Silicon bronze C65500 (CuSi3Mn1) C655
Cu-Si-Mn wrought single-phase alloy, UNS C65500: copper matrix with 2.8 to 3.8 wt % silicon and 0.50 to 1.3 wt % manganese
Also known as UNS C65500, EN 2.1525, EN name CW116C, EN name CuSi3Mn1, BS CS 101, GOST BrKMc3-1 · 8 more
Silicon bronze C65500 (UNS C65500, EN CW116C, EN name CuSi3Mn1, also called Everdur in the US and Cusilman in Australia) is a wrought copper alloy with 2.8 to 3.8 % silicon and 0.50 to 1.3 % manganese, and copper as the remainder.
Evidence level
2 of 5
Lab-measured
- 0Predicted only. No one has made it, or no measurement exists.
- 1Calculated. Only calculated or predicted values from sources.
- 2Lab-measured. Measured properties with their conditions stated.
- 3Space-relevant tests. Measured in conditions relevant to space, such as vacuum or atomic oxygen.
- 4Ground-qualified. Qualified for an application on the ground.
- 5Flown or field-proven. Flight or field results exist.
Carry load in hard temper
648 MPa tensile (H04)
Conduct heat
36.3 W/(m.K)
Take the density
8.53 g/cm3
Melt
971 to 1027 degC
Recipe, share of the weight
- Cu not statedCopper
- Si not statedSilicon
- Mn not statedManganese
Best for
Welded tanks, pressure vessels, pump and valve parts, and marine hardware where welding and corrosion resistance matter more than conductivity
Weakest at
Electrical conductivity of 7 %IACS, and not recommended above 150 degC or in steam above 100 degC (Australwright datasheet)
Risk at a glance
- People Low. Dust and fume are the main hazard
- If it fails Moderate. Creep and loss of design strength in hot service
- Corrosion Moderate. Datasheet says not to use the alloy in these media.
Quick facts: C655
| Property | Value | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| Density | 8.53 g/cm³ | 1 sourced value |
| Yield strength | 145 to 427 MPa | 5 sourced values across conditions |
| Tensile strength | 386 to 758 MPa | 5 sourced values across conditions |
| Young's modulus | 103 GPa | 1 sourced value |
| Thermal conductivity | 36.3 W/(m·K) | 1 sourced value |
| Thermal expansion (CTE) | 18 ppm/K | 1 sourced value |
| Melting point | 971 to 1,027 °C | 1 sourced value |
| Specific heat | 377 J/(kg·K) | 1 sourced value |
| Electrical resistivity | 2.5e-7 Ω·m | 1 sourced value |
What is the density of Silicon bronze C65500 (CuSi3Mn1)?
Silicon bronze C65500 (CuSi3Mn1) has a density of 8.53 g/cm³. The source and test conditions are listed in the properties table on this page.
What is the thermal conductivity of Silicon bronze C65500 (CuSi3Mn1)?
Silicon bronze C65500 (CuSi3Mn1) has a thermal conductivity of 36.3 W/(m·K). The source and test conditions are listed in the properties table on this page.
What is the coefficient of thermal expansion of Silicon bronze C65500 (CuSi3Mn1)?
Silicon bronze C65500 (CuSi3Mn1) has a coefficient of thermal expansion of 18 ppm/K. The source and test conditions are listed in the properties table on this page.
What is the melting point of Silicon bronze C65500 (CuSi3Mn1)?
Silicon bronze C65500 (CuSi3Mn1) has a melting point of 971 to 1,027 °C. The source and test conditions are listed in the properties table on this page.
What is the yield strength of Silicon bronze C65500 (CuSi3Mn1)?
Silicon bronze C65500 (CuSi3Mn1) has a yield strength of 145 to 427 MPa. The range covers 5 sourced values across the tempers, forms and test conditions the sources report; room-temperature values are used where a source states a temperature.
What are the other names and codes for Silicon bronze C65500 (CuSi3Mn1)?
Silicon bronze C65500 (CuSi3Mn1) is also written as UNS C65500, EN 2.1525, EN name CW116C, EN name CuSi3Mn1, BS CS 101, GOST BrKMc3-1. Each code is printed in the source listed beside it in the designations table.
What is Silicon bronze C65500 (CuSi3Mn1) used for?
Uses recorded in the sources include Welded tanks, pressure vessels and process vessels; Bushings, bearing plates and piston rings; Fasteners, hinges and marine hardware.
Why it exists
Silicon bronze C65500 combines the strength and formability of mild steel with the corrosion resistance of copper, according to the Australwright datasheet. The datasheet gives a tensile strength of 538 MPa and a yield strength of 310 MPa for the H02 flat product, and it names welded vessels, fasteners and bushings among its applications.
Where it's used
Welded tanks and pressure vessels
Australwright lists welded tanks, process vessels and high-strength, corrosion-resistant welded vessels among its uses, and says the alloy is one of the easiest copper alloys to weld.
Bushings, bearing plates and piston rings
The Australwright industrial list names bushings, bearing plates, piston rings and heat exchanger tubes among its applications.
Fasteners and marine hardware
Australwright lists hinges, bolts, nails, screws, rivets, nuts and cotter pins among fasteners, and Wieland says silicon bronze is used in pump and valve parts, fasteners, piston rings and marine hardware.
Recipe
Cu-Si-Mn wrought single-phase alloy, UNS C65500: copper matrix with 2.8 to 3.8 wt % silicon and 0.50 to 1.3 wt % manganese; iron 0.8 max, zinc 1.5 max, nickel 0.6 max, lead 0.05 max (wt %)
C65500 is a copper-silicon-manganese alloy. Copper is the matrix, silicon gives strength and acts as a deoxidiser in the melt, and manganese adds strength and forms manganese silicides when the alloy is age hardened. It is wrought into rod, bar, sheet, plate, tube, forgings and wire, and it can be cold worked before or after the age hardening (Wieland).
| Ingredient | Share of the weight | What it does |
|---|---|---|
| Copper Cu | not stated | The matrix. The alloy is a single-phase copper-rich alpha alloy, which keeps the ductility and conductivity of copper (Wieland, Australwright). |
| Silicon Si | not stated | The main alloying element. It raises strength, lowers electrical conductivity to about that of steel, and is a deoxidant in the melt (Australwright). |
| Manganese Mn | not stated | Raises tensile, yield and fatigue strength, and forms manganese silicides on age hardening (Australwright, Wieland). |
Weight shares are as printed in the sources.
What it can do
Carry load in hard temper
648 MPa tensile (H04)
measured
The H04 flat product, 1 mm, has a tensile strength of 648 MPa and a yield strength of 400 MPa at 20 degC.
Conduct heat
36.3 W/(m.K)
measured
The Australwright datasheet gives a thermal conductivity of 36.3 W/m.degK at 20 degC.
Take the density
8.53 g/cm3
measured
The Australwright datasheet gives a density of 8.53 g/cm3 at 20 degC.
Melt
971 to 1027 degC
measured
The solidus is 971 degC and the liquidus is 1027 degC in the Australwright physical properties table.
How it compares
Silicon bronze C65500 is a single-phase copper alloy with silicon and manganese in the strength range above mild copper. Silicon lowers its electrical conductivity to 7 %IACS, which the Australwright datasheet compares with steel, so it is a poor choice for current-carrying parts. The thermal expansion and density figures in the rows below are its own printed values; compare them with the other copper alloys in this set rather than with numbers from this file.
