No, bronze is generally not magnetic. The high copper content prevents magnetic properties, which distinguishes bronze from iron and many steels.

What is the difference between bronze and brass?

Classic bronze consists of copper and tin, while brass consists of copper and zinc. Bronze often appears reddish-brown and is robust and corrosion-resistant, while brass appears yellowish-golden and is usually easier to machine.

Which bronze alloys are there?

Important types of bronze include tin bronze, aluminium bronze, phosphor bronze, lead bronze and manganese bronze. The selection depends on load, corrosion environment, sliding properties and machining.

Bronze – Properties, Composition and Differences from Brass

Bronze is a copper alloy made of copper and tin that is robust, non-magnetic and versatile.

Answer first: Bronze traditionally consists of copper and tin. It differs from brass primarily through the alloying addition: bronze contains tin, brass contains zinc. This results in different properties in terms of colour, hardness, corrosion resistance, sliding behaviour, machining and typical use.

Definition: What is bronze?

Bronze is a metal alloy made of copper and tin that has been used for thousands of years. Even in antiquity, bronze was used for tools, weapons and works of art. Today it is used in industry, mechanical engineering, art casting and technical applications.

In everyday language, the term bronze is often used for copper-coloured or brownish materials. Technically, however, the composition is decisive: bronze is a copper alloy in which tin is the classic alloying partner. Depending on the grade, further elements may be added in order to specifically influence strength, wear behaviour, sliding ability or corrosion resistance.

Is bronze a metal?

Strictly speaking, bronze is not a pure metal, but an alloy. By melting copper together with tin, a new material with special properties is created. Since bronze consists mainly of copper, it belongs to the non-ferrous metals.

In practice, this means that bronze does not behave like pure copper and also not like brass. The tin content makes the material harder, more wear-resistant and more resilient for many technical applications. At the same time, bronze remains highly corrosion-resistant and has a characteristic warm colour effect.

Composition of bronze: copper, tin and further alloying elements

Classic bronze consists of copper as the main component and tin as the most important alloying element. Bronze is often described as containing around 80–95 % copper and 5–20 % tin. The exact composition, however, depends on the specific alloy, the manufacturing process and the intended application.

In addition to copper and tin, further elements can be used. Aluminium, nickel, manganese, phosphorus or lead change the properties of bronze in a targeted way. For example, a bronze alloy can be designed to be particularly wear-resistant, suitable for sliding, resistant to seawater, machinable or mechanically strong.

Anyone selecting bronze for technical components should therefore not decide only by colour or by the word bronze. The alloy, dimensions, form, machinability, load, environment and desired function in the component are important.

Which material properties does bronze have?

Bronze has a range of properties that make it a popular material:

High strength: Bronze is harder and more load-resistant than pure copper and is therefore suitable for mechanically stressed components.
Corrosion resistance: Bronze resists moisture, air and, depending on the alloy, also more demanding environments.
Non-magnetic: Bronze is ideal for applications where magnetic influences could interfere.
Good castability: Bronze can be processed well in moulds and has therefore been used for centuries for art casting, sculptures and cast parts.
Good sliding properties: Bronze has low friction and is therefore suitable for bearings, bushings, worm wheels and moving parts.
Attractive appearance: The warm, reddish-golden to brownish colour effect is also valued for decorative applications.
Durability: In suitable applications, bronze impresses with wear resistance, dimensional stability and good resistance.

Thanks to this combination, bronze is suitable both for technical applications such as mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, shipbuilding and plant engineering and for artistic and decorative purposes.

Important bronze alloys at a glance

Bronze is not a single material, but a family of materials. Its properties depend strongly on which elements are included and in what ratio they are used. The following overview helps with initial classification.

Type of bronze	Typical composition	Important properties	Typical applications
Tin bronze	Copper + tin	Strong, corrosion-resistant, good sliding properties	Bearings, bushings, worm wheels, technical components
Aluminium bronze	Copper + aluminium	Very corrosion-resistant, high strength	Shipbuilding, pump parts, fittings, heavily stressed components
Phosphor bronze	Copper + tin + phosphorus	High strength, good spring and sliding properties	Springs, contacts, plain bearings, electrical engineering
Lead bronze	Copper + tin + lead	Good machinability, good emergency running properties	Turned parts, milled parts, bearing technology
Manganese bronze	Copper alloy with manganese content	Robust, wear-resistant, mechanically strong	Mechanical engineering, technical constructions, loaded components

The decisive factor for selection is whether the bronze is primarily intended to slide, carry loads, resist corrosion, be easy to machine or provide an attractive appearance.

