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phosphor bronze

phosphor bronze

7.4
An alloy of copper and tin with some phosphorus that resists rust and is used for bearings, gears or springs
  • noun
  • /ˈfɑs.fər ˈbrɒnz/
  • Specialized
translation icon : bronce fosforado
  • Manufacturers often choose phosphor bronze for springs because it maintains its strength over time.

Examples

  • In high-performance applications, phosphor bronze is preferred for gears to ensure durability and reliability.

  • Standard models use phosphor bronze wetted parts with 316 SS available as an option.

    Academic text (1993)
  • The engineer recommended using phosphor bronze for the bearings due to its corrosion resistance.

Synonyms

bronze
vsphosphor bronze
41 3.0

A yellowish-brown metal made from copper and tin used for coins, medals, and sculptures

is the specialized corrosion resistant copper and tin alloy used for bearings and gears

How Durable

aluminum bronze
  • Specialized
1 5.6
phosphor bronze
  • Specialized
7.4
bearing metal
  • Specialized
7.6
white metal
  • Specialized
7.0

Surface Forms

Morphology

phosphor + bronze

The compound is compositionally built from 'phosphor' (relating to phosphorus) + 'bronze' (an alloy), so the basic sense 'bronze containing phosphorus' can be inferred from the parts. However 'phosphor' is a technical/rare term and the specific functional consequences (corrosion resistance, use in bearings/gears/springs) are domain-specific and not obvious to an average B1 learner, making the expression only partially predictable.

Etymology

Phosphor bronze is named for adding a small amount of phosphor to bronze, the metal made from copper and tin. That little bit of phosphor makes the metal harder and less likely to rust or wear, so it is used for 'bearings', 'gears', and 'springs'.