The same measurements for each material, so you can compare them. Each row names the key condition under the value; the full conditions and methods are in the numbered notes under Technical details. Other materials are shown beside it; each was measured under its own conditions, so open its page before comparing closely. Compare every grade in the family.
| Measurement | C655 | Cu | C360 | C954 | C630 | BeCu | C510 | C260 | Cu-Ag | CuCrZr | CuNi 70/30 | C21000 | CW614N | C75200 | C521 | Cu-Te | Sn/Cu |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thermal behavior and safety | |||||||||||||||||
| Solidus and liquidus, silicon bronze C65500 | 971 to 1027 °C2 | 1083 °C | 954 °C | 1027 °C | 1060 °C | 870 °C | 954 to 1049 °C | 916 °C | no data | 1081 °C | 1170 to 1240 °C | 954 °C | 875 to 890 °C | 1060 to 1110 °C | 882 to 1027 °C | 1080 °C | 231.9 °C |
| Thermal conductivity, silicon bronze C65500 | 36.3 W/(m.K)4 | 391 W/(m·K) | 116 W/(m·K) | 58.7 W/(m·K) | 63 W/(m·K) | 105 W/(m·K) | 84 W/(m·K) | 121.2 W/(m·K) | no data | 323 W/(m·K) | 29 W/(m·K) | 234 W/(m·K) | 123 W/(m·K) | 32 W/(m·K) | 67 W/(m·K) | 355 W/(m·K) | 66.6 W/(m·K) |
| Specific heat, silicon bronze C65500 | 376.8 J/(kg.K)5 | 0.394 kJ/(kg·K) | no data | 419 J/(kg·K) | 452 J/(kg·K) | no data | 0.38 J/(g·°C) | 377.1 J/(kg·K) | no data | 0.383 kJ/(kg·K) | 377 J/(kg·K) | 0.38 J/(g·K) | 380 J/(kg·K) | 380 J/(kg·K) | 0.377 kJ/(kg·K) | 385.5 J/(kg·K) | no data |
| Physical and electrical | |||||||||||||||||
| Density, silicon bronze C65500 | 8.53 g/cm³1 | 8.9 g/cm³ | 8.5 g/cm³ | 7.45 g/cm³ | 7.58 g/cm³ | 8.36 g/cm³ | 8.86 g/cm³ | 8.53 g/cm³ | no data | 8.94 g/cm³ | 8.94 g/cm³ | 8.86 g/cm³ | 8.46 g/cm³ | 8.7 g/cm³ | 8.79 g/cm³ | 8.94 g/cm³ | 7.28 g/cm³ |
| Electrical conductivity, silicon bronze C65500 | 7 %IACS3 | 58 MS/m | 26 %IACS | 13 %IACS | 7 %IACS | 25 to 30 %IACS | 15 %IACS | 28 %IACS | > 58 MS/m | > 46.4 MS/m | no data | 56 %IACS | 25 %IACS | 6 %IACS | 13 %IACS | 93 %IACS | 58 MS/m |
| Electrical resistivity, silicon bronze C65500 | 24.6 microohm-cm9 | no data | 6.63 µΩ·cm | 13.33 µΩ·cm | 0.172 µΩ·m | 5.8 to 6.9 μΩ-cm | 8.7×10^-6 ohm·cm | 6.15 µΩ·cm | no data | no data | 37.4 µΩ·cm | 3.08 µΩ·cm | no data | no data | no data | no data | 11.5 µΩ·cm |
| Other measurements | |||||||||||||||||
| Mean coefficient of thermal expansion, 20 to 300 degC | 18 um/(m.°C)6 | 17.6 ppm/K | 20.5 ppm/K | 16.2 ppm/K | 15 ppm/K | 17.5 ppm/K | 17.8 µm/(m·°C) | 20 ppm/K | no data | 17.1 ppm/K | 13.2 to 16.2 ppm/K | 18 ppm/K | 21.4 ppm/K | 17.7 ppm/K | 17.4 µm/(m·°C) | 16.5 ppm/K | 22 ppm/K |
| Modulus of elasticity in tension, silicon bronze C65500 | 1.03×10^5 MPa7 | 117 GPa | no data | 1.07×10^5 MPa | 117 GPa | 131 GPa | 110 GPa | 1.1×10^5 MPa | no data | 117 GPa | no data | 117 GPa | 97 GPa | 135 GPa | 115 GPa | 1.17×10^5 MPa | 50 GPa |
| Modulus of rigidity in torsion, silicon bronze C65500 | 38610 MPa8 | no data | 37 GPa | no data | no data | no data | no data | 41370 MPa | no data | 45 kN/mm2 | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | 44130 MPa | no data |
| Tensile strength, H02 flat product 1 mm | 538 MPa10 | 179 to 262 MPa | > 330 MPa | > 586 MPa | > 585 MPa | 410 to 590 MPa | > 485 MPa | 324 MPa | 180 N/mm2 | 480 to 560 MPa | 358 to 414 MPa | 235 MPa | > 360 MPa | 370 to 430 MPa | 475 to 580 MPa | > 260 MPa | no data |
| Yield strength at 0.5 % extension, H02 flat product 1 mm | 310 MPa11 | 69 MPa | > 130 MPa | > 221 MPa | > 295 MPa | 130 to 250 MPa | 550 MPa | 103 MPa | no data | > 450 MPa | 124 to 179 MPa | no data | > 220 MPa | no data | > 350 MPa | > 205 MPa | no data |
| Elongation, H02 flat product 1 mm | 17 %12 | 35 % | > 15 % | > 12 % | > 10 % | 20 to 75 % | > 13 % | 62 % | > 37 % | > 10 % | 30 to 45 % | 45 % | > 20 % | 40 % | > 25 % | > 8 % | no data |
| Tensile strength, H04 flat product 1 mm | 648 MPa13 | 179 to 262 MPa | > 330 MPa | > 586 MPa | > 585 MPa | 410 to 590 MPa | > 485 MPa | 324 MPa | 180 N/mm2 | 480 to 560 MPa | 358 to 414 MPa | 235 MPa | > 360 MPa | 370 to 430 MPa | 475 to 580 MPa | > 260 MPa | no data |
| Yield strength at 0.5 % extension, H04 flat product 1 mm | 400 MPa14 | 69 MPa | > 130 MPa | > 221 MPa | > 295 MPa | 130 to 250 MPa | 550 MPa | 103 MPa | no data | > 450 MPa | 124 to 179 MPa | no data | > 220 MPa | no data | > 350 MPa | > 205 MPa | no data |
| Tensile strength, H08 flat product 1 mm | 758 MPa15 | 179 to 262 MPa | > 330 MPa | > 586 MPa | > 585 MPa | 410 to 590 MPa | > 485 MPa | 324 MPa | 180 N/mm2 | 480 to 560 MPa | 358 to 414 MPa | 235 MPa | > 360 MPa | 370 to 430 MPa | 475 to 580 MPa | > 260 MPa | no data |
| Yield strength at 0.5 % extension, H08 flat product 1 mm | 427 MPa16 | 69 MPa | > 130 MPa | > 221 MPa | > 295 MPa | 130 to 250 MPa | 550 MPa | 103 MPa | no data | > 450 MPa | 124 to 179 MPa | no data | > 220 MPa | no data | > 350 MPa | > 205 MPa | no data |
| Tensile strength, OS070 flat product 1 mm (soft temper) | 386 MPa17 | 179 to 262 MPa | > 330 MPa | > 586 MPa | > 585 MPa | 410 to 590 MPa | > 485 MPa | 324 MPa | 180 N/mm2 | 480 to 560 MPa | 358 to 414 MPa | 235 MPa | > 360 MPa | 370 to 430 MPa | 475 to 580 MPa | > 260 MPa | no data |
| Yield strength at 0.5 % extension, OS070 flat product 1 mm (soft temper) | 145 MPa18 | 69 MPa | > 130 MPa | > 221 MPa | > 295 MPa | 130 to 250 MPa | 550 MPa | 103 MPa | no data | > 450 MPa | 124 to 179 MPa | no data | > 220 MPa | no data | > 350 MPa | > 205 MPa | no data |
| Elongation, OS070 flat product 1 mm (soft temper) | 63 %19 | 35 % | > 15 % | > 12 % | > 10 % | 20 to 75 % | > 13 % | 62 % | > 37 % | > 10 % | 30 to 45 % | 45 % | > 20 % | 40 % | > 25 % | > 8 % | no data |
| Tensile strength range, H04 hard-drawn rod up to 6.35 mm | 615 to 689 MPa20 | 179 to 262 MPa | > 330 MPa | > 586 MPa | > 585 MPa | 410 to 590 MPa | > 485 MPa | 324 MPa | 180 N/mm2 | 480 to 560 MPa | 358 to 414 MPa | 235 MPa | > 360 MPa | 370 to 430 MPa | 475 to 580 MPa | > 260 MPa | no data |
| Yield strength range at 0.5 % extension, H04 hard-drawn rod up to 6.35 mm | 380 to 420 MPa21 | 69 MPa | > 130 MPa | > 221 MPa | > 295 MPa | 130 to 250 MPa | 550 MPa | 103 MPa | no data | > 450 MPa | 124 to 179 MPa | no data | > 220 MPa | no data | > 350 MPa | > 205 MPa | no data |
| Elongation range, H04 hard-drawn rod up to 6.35 mm | 8 to 19 %22 | 35 % | > 15 % | > 12 % | > 10 % | 20 to 75 % | > 13 % | 62 % | > 37 % | > 10 % | 30 to 45 % | 45 % | > 20 % | 40 % | > 25 % | > 8 % | no data |
Why choose it, and why not
Good for
- Welded vessels and tanks, where the datasheet calls the alloy easy to weld and corrosion resistant.
