Application of copper alloys in mechanical and metallurgical industries

（1) Mechanical engineering

Copper parts can be found in almost all machines. In addition to the large amount of steel used in motors, circuits, oil pressure systems, air pressure systems and control systems, there are a wide variety of transmission parts and fasteners made of brass and bronze, such as gears, worm gears, worm gears, connectors, fasteners, twisting parts, screws, nuts, etc. Almost all mechanical parts relative to the movement between the use of wear reduction copper alloy bearings or bushing, especially the ten thousand tons of large extruder, forging press cylinder liner, slide plate almost all made of bronze, casting weight can reach several tons. Silicon bronze and tin bronze are almost all used as materials for many elastic elements. Welding tools, die casting molds, etc., are inseparable from copper alloy.

(2) Metallurgical equipment

Metallurgical industry is a large consumer of electric energy, known as "electric tiger". In the construction of metallurgical plants, it is usually necessary to have a huge power transmission and distribution system and electric power operation equipment which rely on copper for work. In addition, in pyrometallurgy, continuous casting technology has occupied a dominant position, the key components of the mold, most of the use of chromium copper, silver copper and other high strength and high thermal conductivity of copper alloy. In electrometallurgy, vacuum arc furnace and water-cooled crucible of electroslag furnace are made of steel tubes, and induction coils of various induction heating are made of copper tubes or special-shaped copper tubes.

(3) alloy additives

Copper is an important addition to alloys such as steel and aluminum. Adding a small amount of copper (0.2% ~ 0.5%) to low alloy structure steel can improve the strength and atmospheric and Marine corrosion resistance of steel. The corrosion resistance of corrosion resistant cast iron and stainless steel can be further improved by adding copper. High nickel alloy containing about 30% copper is a famous high strength corrosion resistant monel alloy, widely used in the nuclear industry.