Bars and tubes made of bronze to measure

In addition to various alloys, bronze is also available in numerous semi-finished products. Particularly popular are bars and tubes that impress with stability, corrosion resistance and a wide range of dimensions. Whether in mechanical engineering, arts and crafts or industry – at METALXACT you will find bronze bars and bronze tubes made to measure for your individual projects.

Bronze round bars for bearings, bushings, turned parts and technical components
Bronze flat bars for guides, supports, strips and structural applications
Bronze square bars for dimensionally stable components, cut-to-size parts and technical components
Bronze round tubes for bushings, sleeves, bearing technology and special constructions

Discover customised bronze profiles

Bronze vs. brass – In comparison

Bronze and brass both belong to the copper alloys. The most important difference lies in the composition: bronze is traditionally based on copper and tin, while brass consists of copper and zinc. As a result, the two materials differ in colour, hardness, machining and typical fields of application.

Criterion	Bronze	Brass
Composition	Copper + tin	Copper + zinc
Colour and appearance	Reddish-brown, warm, historical and technical	Yellowish-golden, resembles gold more strongly
Properties	Wear-resistant, corrosion-resistant, non-magnetic, suitable for sliding	Easy to form, easy to machine, decorative, good machinability
Processing	Harder, more difficult to form depending on the alloy	Easy to cast, good to roll and often easier to machine
Applications	Art casting, mechanical engineering, plain bearings, bushings, shipbuilding	Fittings, musical instruments, hardware, decoration, turned parts
Selection note	When robustness, wear resistance and sliding behaviour are important	When machinability, appearance and formability are the priority

Bronze

⚗️ Composition: Copper + tin

🎨 Colour appearance: Reddish-brown, warm

⚙️ Properties: Wear-resistant, corrosion-resistant, non-magnetic

🛠️ Processing: Harder, more difficult to form

🏭 Fields of application: Art casting, mechanical engineering, plain bearings

Buy bronze

Brass

⚗️ Composition: Copper + zinc

🎨 Colour appearance: Yellowish-golden, reminiscent of gold

⚙️ Properties: Easy to form, easy to machine

🛠️ Processing: Easy to cast, good to roll

🏭 Fields of application: Fittings, musical instruments, decoration

Buy brass

Our product variety made of bronze

For technical projects, bronze is often used as a semi-finished product. Profiles that can be selected according to dimension and purpose are particularly practical. At METALXACT, bronze is available as a material category with several profile forms.

Bronze round bars for turned parts, bearing bushings, axles, sleeves and technical components
Bronze flat bars for guide strips, sliding surfaces, supports and mechanical components
Bronze square bars for stable formed parts, cut-to-size parts and precise components
Bronze round tubes for bushings, tube sleeves, bearing technology and custom-made parts

If you would like to compare bronze with other copper alloys, METALXACT also offers customised brass profiles, customised copper profiles and customised gunmetal profiles.

Applications: What is bronze used for?

Bronze is used wherever mechanical load capacity, wear resistance, corrosion resistance or good sliding properties are required. Depending on the alloy and component form, the spectrum ranges from small precision parts to heavy cast components.

Mechanical engineering: Bearings, bushings, guides, worm wheels, sliding pieces and wear parts
Shipbuilding and water technology: Components exposed to corrosion, fittings, pump parts and components in humid environments
Electrical engineering: Contacts, springs, conductive components and non-magnetic components
Art casting and design: Sculptures, fittings, decorative elements and historical reproductions
Workshop and industry: Semi-finished products for turned parts, milled parts, fixtures and special components

Select bronze made to measure in the configurator

If bronze is not required as a standard component but to suit a specific project, structured selection is important. The METALXACT metal configurator helps you select material, profile form, dimensions and desired version step by step.

Select material: Select bronze as a copper alloy.
Determine profile form: Select round bar, flat bar, square bar or round tube.
Check dimensions: Determine diameter, width, height or wall thickness to suit the project.
Enter length and quantity: Plan the cut to size as required.
Consider the application: Check load, surface, installation and further processing.
Check the order: Carefully compare dimensions, alloy, profile form and use before purchase.