- Fasteners, bushings and marine hardware in sea water and polluted water, per Wieland and Australwright.
- Parts that need copper-like corrosion resistance with more strength than copper, such as hinges and piston rings.
Watch out for
- Electrical conductivity is only 7 %IACS, so do not use it for current-carrying parts.
- The datasheet advises against service above 150 degC and against steam above 100 degC for long periods.
- Do not use it in ammonia, hot ferric chloride, hydrogen sulphide, nitric acid or mercury salts, per the datasheet.
- No seawater corrosion rate in mm per year was found; the sea-water resistance is qualitative.
Silicon bronze C65500 is a strong, weldable and corrosion-resistant copper alloy with 2.8 to 3.8 % silicon and 0.50 to 1.3 % manganese. Its strength depends on temper, and the H08 flat product reaches 758 MPa tensile strength. Its conductivity is low, its hot service limit is 150 degC, and its dust and fume need controlling in use. The profile has no numeric corrosion rate and no hardness or fatigue values.
Technical details
For scientists and researchers. Everything above comes from the record below: every number with its method, its conditions and its source.
Other names and standards
The same grade under other systems, as datasheets and standards print them. Each code was checked against the page it comes from.
| System | Codes |
|---|---|
| UNS | C65500 |
| EN | 2.1525 |
| EN name | CW116C, CuSi3Mn1 |
| BS | CS 101 |
| GOST | BrKMc3-1 |
| GB | QSi3-1 |
| ASTM | B98 (rod and bar), B96 (sheet, plate and strip), B124 (forgings), B315 (tube and pipe), B99 (wire) |
| Trade name | Everdur, Cusilman |
Notes
The method, full conditions and any caveat for the numbered rows above.
| # | Measurement | Method | Conditions | Caveat |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Density, silicon bronze C65500 | Value printed in the physical properties table of the Australwright datasheet | grade C65500temperature 20 °Cunit in source 0.308 lb/in3 at 68 degF | — |
| 2 | Solidus and liquidus, silicon bronze C65500 | Solidus (low) and liquidus (high) printed in the Australwright physical properties table | grade C65500unit in source solidus 1780 degF; liquidus 1880 degFpressure not stated | The Wieland page prints a melting range of 970 to 1025 degC; the Australwright figures are used here. |
| 3 | Electrical conductivity, silicon bronze C65500 | Value printed in the Australwright physical properties table | grade C65500temperature 68 degF (20 °C) | — |
| 4 | Thermal conductivity, silicon bronze C65500 | Printed as 36.3 W/m.degK at 20 degC; the unit is written here as W/(m.K), which is the same unit | grade C65500temperature 20 °Cunit in source 36.3 W/m.degK at 20 °C; 21.0 Btu.ft/(hr.ft2.degF) at 68 degF | — |
| 5 | Specific heat, silicon bronze C65500 | Value printed in the Australwright physical properties table | grade C65500temperature 293 K (20 °C)unit in source 376.78 J/kg.degK at 293 degK | — |
| 6 | Mean coefficient of thermal expansion, 20 to 300 degC | Printed as 18.0 x 10-6 per degC; 10-6 per degC is the same unit as um/(m.degC) | grade C65500range 20 to 300 °Cunit in source 18.0 x 10-6 per °C at 20 °C (20-300 °C) | — |
| 7 | Modulus of elasticity in tension, silicon bronze C65500 | Value printed in the Australwright physical properties table | grade C65500mode tensionunit in source 15,000 ksi | — |
| 8 | Modulus of rigidity in torsion, silicon bronze C65500 | Value printed in the Australwright physical properties table | grade C65500mode torsionunit in source 5,600 ksi | — |
| 9 | Electrical resistivity, silicon bronze C65500 | Value printed in the Australwright physical properties table | grade C65500temperature 20 °Cunit in source 24.6 microhm-cm at 20 °C | — |
| 10 | Tensile strength, H02 flat product 1 mm | Room-temperature value printed in the Australwright mechanical properties table | temper H02form flat productsection 1 mmtemperature 20 °C | — |
| 11 | Yield strength at 0.5 % extension, H02 flat product 1 mm | Room-temperature value printed in the Australwright mechanical properties table | temper H02form flat productsection 1 mmtemperature 20 °Cbasis 0.5 % extension under load | — |
| 12 | Elongation, H02 flat product 1 mm | Room-temperature value printed in the Australwright mechanical properties table | temper H02form flat productsection 1 mmtemperature 20 °C | — |
| 13 | Tensile strength, H04 flat product 1 mm | Room-temperature value printed in the Australwright mechanical properties table | temper H04form flat productsection 1 mmtemperature 20 °C | — |
| 14 | Yield strength at 0.5 % extension, H04 flat product 1 mm | Room-temperature value printed in the Australwright mechanical properties table | temper H04form flat productsection 1 mmtemperature 20 °Cbasis 0.5 % extension under load | — |
| 15 | Tensile strength, H08 flat product 1 mm | Room-temperature value printed in the Australwright mechanical properties table | temper H08form flat productsection 1 mmtemperature 20 °C | — |
| 16 | Yield strength at 0.5 % extension, H08 flat product 1 mm | Room-temperature value printed in the Australwright mechanical properties table | temper H08form flat productsection 1 mmtemperature 20 °Cbasis 0.5 % extension under load | — |
| 17 | Tensile strength, OS070 flat product 1 mm (soft temper) | Room-temperature value printed in the Australwright mechanical properties table | temper OS070form flat productsection 1 mmtemperature 20 °C | — |
| 18 | Yield strength at 0.5 % extension, OS070 flat product 1 mm (soft temper) | Room-temperature value printed in the Australwright mechanical properties table | temper OS070form flat productsection 1 mmtemperature 20 °Cbasis 0.5 % extension under load | — |
| 19 | Elongation, OS070 flat product 1 mm (soft temper) | Room-temperature value printed in the Australwright mechanical properties table | temper OS070form flat productsection 1 mmtemperature 20 °C | — |
| 20 | Tensile strength range, H04 hard-drawn rod up to 6.35 mm | Range printed in the Wieland mechanical properties table; value is the low end and value_high the high end | temper H04form rod and bar, hard drawnsection up to 0.25 in (6.35 mm) | — |
| 21 | Yield strength range at 0.5 % extension, H04 hard-drawn rod up to 6.35 mm | Range printed in the Wieland mechanical properties table; value is the low end and value_high the high end | temper H04form rod and bar, hard drawnsection up to 0.25 in (6.35 mm)basis 0.5 % extension | — |
| 22 | Elongation range, H04 hard-drawn rod up to 6.35 mm | Range printed in the Wieland mechanical properties table; value is the low end and value_high the high end | temper H04form rod and bar, hard drawnsection up to 0.25 in (6.35 mm) | — |
Corrosion and compatibility
What happens when it meets other materials and environments.
