What is C95400?

C95400 is the UNS (Unified Numbering System) designation for a specific type of Aluminum Bronze. It is one of the most popular and widely used copper-based alloys due to its excellent combination of high strength, wear resistance, and corrosion resistance.

It is a metal, specifically a bronze, not a brass.

• Bronze: A copper alloy where the primary alloying element is typically tin, aluminum, silicon, or manganese.

• Brass: A copper alloy where the primary alloying element is zinc.

C95400’s primary alloying elements are aluminum (~10-11.5%) and iron (~3-5%), with the remainder being copper. This composition gives it its unique and desirable properties.

Detailed Breakdown by Your Keywords

1. Mechanical Properties

C95400 is known for its high strength and hardness, which are superior to many other bronze alloys. These properties make it ideal for high-load, high-wear applications.

Note: These values can be further improved through heat treatment.

2. Corrosion Resistance

This is a standout feature of C95400, and you listed it twice for good reason.

• Mechanism: When exposed to the atmosphere or liquids, the aluminum in the alloy forms a tough, transparent, and self-healing layer of aluminum oxide (Al₂O₃) on the surface. This layer protects the underlying copper from attack.

• Excellent In:

  • Seawater and Saltwater (Marine Environments): It has exceptional resistance to saltwater corrosion and biofouling (the attachment of marine organisms), making it a top choice for marine hardware.

  • Non-oxidizing Acids: It performs well against acids like sulfuric acid and hydrochloric acid at lower concentrations.

  • Industrial Atmospheres: Resists corrosion from industrial pollutants and atmospheric conditions.

• Limitations: It is not recommended for use with certain strong oxidizing acids (like nitric acid), wet chlorine, or ammonia.

3. Industrial Applications (Bushing, Bearing)

Its combination of strength, wear resistance, and natural lubricity makes C95400 a premier material for bushings, bearings, and wear plates.

• Bushings & Bearings: Used in heavy-duty equipment where high loads and slow speeds are common. It can handle “pound-out” and impact loads better than many other bearing materials. Examples include landing gear bushings in aircraft, and pivot bushings in earth-moving equipment.

• Gears and Worm Gears: Its high strength and wear resistance are perfect for power transmission components.

• Marine Applications: Propellers, pump components, valve bodies, and marine hardware.

• Industrial Machinery: Valve seats, guides, wear plates, pickling hooks (used in steel mills), and machine tool components.

• Oil & Gas: Valve and pump components for handling corrosive fluids.

4. Casting

C95400 is primarily a casting alloy. This means it is melted and poured into a mold to create a “near-net-shape” part. Common casting methods include:

• Sand Casting: For complex shapes and larger parts.

• Centrifugal Casting: Used to create high-quality, dense cylindrical parts like bushings and sleeves.

• Continuous Casting: Produces uniform bars and tubes with excellent structural integrity.

5. Machining

C95400 has fair to good machinability. It’s not as easy to machine as free-cutting brass, but it is manageable with the right approach.

• Tooling: Requires sharp, rigid tools (carbide is often preferred).

• Coolant: A good flow of coolant is necessary to manage heat and clear chips.

• Characteristics: It produces tough, stringy chips. The material’s strength means lower cutting speeds and heavier feeds are often used compared to steel.

6. Welding

C95400 has good weldability, which is a significant advantage over many other high-strength bronzes.

• Processes: It can be readily welded using processes like MIG (GMAW) and TIG (GTAW).

• Filler Metal: An aluminum bronze filler wire (like ERCuAl-A2) is typically used.

• Considerations: Preheating thick sections is often recommended to prevent cracking, and post-weld heat treatment may be required for critical applications to restore mechanical properties.

7. Sustainability & Recycling

As a copper-based alloy, C95400 is highly sustainable.

• Recycling: It is 100% recyclable without any loss of quality. The scrap metal from machining and end-of-life parts is highly valuable and is collected to be melted down and used again.

• Energy Savings: Recycling bronze uses up to 85% less energy than producing it from virgin ore, significantly reducing its environmental footprint.

• Circular Economy: The high value and recyclability of bronze make it a perfect example of a material used in a circular economy.