For technical applications, the following applies: the configurator supports selection and ordering, but does not replace technical design, material testing or design approval.

Commercial bridge: bronze, brass, copper and metal made to measure

Bronze is not considered in isolation in many projects. It is often compared directly with brass, copper or gunmetal. This is exactly why selecting the right material is decisive: when sliding behaviour, wear resistance and load capacity are important, bronze is often the right direction. If simple machining, decorative effect or golden-yellow appearance are more important, brass may be a better fit. Pure copper is often considered for electrical conductivity and typical copper applications.

At METALXACT you can directly compare suitable material categories: bronze profiles, brass profiles, copper profiles, gunmetal profiles, customised metal profiles, metal cutting and metal made to measure.

Product bridge: select suitable bronze profiles directly

Product area	Typical use	Direct entry
Bronze round bars	Turned parts, bearing bushings, axles, sleeves	View round bars
Bronze flat bars	Sliding surfaces, guides, supports, strips	View flat bars
Bronze square bars	Formed parts, precise cut-to-size parts, stable components	View square bars
Bronze round tubes	Bushings, sleeves, bearing technology, tube sections	View round tubes
Brass profiles	Decoration, fittings, hardware, easily machinable components	Compare brass

Bronze square bar CuSn12 CC483K

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Bronze round tube CC483K

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Bronze round bar CC483K

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Bronze flat bar CC483K

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Frequently asked questions about the properties of bronze

What is bronze?

Bronze is a copper alloy that traditionally consists of copper and tin. Depending on the alloy, further elements such as aluminium, nickel, manganese, phosphorus or lead may be added.

Is bronze a metal?

Bronze is not a pure metal, but an alloy. Since it consists mainly of copper, it is classified as a non-ferrous metal and copper alloy.

Is bronze magnetic?

No, bronze is not magnetic. The high copper content prevents magnetic properties – a clear difference from steel or iron.

What is bronze made of?

Components of bronze: copper and tin.

Around 80–95 % copper and 5–20 % tin are often mentioned. In addition to classic copper-tin bronze, there are other alloys that are created by adding aluminium, nickel, manganese or phosphorus. These special bronzes have additional properties such as higher strength or improved corrosion resistance.

Which types of bronze are there?

Different alloys are used depending on the application:

Aluminium bronze: very corrosion-resistant, ideal for shipbuilding

Phosphor bronze: high strength, good plain bearing properties

Lead bronze: good machinability, ideal for turned and milled parts

Manganese bronze: robust and wear-resistant for mechanical engineering components

How is bronze manufactured?

It is manufactured by melting copper and tin, and depending on the grade, further additives in a melting furnace. The liquid bronze is then cast into moulds or further processed into semi-finished products such as sheets, bars, tubes or cast parts.

How do you distinguish bronze and brass?

At first glance, bronze and brass look similar, but they can be distinguished by several features.

Colour: Bronze appears reddish-brown, while brass appears yellowish-golden.

Composition: Bronze consists of copper and tin, while brass consists of copper and zinc.

Properties: Bronze is harder and more corrosion-resistant, while brass is easier to machine and more formable.

In short: Bronze stands for robustness and durability, while brass is used more for formability and decorative applications.

Which bronze products are available at METALXACT?

At METALXACT you will find bronze profiles such as round bars, flat bars, square bars and round tubes, which can be selected online depending on the product and ordered to suit the project.

Can bronze be ordered made to measure?

Yes. Bronze semi-finished products can be selected online depending on product and dimensions and ordered in the right size for individual projects.

When should bronze be chosen instead of brass?

Bronze is often useful when wear resistance, corrosion resistance, sliding properties or technical load capacity are more important. Brass is often the better choice when good machinability, decorative appearance or economical forming are the priority.

Conclusion: versatile copper alloy with tradition

Bronze is far more than just a historical alloy from antiquity – it is also a modern material with numerous advantages today. Through its composition of copper and tin, bronze combines strength, corrosion resistance and good processability in one material. In addition, it is non-magnetic and can therefore be used in special technical applications.

The comparison with brass shows: Both metals belong to the family of copper alloys, but differ significantly in properties, appearance and fields of application. Bronze impresses above all with robustness and durability, while brass has its strengths in machinability and decorative effect.

Whether in mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, shipbuilding or art casting – bronze is a material that has been valued for thousands of years and will continue to play an important role in the future.

Select bronze profiles at METALXACT