| Environment | Concern | What happens |
|---|---|---|
| Industrial, marine and rural atmospheres; many natural waters; stagnant and low-velocity sea water | low | Listed by the datasheet as suitable service; no corrosion rate printed.1 |
| Seawater and other polluted water systems | low | Excellent corrosion properties in sea water, per Wieland; no rate printed.2 |
| Non-oxidising acids, alkalis and salts, for example sulphuric acid cold up to 90 % and caustic soda up to 40 % | low | Datasheet lists these as suitable, provided no oxidising agents are present.3 |
| Ammonia, hot ferric chloride, hydrogen sulphide, nitric acid and mercury salts | moderate | Datasheet says not to use the alloy in these media.4 |
| Steam or water above 100 degC for long periods; service above 150 degC | moderate | Corrosive attack and creep limit long-term hot service.5 |
| # | Environment | Details | Test conditions |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Industrial, marine and rural atmospheres; many natural waters; stagnant and low-velocity sea water | The Australwright datasheet lists these as service experience with the alloy. It prints no rate in mm per year or mpy for any of them. | basis qualitative service list, no test dataexposure not stated |
| 2 | Seawater and other polluted water systems | Wieland describes the alloy as single-phase and high in copper with excellent corrosion properties in seawater and polluted water, and with anti-biofouling behaviour in seawater. No numeric corrosion rate is printed on that page. | basis qualitative product descriptionexposure not stated |
| 3 | Non-oxidising acids, alkalis and salts, for example sulphuric acid cold up to 90 % and caustic soda up to 40 % | Australwright lists sulphuric acid cold up to 90 %, hot up to 30 % in the absence of oxidising agents, caustic soda up to 40 % cold or hot, and a range of organic chemicals and salts as suitable. | basis qualitative service list, no test dataexposure concentrations as printed in the datasheet |
| 4 | Ammonia, hot ferric chloride, hydrogen sulphide, nitric acid and mercury salts | The datasheet lists alkaline sulphides, aqueous ammonia, hot ferric chloride, hydrogen sulphide, mercury and its salts, and nitric acid among the media it should not be used in. | basis supplier advice, no test dataexposure not stated |
| 5 | Steam or water above 100 degC for long periods; service above 150 degC | The datasheet says contact with steam or water above 100 degC for long periods may cause corrosive attack, especially under stress or cycling. It also says the alloy creeps over long periods above 150 degC and recommends against service above that temperature. | basis supplier advice, no test dataexposure long-term; duration not stated |
Risks and side effects
Hazards to people, what happens when a cell overheats, and how the material is handled and stored.
For people
The supplier safety data sheet for the silicon bronze family carries a Danger signal word, and the main exposure route is dust and fume from heating, cutting, grinding or welding.
- Dust and fume
- Dust and fume form on heating, cutting or welding. Heating above the melting point releases metallic oxides that can cause metal fume fever.
- Reproductive and organ effects
- The family sheet classes it as reproductive toxicity category 1A and as a specific target organ toxicant after repeated exposure, category 1.
- Manganese
- Long-term breathing of manganese dust or fume can cause manganism, a nervous system disease like Parkinson's disease, according to the sheet.
For the part
The alloy is stable in many media, but strong acids release flammable hydrogen, and fine dust can form an explosive mixture.
- Acids
- Contact with strong acids releases flammable hydrogen gas, according to the safety data sheet.
- Dust explosion
- Fine dust in air with an ignition source is a potential dust explosion hazard, and the sheet asks for dust build-up to be prevented.
For the environment
The safety data sheet classes the alloy family as hazardous to the aquatic environment.
- Aquatic
- The family sheet gives acute hazard category 1 and long-term hazard category 2 for the aquatic environment.
Test details
The original wording and numbers from the sources, for readers who want them.
Failure risks
| Failure | Trigger and consequence |
|---|---|
| Creep and loss of design strength in hot servicemoderate severity | Service above 150 degC, or contact with steam above 100 degC for long periodsCreep over long service; the datasheet says design stresses based on creep data are comparatively low at temperature. |
| Attack in named process chemicalsmoderate severity | Ammonia, hot ferric chloride, hydrogen sulphide, nitric acid or mercury saltsThe datasheet advises against these media; attack is not quantified in the source. |
| Hydrogen release on contact with acidmoderate severity | Contact with strong acidsFlammable hydrogen gas is released, creating a fire and explosion hazard in closed spaces. |
Handling and storage
- Do not breathe dust or fume; control dust and fume when cutting, grinding or welding, and avoid dust build-up because fine dust can form an explosive mixture with air.
- Keep service below 150 degC, and keep steam or hot water below 100 degC for long periods unless the creep and corrosion behaviour has been checked.
- Keep away from strong oxidising agents and acids; both are listed as incompatible in the safety data sheet.
Supply and geography
How common the raw materials are and where they come from.
Copper (remainder of the alloy)
- Top producers (2025)
- Chile 23%, Congo (Kinshasa) 13.9%, Peru 11.7%, China 7.8%, Russia 5.7%
- Critical mineral lists
- U.S. Final 2025 List of Critical Minerals (copper added, 90 FR 50494): listed
- Recycling
- USGS, U.S. section: old scrap converted to refined metal, alloys and other forms provided an estimated 160,000 tons of copper in 2025, and scrap supplied about 30 % of U.S. copper supply.
- Substitutes
- USGS: aluminum substitutes for copper in automobile radiators, electrical equipment and power cable; optical fiber substitutes in telecommunications.
Silicon (ferrosilicon and silicon metal feed)
- Top producers (2025)
- China 87%, Brazil 3.9%, Norway 2.8%, France 1.5%, Russia 0.8%
- Critical mineral lists
- U.S. Final 2025 List of Critical Minerals (silicon added, 90 FR 50494): listed
- Recycling
- USGS: recycling of silicon is insignificant.
- Substitutes
- USGS: aluminum, silicon carbide and silicomanganese can be substituted for ferrosilicon in some applications.
Manganese
- Top producers (2025)
- South Africa 38%, Gabon 25%, Ghana 10%, Australia 8%
- Recycling
- USGS: manganese was recycled incidentally with ferrous and nonferrous scrap; scrap recovery specifically for manganese was negligible.
- Substitutes
- USGS: manganese has no satisfactory substitute in its major applications.
Documents
Datasheets, safety data sheets, papers and standards you can open.
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spore: profile
id: silicon-bronze
spore_version: 0.2
family: copper-alloys
name: Silicon bronze C65500 (CuSi3Mn1)
abbreviation: C655
role: wrought copper-silicon-manganese alloy for welded vessels, fasteners, bushings and marine hardware
category: metals
type: copper-alloys
summary: |
Silicon bronze C65500 (UNS C65500, EN CW116C, EN name CuSi3Mn1, also called Everdur in the US and Cusilman in Australia) is a wrought copper alloy with 2.8 to 3.8 % silicon and 0.50 to 1.3 % manganese, and copper as the remainder. Its density is 8.53 g/cm3 and its electrical conductivity is 7 %IACS, so silicon lowers its conductivity to about that of steel. The H02 flat product in the datasheet has a tensile strength of 538 MPa and a yield strength of 310 MPa, and the H08 temper reaches 758 MPa. The datasheet rates it highly for corrosion in industrial, marine and rural air and in stagnant sea water, and it is one of the easiest copper alloys to weld.
