gunmetal

Gunmetal is a type of bronze – an alloy of copper, tin, and zinc.^[1] Originally used chiefly for making guns, gunmetal was superseded by steel. It is called red brass in America.^[2] Gunmetal is resistant to corrosion from steam and salt water, and is thus suitable for valves, pump parts and steam fittings.^[3]

Gunmetals produced for different purposes vary slightly in composition. In some cases, the alloy may be composed only from copper and tin, or from copper, tin, and lead. It has many uses in industry, and is used for statues and various small objects, e.g. buttons. U.S. Government bronze specification G is a gunmetal composed of 88% copper, 10% tin, and 2% zinc. U.S. Government bronze specification H is composed of 83% copper, 14% tin, 3% zinc, and 0.8% phosphorus.^{[citation needed]}

Gunmetal can also mean steel treated to simulate gunmetal bronze.^[1] Brushes made of this metal are used in machinery.

Other uses

The British Victoria Cross, the highest award for military valour, is traditionally known to be made using gunmetal from a cannon captured at the Siege of Sevastopol during the Crimean War. However, recent research has expressed some doubts over this theory, as it shows the source of early Victoria Crosses to be from Chinese cannons.

References

External links

Look up gunmetal in Wiktionary, the free dictionary.

• National Pollutant Inventory (Australia) - Copper and compounds fact sheet

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