Silicon Bronze Alloys

[TestBeforeTouch]

I am an Electrical Engineer looking for some information on the advantages and disadvantages of the different types of silicon bronze alloys for joining bus bars together.

I know that Silicon bronze is a general term that describes various types of copper-silicon alloys manufactured under trade names such as Everdur, Herculoy, Duronze."

The names seem to represent different types of metalurgy. For example,

Everdur = 95% Cu, 4%Si, 1%Mn
Herculoy = 92% Cu, 4%Si, 4 % Zn
Duronze is available in several different compositions.

But I have not been able to find any information on the benefits of one alloy over another.
Any help would be appreciated.

 

[metengr]

You might want to try this web site below by the Copper Development Organization (copper.org) for starters. They have a fairly comprehensive listing of copper and copper alloys (i.e., silicon bronzes) with specific uses.

http://www.copper.org/resources/properties/db/CDACategoryUsesServlet.jsp

For electrical bus bar connections, especially outside, we use EVERDUR fasteners.

 

[TestBeforeTouch]

Thank you for the reply and the link. I did not see, but I might have missed it, anything on the copper.org website that talked about the pros and cons of the different types of silicon bronzes.

I thought my plant site was using Everdur fasteners because that is what everybody called them, but now I am not so sure. I think Everdur just became the name we called any silicon bronze fastener.

 

[metengr]

I included the web site to show applications of specific wrought silicon bronze alloys regarding fasteners for electrical applications. You would have to judge the merits of each alloy yourself regarding differences in electrical conductivity, tensile strength, corrosion resistance and ultimately material availability between these alloys.