best_for: Welded tanks, pressure vessels, pump and valve parts, and marine hardware where welding and corrosion resistance matter more than conductivity
weakest_at: Electrical conductivity of 7 %IACS, and not recommended above 150 degC or in steam above 100 degC (Australwright datasheet)
identity:
formula: 'Cu-Si-Mn wrought single-phase alloy, UNS C65500: copper matrix with 2.8 to 3.8 wt % silicon and 0.50 to 1.3 wt % manganese; iron 0.8 max, zinc 1.5 max, nickel 0.6 max, lead 0.05 max (wt %)'
source: australwright-c65500
where: Chemical Composition table (Min/Max column); Introduction paragraph naming UNS C65500; Wikipedia Bronze article gives the same silicon, manganese, iron, zinc and lead limits
designations:
- system: UNS
code: C65500
source: australwright-c65500
where: Introduction paragraph, sentence beginning International this alloy is known as UNS C65500
- system: EN name
code: CW116C
source: wieland-c65500
where: Specifications of Bronze CDA 65500, International Standards table, Europe row
- system: EN name
code: CuSi3Mn1
source: wieland-c65500
where: Specifications of Bronze CDA 65500, International Standards table, Europe row
- system: EN
code: '2.1525'
source: wieland-c65500
where: Specifications of Bronze CDA 65500, International Standards table, Germany row (DIN 17666, name CuSi3Mn)
- system: BS
code: CS 101
source: wieland-c65500
where: Specifications of Bronze CDA 65500, International Standards table, UK row
- system: GOST
code: BrKMc3-1
source: wieland-c65500
where: Specifications of Bronze CDA 65500, International Standards table, Russia row
- system: GB
code: QSi3-1
source: wieland-c65500
where: Specifications of Bronze CDA 65500, International Standards table, China row
- system: ASTM
code: B98
note: rod and bar
source: australwright-c65500
where: Applicable Specifications table, Rod and Bar rows
- system: ASTM
code: B96
note: sheet, plate and strip
source: australwright-c65500
where: Applicable Specifications table, Sheet, Plate and Strip rows
- system: ASTM
code: B124
note: forgings
source: australwright-c65500
where: Applicable Specifications table, Bar, Forging and Forgings rows
- system: ASTM
code: B315
note: tube and pipe
source: australwright-c65500
where: Applicable Specifications table, Tube and Pipe rows
- system: ASTM
code: B99
note: wire
source: australwright-c65500
where: Applicable Specifications table, Wire row
- system: Trade name
code: Everdur
source: australwright-c65500
where: Introduction paragraph, American trade name for wire and rod
- system: Trade name
code: Cusilman
source: australwright-c65500
where: Introduction paragraph, Australian trade name for sheet, plate, circles and ingot
tags:
environments: []
stresses: []
applications:
- structures
- mechanisms
properties:
- benchmark: density
label: Density, silicon bronze C65500
value: 8.53
unit: g/cm3
scope: material
conditions:
grade: C65500
temperature: 20 degC
unit_in_source: 0.308 lb/in3 at 68 degF
method: Value printed in the physical properties table of the Australwright datasheet
status: ground
source: australwright-c65500
where: Physical Properties table, row Density
- benchmark: melting_point
label: Solidus and liquidus, silicon bronze C65500
value: 971
value_high: 1027
bound: range
unit: degC
scope: material
conditions:
grade: C65500
unit_in_source: solidus 1780 degF; liquidus 1880 degF
pressure: not stated
method: Solidus (low) and liquidus (high) printed in the Australwright physical properties table
status: ground
note: The Wieland page prints a melting range of 970 to 1025 degC; the Australwright figures are used here.
source: australwright-c65500
where: Physical Properties table, rows Melting Point (Liquidus) and Melting Point (Solidus)
- benchmark: electrical_conductivity
label: Electrical conductivity, silicon bronze C65500
value: 7
unit: '%IACS'
scope: material
conditions:
grade: C65500
temperature: 68 degF (20 degC)
method: Value printed in the Australwright physical properties table
status: ground
source: australwright-c65500
where: Physical Properties table, row Electrical Conductivity
- benchmark: thermal_conductivity
label: Thermal conductivity, silicon bronze C65500
value: 36.3
unit: W/(m.K)
scope: material
conditions:
grade: C65500
temperature: 20 degC
unit_in_source: 36.3 W/m.degK at 20 degC; 21.0 Btu.ft/(hr.ft2.degF) at 68 degF
method: Printed as 36.3 W/m.degK at 20 degC; the unit is written here as W/(m.K), which is the same unit
status: ground
source: australwright-c65500
where: Physical Properties table, row Thermal Conductivity
- benchmark: specific_heat
label: Specific heat, silicon bronze C65500
value: 376.78
unit: J/(kg.K)
scope: material
conditions:
grade: C65500
temperature: 293 K (20 degC)
unit_in_source: 376.78 J/kg.degK at 293 degK
method: Value printed in the Australwright physical properties table
status: ground
source: australwright-c65500
where: Physical Properties table, row Specific Heat
- benchmark: cte
label: Mean coefficient of thermal expansion, 20 to 300 degC
value: 18
unit: um/(m.degC)
scope: material
conditions:
grade: C65500
range: 20 to 300 degC
unit_in_source: 18.0 x 10-6 per degC at 20 degC (20-300 degC)
method: Printed as 18.0 x 10-6 per degC; 10-6 per degC is the same unit as um/(m.degC)
status: ground
source: australwright-c65500
where: Physical Properties table, row Mean Coefficient of Expansion, metric column
- benchmark: elastic_modulus
label: Modulus of elasticity in tension, silicon bronze C65500
value: 103400
unit: MPa
scope: material
conditions:
grade: C65500
mode: tension
unit_in_source: 15,000 ksi
method: Value printed in the Australwright physical properties table
status: ground
source: australwright-c65500
where: Physical Properties table, row Modulus of Elasticity (Tension), metric column
- benchmark: shear_modulus
label: Modulus of rigidity in torsion, silicon bronze C65500
value: 38610
unit: MPa
scope: material
conditions:
grade: C65500
mode: torsion
unit_in_source: 5,600 ksi
method: Value printed in the Australwright physical properties table
status: ground
source: australwright-c65500
where: Physical Properties table, row Modulus of Rigidity (Torsion), metric column
- benchmark: electrical_resistivity
label: Electrical resistivity, silicon bronze C65500
value: 24.6
unit: microohm-cm
scope: material
conditions:
grade: C65500
temperature: 20 degC
unit_in_source: 24.6 microhm-cm at 20 degC
method: Value printed in the Australwright physical properties table
status: ground
source: australwright-c65500
where: Physical Properties table, row Electrical Resistivity, metric column
- benchmark: ultimate_tensile_strength
label: Tensile strength, H02 flat product 1 mm
value: 538
unit: MPa
scope: material
conditions:
temper: H02
form: flat product
section: 1 mm
temperature: 20 degC
method: Room-temperature value printed in the Australwright mechanical properties table
status: ground
source: australwright-c65500
where: Mechanical Properties table, Flat Products, row H02 section 1 mm, Tensile Strength column
- benchmark: yield_strength
label: Yield strength at 0.5 % extension, H02 flat product 1 mm
value: 310
unit: MPa
scope: material
conditions:
temper: H02
form: flat product
section: 1 mm
temperature: 20 degC
basis: 0.5 % extension under load
method: Room-temperature value printed in the Australwright mechanical properties table
status: ground
source: australwright-c65500
where: Mechanical Properties table, Flat Products, row H02 section 1 mm, Yield Strength column
- benchmark: elongation
label: Elongation, H02 flat product 1 mm
value: 17
unit: '%'
scope: material
conditions:
temper: H02
form: flat product
section: 1 mm
temperature: 20 degC
method: Room-temperature value printed in the Australwright mechanical properties table
status: ground
source: australwright-c65500
where: Mechanical Properties table, Flat Products, row H02 section 1 mm, Elongation column
- benchmark: ultimate_tensile_strength
label: Tensile strength, H04 flat product 1 mm
value: 648
unit: MPa
scope: material
conditions:
temper: H04
form: flat product
section: 1 mm
temperature: 20 degC
method: Room-temperature value printed in the Australwright mechanical properties table
status: ground
source: australwright-c65500
where: Mechanical Properties table, Flat Products, row H04 section 1 mm, Tensile Strength column
- benchmark: yield_strength
label: Yield strength at 0.5 % extension, H04 flat product 1 mm
value: 400
unit: MPa
scope: material
conditions:
temper: H04
form: flat product
section: 1 mm
temperature: 20 degC
basis: 0.5 % extension under load
method: Room-temperature value printed in the Australwright mechanical properties table
status: ground
source: australwright-c65500
where: Mechanical Properties table, Flat Products, row H04 section 1 mm, Yield Strength column
- benchmark: ultimate_tensile_strength
label: Tensile strength, H08 flat product 1 mm
value: 758
unit: MPa
scope: material
conditions:
temper: H08
form: flat product
section: 1 mm
temperature: 20 degC
method: Room-temperature value printed in the Australwright mechanical properties table
status: ground
source: australwright-c65500
where: Mechanical Properties table, Flat Products, row H08 section 1 mm, Tensile Strength column
- benchmark: yield_strength
label: Yield strength at 0.5 % extension, H08 flat product 1 mm
value: 427
unit: MPa
