Bronze material family
Phosphor Bronze
Wrought copper-tin alloys with phosphorus for strength, fatigue resistance and wear.
Overview
Phosphor bronzes are wrought copper-tin alloys deoxidised with phosphorus. Tin content – roughly 3.5% to 9% across the grades below – is the main lever: more tin means greater hardness, strength and wear resistance and less cold formability.
They are typically supplied as rod, bar, plate, sheet and strip and are used in springs, electrical contacts, fasteners, bushings and corrosion-resistant hardware.
Grades in this family
C51000 – Phosphor Bronze A (5% Tin)A general-purpose wrought phosphor bronze with about 5% tin, valued for its combination of strength, fatigue resistance, formability and corrosion resistance.View details →
C51900 – Phosphor Bronze (6% Tin)A phosphor bronze with a higher tin range than C51000, selected for greater strength and wear resistance in bushings, fasteners and spring parts.View details →C52100 – Phosphor Bronze C (8% Tin)A high-tin wrought phosphor bronze offering greater hardness, strength and wear resistance than C51000 or C51900.View details →
C54400 – Free-Cutting Phosphor BronzeA leaded, free-machining phosphor bronze developed for high-speed screw-machine production of bushings, bearings and fittings.View details → | UNS | Name | Type | Product forms listed |
|---|---|---|---|
| C51000 | Phosphor Bronze A (5% Tin) | Wrought copper-tin-phosphorus alloy | Rod, Plate |
| C51900 | Phosphor Bronze (6% Tin) | Wrought copper-tin-phosphorus alloy | Rod, Plate |
| C52100 | Phosphor Bronze C (8% Tin) | Wrought copper-tin-phosphorus alloy | Rod, Plate |
| C54400 | Free-Cutting Phosphor Bronze | Wrought leaded copper-tin-zinc-phosphorus alloy | Rod, Plate |
Product forms listed are those shown on this website; availability is confirmed per inquiry.
Selection guide
- Need formability and spring behaviour: start with C51000.
- Need more hardness or wear resistance: consider C51900 or C52100.
- Need high-speed machining: C54400 (contains lead).
- Always confirm temper, product form and specification on the purchase order.
Typical applications
- Springs and spring-type components
- Electrical contacts and connectors (as strip/sheet)
- Fasteners, clips and washers
- Diaphragms and flexible elements
- Bushings and wear parts for light to moderate duty
- Chemical and process hardware in compatible environments
- Bushings and sleeves under moderate load
- Fasteners and washers
- Spring components and flexible parts
- Wear strips and guides
Examples only – confirm suitability for your service.
Frequently asked questions
Are phosphor bronzes the same as tin bronzes?
They are related, but phosphor bronzes are mainly wrought products with residual phosphorus, while the cast tin bronzes (C90300, C90500) are casting alloys with different compositions and uses.
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