Copper-based aerospace
alloys
Copper-based alloys are widely used in aircraft engineering where critical components
require materials of construction with high strength, good ductility and resistance to corrosion.
These components are often safety-critical and long-term reliable operation is a
paramount consideration. A number of copper alloys, nickel
aluminium bronze, copper-nickel-silicon and high-strength cupronickels — are employed in the form of bar,
forgings and stampings.
They offer high thermal conductivity, high strength, high electrical conductivity,
high-speed bearing properties, easy machinability and self-lubrication. They do not corrode readily and are
wear-resistant.
Known copper-based alloy aerospace specifications include
BS B 23
AMS 4640
AMS 4880
AMS 4881
UA11N
Copper alloys are used for a wide variety of applications, such as bearings and
bushings in landing gears & cargo doors, wheel and brake components, wing and tail actuators, hydraulic
pump components, pylons and many other high demanding applications where heavy loads, corrosion, and abrasion
are issues of concern.
C17200 (AMS 4533, 4534, 4535, 4650, 4651, QQ-C-530) Beryllium Copper
Available in solid & hollow bars, and plates, this copper alloy can have the
highest mechanical properties of all copper alloys. This alloy also has excellent bearing qualities with
extremely high compressive strength for high loading applications. It also has excellent abrasion and
corrosion resistant properties.
C63000 (AMS 4640) Nickel Aluminum Bronze
Available in solid bars and plates. A high strength, tough nickel aluminum bronze used
where high mechanical properties are required. These alloys are heat treatable aluminum bronze containing 5%
nickel, that provides excellent bearing properties with good corrosion resistance. It is used extensively for
aircraft landing gear bushings, bearings, and other military and aircraft components.
C63020 (AMS 4590) Nickel Aluminum Bronze
Available in solid bars. A special heat treatment process improves the mechanical
properties beyond the range of commercial aluminum bronzes. This alloy is an extra high strength version of
nickel aluminum bronze. It is used where parts require extra high strength and hardness with some ductility
and toughness. Typical applications include military aircraft bushings involving heavy loads, abrasion and
high deformation. The extra high strength characteristics provide extreme wear resistance for extreme loads,
abrasive wear, and high impact landings (such as aircraft carrier landings).
C64200 (AMS 4631, 4634) Silicon Aluminum Bronze
Available in solid bars, this silicon aluminum bronze combines the self lubricity of
the silicon with the higher mechanical properties of aluminum bronze and is sometimes used in place of C63000
where specifications permit a lower strength material offset by its lubricity. Typical applications involve
valve stems,gears, marine and pole line hardware, wing pylons, bolts,nuts, bushings and valve body
components.
C65620 (AMS 4616) Silicon Bronze
Available in solid bars, a special high strength silicon bronze; the additional iron
content provides added strength in conjunction with the self lubricity of the silicon for excellent bearing
and load properties. Easily machined into ball bearing cage assemblies!
C67300 (SAE J463, J461) Manganese Bronze
Available in solid & hollow bars, this is a high strength manganese bronze with
typically good bearing and self lubricity properties. This alloy maintains high impact resistance with good
machinability making it well suited for clutch bearings, shaft bushings,sleeve bearings, thrust bearings,
pump parts, driveshafts, bearing pins, wear plates, gears and cams. Resists squashing out under high loads
and extreme wear applications.
C86300 (ASTM B-505, B-271, AMS 4862) Manganese Bronze
Available in solid & hollow bars, this cast manganese bronze is typically supplied
in continuous cast or centrifugally cast bars and tubes for high load gear and bearing applications. This
material achieves over 110 ksi tensile strength and an elongation of 14% minimum. It is excellent in
applications requiring high strength metal to metal wear.
C93700 (ASTM B-505, B271, AMS 4842) High Leaded Tin Bronze "80-10-10"
Available in solid & hollow bars, this is a high leaded tin bronze used for high
speed and heavy pressure applications where corrosion resistance is necessary. The increased lead content
provides added self lubricity within the family of tin bronzes. Excellent machinability at 80%!
C95400 (ASTM B-505, B-271, AMS 4871, 4873) Aluminum Bronze "9C"
Available in solid & hollow bars and wear plates, this is the most popular
aluminum bronze and is used in a lot of different industrial applications. This extra tough bearing material
is used for heavy loads with good resistance to impact and corrosion. Aluminum bronze has a lot of good
properties and is the most readily available high strength bearing material.
C95510 (AMS 4880) Continuous & Centrifugal Cast Nickel Aluminum Bronze
Available in solid & hollow bars
C95520 (AMS 4881) Centrifugal Cast Nickel Aluminum Bronze
Available in solid & hollow bars, these are the most popular landing gear bushing
materials specified today along with C63000 material. These continuous / centrifugal cast alloys are heat
treated alloys and exhibit high mechanical strengths which meet the properties of C63000 (AMS 4640). In many
cases C95510 (AMS 4880) can be substituted for C63000 with the advantage of the material being available in
tube form which provides economic cost savings.
UZ19AL6 Aircraft Bronze
Available in solid & hollow bars this is a European high strength bearing bronze
which is used by Airbus for landing gear components.
SAE 841 (ASTM B-438, B-4831) Sintered Bronze
Available in solid & hollow bars, this oil impregnated bronze is one of the finest
powder metal bearings on the market. The sintering process provides superior strength, reduced coefficient of
friction, and uniform oil coating of the mating shaft during operation. Material is available in solid,
cored, and rectangular bars.
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