scope: material
conditions:
temper: H08
form: flat product
section: 1 mm
temperature: 20 degC
basis: 0.5 % extension under load
method: Room-temperature value printed in the Australwright mechanical properties table
status: ground
source: australwright-c65500
where: Mechanical Properties table, Flat Products, row H08 section 1 mm, Yield Strength column
- benchmark: ultimate_tensile_strength
label: Tensile strength, OS070 flat product 1 mm (soft temper)
value: 386
unit: MPa
scope: material
conditions:
temper: OS070
form: flat product
section: 1 mm
temperature: 20 degC
method: Room-temperature value printed in the Australwright mechanical properties table
status: ground
source: australwright-c65500
where: Mechanical Properties table, Flat Products, row OS070 section 1 mm, Tensile Strength column
- benchmark: yield_strength
label: Yield strength at 0.5 % extension, OS070 flat product 1 mm (soft temper)
value: 145
unit: MPa
scope: material
conditions:
temper: OS070
form: flat product
section: 1 mm
temperature: 20 degC
basis: 0.5 % extension under load
method: Room-temperature value printed in the Australwright mechanical properties table
status: ground
source: australwright-c65500
where: Mechanical Properties table, Flat Products, row OS070 section 1 mm, Yield Strength column
- benchmark: elongation
label: Elongation, OS070 flat product 1 mm (soft temper)
value: 63
unit: '%'
scope: material
conditions:
temper: OS070
form: flat product
section: 1 mm
temperature: 20 degC
method: Room-temperature value printed in the Australwright mechanical properties table
status: ground
source: australwright-c65500
where: Mechanical Properties table, Flat Products, row OS070 section 1 mm, Elongation column
- benchmark: ultimate_tensile_strength
label: Tensile strength range, H04 hard-drawn rod up to 6.35 mm
value: 615
value_high: 689
bound: range
unit: MPa
scope: material
conditions:
temper: H04
form: rod and bar, hard drawn
section: up to 0.25 in (6.35 mm)
method: Range printed in the Wieland mechanical properties table; value is the low end and value_high the high end
status: ground
source: wieland-c65500
where: Mechanical Properties table, Rod and Bar, H04, first size row, UTS N/mm2 column
- benchmark: yield_strength
label: Yield strength range at 0.5 % extension, H04 hard-drawn rod up to 6.35 mm
value: 380
value_high: 420
bound: range
unit: MPa
scope: material
conditions:
temper: H04
form: rod and bar, hard drawn
section: up to 0.25 in (6.35 mm)
basis: 0.5 % extension
method: Range printed in the Wieland mechanical properties table; value is the low end and value_high the high end
status: ground
source: wieland-c65500
where: Mechanical Properties table, Rod and Bar, H04, first size row, 0.5 % Yield column
- benchmark: elongation
label: Elongation range, H04 hard-drawn rod up to 6.35 mm
value: 8
value_high: 19
bound: range
unit: '%'
scope: material
conditions:
temper: H04
form: rod and bar, hard drawn
section: up to 0.25 in (6.35 mm)
method: Range printed in the Wieland mechanical properties table; value is the low end and value_high the high end
status: ground
source: wieland-c65500
where: Mechanical Properties table, Rod and Bar, H04, first size row, Elong column
checked_values: 22
corrosion:
- environment: Industrial, marine and rural atmospheres; many natural waters; stagnant and low-velocity sea water
headline: Listed by the datasheet as suitable service; no corrosion rate printed.
effect: The Australwright datasheet lists these as service experience with the alloy. It prints no rate in mm per year or mpy for any of them.
rating: low
conditions:
basis: qualitative service list, no test data
exposure: not stated
source: australwright-c65500
where: Corrosion properties section, Service experience list
- environment: Seawater and other polluted water systems
headline: Excellent corrosion properties in sea water, per Wieland; no rate printed.
effect: Wieland describes the alloy as single-phase and high in copper with excellent corrosion properties in seawater and polluted water, and with anti-biofouling behaviour in seawater. No numeric corrosion rate is printed on that page.
rating: low
conditions:
basis: qualitative product description
exposure: not stated
source: wieland-c65500
where: Details section, paragraphs on corrosion and anti-biofouling
- environment: Non-oxidising acids, alkalis and salts, for example sulphuric acid cold up to 90 % and caustic soda up to 40 %
headline: Datasheet lists these as suitable, provided no oxidising agents are present.
effect: Australwright lists sulphuric acid cold up to 90 %, hot up to 30 % in the absence of oxidising agents, caustic soda up to 40 % cold or hot, and a range of organic chemicals and salts as suitable.
rating: low
conditions:
basis: qualitative service list, no test data
exposure: concentrations as printed in the datasheet
source: australwright-c65500
where: Corrosion properties section, Service experience list (Acids and Alkalies rows)
- environment: Ammonia, hot ferric chloride, hydrogen sulphide, nitric acid and mercury salts
headline: Datasheet says not to use the alloy in these media.
effect: The datasheet lists alkaline sulphides, aqueous ammonia, hot ferric chloride, hydrogen sulphide, mercury and its salts, and nitric acid among the media it should not be used in.
rating: moderate
conditions:
basis: supplier advice, no test data
exposure: not stated
source: australwright-c65500
where: Corrosion properties section, Importantly silicon bronze should not be used for the following list
- environment: Steam or water above 100 degC for long periods; service above 150 degC
headline: Corrosive attack and creep limit long-term hot service.
effect: The datasheet says contact with steam or water above 100 degC for long periods may cause corrosive attack, especially under stress or cycling. It also says the alloy creeps over long periods above 150 degC and recommends against service above that temperature.
rating: moderate
conditions:
basis: supplier advice, no test data
exposure: long-term; duration not stated
source: australwright-c65500
where: Corrosion properties section, Service at elevated temperature
risks:
hazards:
- text: 'Supplier safety data sheet for a silicon bronze alloy family (product codes C64200, C65100, C65500, C66100 and others): signal word Danger; combustible dust; reproductive toxicity category 1A; specific target organ toxicity from repeated exposure category 1; hazardous to the aquatic environment, acute category 1 and long-term category 2. The sheet covers a family of grades, not C65500 alone.'
ghs: []
source: sam-sds
where: Section 2, Hazard(s) identification, signal word and hazard statements
- text: Dust and fumes form when the alloy is heated, cut, ground or welded; heating above the melting point releases metallic oxides that can cause metal fume fever, with shivering, fever and muscular pain.
ghs: []
source: sam-sds
where: Section 4 (Most important symptoms) and Section 11 (Inhalation)
- text: Contact with strong acids releases flammable hydrogen gas. In a fire the sheet notes toxic vapours and fumes of lead and lead compounds, because the family includes leaded grades.
ghs: []
source: sam-sds
where: Section 5 (Specific hazards arising from the chemical) and Section 10 (Incompatible materials)
- text: 'PubChem GHS for manganese metal (a component of the alloy): flammable solid in 11.6 % of notifications and serious eye irritation in 14.8 %; these describe the pure metal, not the solid alloy.'
ghs:
- H228
- H319
source: pubchem-mn
where: Safety and Hazards, GHS Classification, hazard statements
failure_risks:
- mode: Creep and loss of design strength in hot service
trigger: Service above 150 degC, or contact with steam above 100 degC for long periods
consequence: Creep over long service; the datasheet says design stresses based on creep data are comparatively low at temperature.
severity: moderate
source: australwright-c65500
where: Corrosion properties section, Service at elevated temperature
- mode: Attack in named process chemicals
trigger: Ammonia, hot ferric chloride, hydrogen sulphide, nitric acid or mercury salts
consequence: The datasheet advises against these media; attack is not quantified in the source.
severity: moderate
source: australwright-c65500
where: Corrosion properties section, list of media the alloy should not be used in
- mode: Hydrogen release on contact with acid
trigger: Contact with strong acids
consequence: Flammable hydrogen gas is released, creating a fire and explosion hazard in closed spaces.
severity: moderate
source: sam-sds
where: Section 5, Specific hazards arising from the chemical
handling:
- text: Do not breathe dust or fume; control dust and fume when cutting, grinding or welding, and avoid dust build-up because fine dust can form an explosive mixture with air.
source: sam-sds
where: Section 2 (precautionary statements) and Section 5 (explosion hazard)
- text: Keep service below 150 degC, and keep steam or hot water below 100 degC for long periods unless the creep and corrosion behaviour has been checked.
source: australwright-c65500
where: Corrosion properties section, Service at elevated temperature
- text: Keep away from strong oxidising agents and acids; both are listed as incompatible in the safety data sheet.
