Electrical discharge machining

6. Pure copper is ductile, with a yield strength of about 70 MPa. Shearing requires less
tonnage with respect to steel, but special attention must be paid. Because of high
surface reflectivity, CO2 laser cutting may be difficult.

7. Copper sheets can be formed with all fabrication techniques available. Its ductility allows
for deformations greater than other materials. Minimum bending radius is roughly equal
to thickness. Machinery and tools used for copper alloys should not be used with other
metals to avoid corrosion.

8. Main copper alloys are bronze and brass. Originally, bronze was defined as the alloy of
copper and tin. Nowadays, it also includes alloys of copper and other elements, except
nickel and zinc.

9. The main types are:
• Classic Bronzes: copper and tin
• Phosphorous Bronzes: copper, tin and phosphorus
• Lead Bronzes: copper, tin, lead and phosphorus
• Aluminum Bronzes (Aluminium Bronze): copper, aluminum, iron
• Aluminum-Silicon Bronzes: copper, aluminum, nickel, iron, silicon, and tin
• Silicon Bronzes: copper, silicon and tin (Sn-Cu-Si)
• Nickel and tin Bronzes: copper, nickel, tin, zinc, lead
• Manganese Bronzes, Manganese and Lead Bronzes: copper, zinc, manganese, iron, lead
• Tin Bronzes, Tin and Lead bronzes: copper, tin, zinc (and lead).

10. Original brass is an alloy of copper and zinc, less hard than bronze but more resistant to
corrosion. Brass alloys make up the largest product volume of copper alloys.

11. The main types are:
• Classic Brass: copper and zinc
• Lead Brass: copper, zinc, and lead
• Tin Brass: copper, zinc and tin
• Manganese Brass (also called Manganese Bronze): copper, zinc, manganese
• Manganese and Lead Brass (also called Manganese and Lead Bronze): copper, zinc,
manganese, lead
• Silicon Brass: copper, zinc, silicon
• Aluminum Brass: copper, zinc, aluminum

12. Cupronickel is the alloy of copper and nickel, with a remarkable resistance to seawater
corrosion. It can also be used with addition of other elements such as iron, manganese
and tin. It is the metal used to mint the clear part of 1- and 2-Euro coins.
Copper alloys are joined together primarily by brazing, although all the main welding
techniques can be used. In case of riveted or bolted elements, one must use rivets and
screws of the same material to avoid galvanic corrosion.

13. Tree of brass, bronze,
and other main copper
alloys

14. Gasparini Industries s.r.l.
Via F. Filzi, 33
31036 – Istrana (Treviso – TV)
Italia – Italy
t (+39) 0422 8355
f (+39) 0422 835700
e info@gasparini.it
Codice Fiscale, Partita IVA: IT 04364470262 – REA: TV 343703 gasparini.it
Get info and price quote on
www.gasparini.it –press brakes and
guillotine shears