source: sam-sds
where: Section 10, Incompatible materials
documents:
- title: Austral Wright Metals, Silicon Bronze C65500 product page (composition, physical and mechanical tables, applications, corrosion)
type: datasheet
url: https://www.australwright.com.au/technical-data/alloys/copper-brass/copper-alloys-c65500-silicon-bronze/
year: 2026
- title: Wieland Diversified, Bronze CDA 65500 technical page (international standards, mechanical and physical properties)
type: datasheet
url: https://www.wieland-diversified.com/bronze-overview/bronze-cda-65500/
year: 2026
- title: Stanford Advanced Materials, Silicon Bronze Alloy safety data sheet, SDS 11
type: sds
url: https://www.samaterials.com/tds/sc/1783992984-CU8125.pdf
year: 2018
- title: 'PubChem: Manganese (CID 23930), GHS classification'
type: database
url: https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/23930
year: 2026
- title: 'Wikipedia: Bronze (silicon bronze composition)'
type: database
url: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bronze
year: 2026
- title: 'USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026: Copper'
type: report
url: https://pubs.usgs.gov/periodicals/mcs2026/mcs2026-copper.pdf
year: 2026
- title: 'USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026: Silicon'
type: report
url: https://pubs.usgs.gov/periodicals/mcs2026/mcs2026-silicon.pdf
year: 2026
- title: 'USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026: Manganese'
type: report
url: https://pubs.usgs.gov/periodicals/mcs2026/mcs2026-manganese.pdf
year: 2026
gaps:
- No seawater or marine corrosion rate in mm per year or mpy was printed on any page read. Wieland and Australwright both describe the sea-water resistance qualitatively only.
- 'Nominal composition differs between pages: the Australwright text gives 96 % copper, 3 % silicon and 1 % manganese, its table gives nominal copper 97.0, manganese 0.9 and silicon 3.0, and Wieland gives 95 % copper, 4 % silicon and 1 % manganese. Only the printed min and max ranges are used in identity.'
- 'Melting ranges differ slightly: Australwright prints solidus 971 degC and liquidus 1027 degC, Wieland prints 970 to 1025 degC. The Australwright figures are used.'
- Hardness (Rockwell B, Rockwell F, Vickers) and fatigue strength are printed on the Australwright table, but the extracted column layout does not show which value belongs to which column, so none are entered.
- The Wieland modulus values are printed as 15 ksi and 103 N/mm2, with a printing error on the rigidity figure; the Australwright metric values are used instead.
- Only the H04 hard-drawn rod ranges come from Wieland, and they apply to rod and bar up to 6.35 mm; no flat-product or wire values from Wieland are used.
- The safety data sheet covers a family of silicon bronze grades, and its lead range of 0 to 0.8 % is wider than the C65500 lead maximum of 0.05 % printed by Australwright. The hazard entries are therefore the family's, not C65500 alone.
- No C65500-specific SDS was found. The PubChem GHS entries describe manganese metal, not the alloy.
- The trade name High-Silicon Bronze A was seen in search results but was not printed on any fetched page, so it is not entered.
- The US 2025 list entry for silicon and copper is from the USGS chapters. Manganese is not stated as critical in its USGS chapter, and no EU critical raw materials list was checked for silicon, manganese or copper.
- Manganese and silicon shares are calculated from the 2025 estimates in the USGS tables (silicon metal total 4,600 t; manganese total 20,000 kt); they are not printed as percentages.
- No vacuum, outgassing, radiation, atomic oxygen or thermal-cycling data for C65500 was found in the sources read.
- The Wieland page gives an ASTM B98 and B124 specification set, but its UNS and specification table is not fully legible in the extracted text, so only codes printed in the Australwright table are entered as ASTM designations.
uses:
- application: structures
device: Welded tanks, pressure vessels and process vessels
example: Australwright lists welded tanks, process vessels, calorifiers and domestic hot water cylinders as uses of silicon bronze, and says it is one of the easiest copper alloys to weld.
source: australwright-c65500
where: Silicon Bronze Applications section and Welding properties section
- application: mechanisms
device: Bushings, bearing plates and piston rings
example: The Australwright industrial application list names bushings, bearing plates, piston rings and heat exchanger tubes.
source: australwright-c65500
where: Silicon Bronze Applications table, Industrial row
- application: mechanisms
device: Fasteners, hinges and marine hardware
example: Wieland says silicon bronze is used in pump and valve components, fasteners, piston rings and marine hardware.
source: wieland-c65500
where: Details section, first paragraph
supply:
- subject: Copper (remainder of the alloy)
producers:
- country: Chile
share_percent: 23
year: 2025
- country: Congo (Kinshasa)
share_percent: 13.9
year: 2025
- country: Peru
share_percent: 11.7
year: 2025
- country: China
share_percent: 7.8
year: 2025
- country: Russia
share_percent: 5.7
year: 2025
critical_lists:
- list: U.S. Final 2025 List of Critical Minerals (copper added, 90 FR 50494)
listed: true
recycling: 'USGS, U.S. section: old scrap converted to refined metal, alloys and other forms provided an estimated 160,000 tons of copper in 2025, and scrap supplied about 30 % of U.S. copper supply.'
substitutes:
- 'USGS: aluminum substitutes for copper in automobile radiators, electrical equipment and power cable; optical fiber substitutes in telecommunications.'
source: usgs-mcs2026-copper
where: World Mine and Refinery Production and Reserves table, mine production 2025e in thousand tons of copper content (world total 23,000; Chile 5,300; Congo (Kinshasa) 3,200; Peru 2,700; China 1,800; Russia 1,300); shares calculated from those values; Recycling; Substitutes; critical minerals text
- subject: Silicon (ferrosilicon and silicon metal feed)
producers:
- country: China
share_percent: 87
year: 2025
- country: Brazil
share_percent: 3.9
year: 2025
- country: Norway
share_percent: 2.8
year: 2025
- country: France
share_percent: 1.5
year: 2025
- country: Russia
share_percent: 0.8
year: 2025
critical_lists:
- list: U.S. Final 2025 List of Critical Minerals (silicon added, 90 FR 50494)
listed: true
recycling: 'USGS: recycling of silicon is insignificant.'
substitutes:
- 'USGS: aluminum, silicon carbide and silicomanganese can be substituted for ferrosilicon in some applications.'
source: usgs-mcs2026-silicon
where: World Production table, silicon metal, 2025 column (China 4,000; Brazil 180; Norway 130; France 68; Russia 35; world total read as 4,600 thousand t of silicon content); shares calculated from those values; Recycling; Substitutes; critical minerals text
- subject: Manganese
producers:
- country: South Africa
share_percent: 38
year: 2025
- country: Gabon
share_percent: 25
year: 2025
- country: Ghana
share_percent: 10
year: 2025
- country: Australia
share_percent: 8
year: 2025
critical_lists: []
recycling: 'USGS: manganese was recycled incidentally with ferrous and nonferrous scrap; scrap recovery specifically for manganese was negligible.'
substitutes:
- 'USGS: manganese has no satisfactory substitute in its major applications.'
source: usgs-mcs2026-manganese
where: World Mine Production and Reserves table, 2025e in thousand metric tons of manganese content (world total 20,000; South Africa 7,600; Gabon 5,000; Ghana 2,000; Australia 1,600); shares calculated from those values; Recycling; Substitutes. The chapter does not state a critical-minerals status, so none is entered.
license: CC-BY-4.0
updated: '2026-10-26'
review:
status: draft
method: assistant
checked_values: 22
unreachable: 0
caveats: 2
note: Read by an AI assistant on 2026-10-26 from the Australwright and Wieland datasheets, the Wikipedia Bronze article, the Stanford Advanced Materials safety data sheet, PubChem and USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026. Values are checked against the printed pages by verify-values.
sources:
australwright-c65500:
title: Austral Wright Metals, Silicon Bronze C65500 product page
url: https://www.australwright.com.au/technical-data/alloys/copper-brass/copper-alloys-c65500-silicon-bronze/
kind: datasheet
license: Manufacturer technical page (cited, not reproduced)
wieland-c65500:
title: Wieland Diversified, Bronze CDA 65500 (silicon bronze C65500) technical page
url: https://www.wieland-diversified.com/bronze-overview/bronze-cda-65500/
kind: datasheet
license: Manufacturer technical page (cited, not reproduced)
wikipedia-bronze:
title: 'Wikipedia: Bronze (redirected from Silicon bronze)'
url: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bronze
kind: web
license: CC BY-SA 4.0 (cited, not reproduced)
sam-sds:
title: Stanford Advanced Materials, Silicon Bronze Alloy safety data sheet, SDS 11 (revision 29 October 2018)
url: https://www.samaterials.com/tds/sc/1783992984-CU8125.pdf
kind: datasheet
license: Manufacturer safety data sheet (cited, not reproduced)
pubchem-mn:
title: 'PubChem: Manganese (CID 23930), GHS classification'
url: https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/23930
kind: database
license: PubChem public database (cited, not reproduced)
usgs-mcs2026-copper:
title: Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026, Copper
url: https://pubs.usgs.gov/periodicals/mcs2026/mcs2026-copper.pdf
year: 2026
kind: report
license: public domain (USGS)
usgs-mcs2026-silicon:
title: Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026, Silicon
url: https://pubs.usgs.gov/periodicals/mcs2026/mcs2026-silicon.pdf
year: 2026
kind: report
license: public domain (USGS)
usgs-mcs2026-manganese:
title: Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026, Manganese
url: https://pubs.usgs.gov/periodicals/mcs2026/mcs2026-manganese.pdf
year: 2026
kind: report
license: public domain (USGS)
story:
recipe:
line: C65500 is a copper-silicon-manganese alloy. Copper is the matrix, silicon gives strength and acts as a deoxidiser in the melt, and manganese adds strength and forms manganese silicides when the alloy is age hardened. It is wrought into rod, bar, sheet, plate, tube, forgings and wire, and it can be cold worked before or after the age hardening (Wieland).
parts:
- name: Copper
symbol: Cu
share: remainder (nominal 97.0 wt % in the Australwright table)
role: The matrix. The alloy is a single-phase copper-rich alpha alloy, which keeps the ductility and conductivity of copper (Wieland, Australwright).
- name: Silicon
symbol: Si
share: 2.8 to 3.8 wt %
role: The main alloying element. It raises strength, lowers electrical conductivity to about that of steel, and is a deoxidant in the melt (Australwright).
- name: Manganese
symbol: Mn
share: 0.50 to 1.3 wt %
role: Raises tensile, yield and fatigue strength, and forms manganese silicides on age hardening (Australwright, Wieland).
risk_groups:
- title: For people
level: 1
verdict: Dust and fume are the main hazard
lead: The supplier safety data sheet for the silicon bronze family carries a Danger signal word, and the main exposure route is dust and fume from heating, cutting, grinding or welding.
points:
- label: Dust and fume
line: Dust and fume form on heating, cutting or welding. Heating above the melting point releases metallic oxides that can cause metal fume fever.
- label: Reproductive and organ effects
line: The family sheet classes it as reproductive toxicity category 1A and as a specific target organ toxicant after repeated exposure, category 1.
- label: Manganese
line: Long-term breathing of manganese dust or fume can cause manganism, a nervous system disease like Parkinson's disease, according to the sheet.
- title: For the part
level: 1
verdict: Acid contact makes hydrogen
lead: The alloy is stable in many media, but strong acids release flammable hydrogen, and fine dust can form an explosive mixture.
points:
- label: Acids
line: Contact with strong acids releases flammable hydrogen gas, according to the safety data sheet.
- label: Dust explosion
line: Fine dust in air with an ignition source is a potential dust explosion hazard, and the sheet asks for dust build-up to be prevented.
- title: For the environment
level: 1
verdict: Toxic to aquatic life
lead: The safety data sheet classes the alloy family as hazardous to the aquatic environment.
points:
- label: Aquatic
line: The family sheet gives acute hazard category 1 and long-term hazard category 2 for the aquatic environment.
why: Silicon bronze C65500 combines the strength and formability of mild steel with the corrosion resistance of copper, according to the Australwright datasheet. The datasheet gives a tensile strength of 538 MPa and a yield strength of 310 MPa for the H02 flat product, and it names welded vessels, fasteners and bushings among its applications.
uses:
- where: Welded tanks and pressure vessels
line: Australwright lists welded tanks, process vessels and high-strength, corrosion-resistant welded vessels among its uses, and says the alloy is one of the easiest copper alloys to weld.
- where: Bushings, bearing plates and piston rings
line: The Australwright industrial list names bushings, bearing plates, piston rings and heat exchanger tubes among its applications.
- where: Fasteners and marine hardware
line: Australwright lists hinges, bolts, nails, screws, rivets, nuts and cotter pins among fasteners, and Wieland says silicon bronze is used in pump and valve parts, fasteners, piston rings and marine hardware.
can_do:
- label: Carry load in hard temper
value: 648 MPa tensile (H04)
benchmark: ultimate_tensile_strength
line: The H04 flat product, 1 mm, has a tensile strength of 648 MPa and a yield strength of 400 MPa at 20 degC.
- label: Conduct heat
value: 36.3 W/(m.K)
benchmark: thermal_conductivity
line: The Australwright datasheet gives a thermal conductivity of 36.3 W/m.degK at 20 degC.
- label: Take the density
value: 8.53 g/cm3
benchmark: density
line: The Australwright datasheet gives a density of 8.53 g/cm3 at 20 degC.
- label: Melt
value: 971 to 1027 degC
benchmark: melting_point
line: The solidus is 971 degC and the liquidus is 1027 degC in the Australwright physical properties table.
compare: Silicon bronze C65500 is a single-phase copper alloy with silicon and manganese in the strength range above mild copper. Silicon lowers its electrical conductivity to 7 %IACS, which the Australwright datasheet compares with steel, so it is a poor choice for current-carrying parts. The thermal expansion and density figures in the rows below are its own printed values; compare them with the other copper alloys in this set rather than with numbers from this file.
compare_rows:
- label: Density
benchmark: density
- label: Electrical conductivity
benchmark: electrical_conductivity
- label: Thermal expansion
benchmark: cte
handling:
- 'Specify the temper, since the strength depends strongly on it: H04 hard and H08 spring tempers are much stronger than the soft OS070 temper.'
- Keep service below 150 degC, and keep steam or hot water below 100 degC for long periods unless creep and corrosion have been checked.
- Control dust and fume when cutting, grinding or welding, and avoid dust build-up.
good_for:
- Welded vessels and tanks, where the datasheet calls the alloy easy to weld and corrosion resistant.
- Fasteners, bushings and marine hardware in sea water and polluted water, per Wieland and Australwright.
- Parts that need copper-like corrosion resistance with more strength than copper, such as hinges and piston rings.
watch_out:
- Electrical conductivity is only 7 %IACS, so do not use it for current-carrying parts.
- The datasheet advises against service above 150 degC and against steam above 100 degC for long periods.
- Do not use it in ammonia, hot ferric chloride, hydrogen sulphide, nitric acid or mercury salts, per the datasheet.
- No seawater corrosion rate in mm per year was found; the sea-water resistance is qualitative.
verdict: Silicon bronze C65500 is a strong, weldable and corrosion-resistant copper alloy with 2.8 to 3.8 % silicon and 0.50 to 1.3 % manganese. Its strength depends on temper, and the H08 flat product reaches 758 MPa tensile strength. Its conductivity is low, its hot service limit is 150 degC, and its dust and fume need controlling in use. The profile has no numeric corrosion rate and no hardness or fatigue values.
References
Every number above carries a reference number. Click one to see the source and where in it the value comes from.
| # | Source | Type | Year | Used for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Austral Wright Metals, Silicon Bronze C65500 product page | datasheet | 29 values | ||
| Wieland Diversified, Bronze CDA 65500 (silicon bronze C65500) technical page | datasheet | 5 values | ||
| Wikipedia: Bronze (redirected from Silicon bronze) | web | 0 values | ||
| Stanford Advanced Materials, Silicon Bronze Alloy safety data sheet, SDS 11 (revision 29 October 2018) | datasheet | 6 values | ||
| PubChem: Manganese (CID 23930), GHS classification | database | 1 value | ||
| Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026, Copper | report | 2026 | 1 value | |
| Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026, Silicon | report | 2026 | 1 value | |
| Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026, Manganese | report | 2026 | 1 value |