SEDL / STP / STP98-EB / STP47556S

Rapid Methods for the Identification of Copper-Base Alloys

Nevers, R. P.
The American Brass Co., Waterbury, Conn.

Pages: 4    Published: Jan 1950

Download this paper for $25 PDF (376K)          View License Agreement
Abstract

Copper-base alloys are so numerous and varied in composition that there are few simple tests which can give reliable indications of all the alloying elements. There are tests to show the presence of the elements tin, lead, silicon, etc. which, taken together with such other factors as color and a knowledge of the origin or application of the alloy, will serve to classify the material within certain limits. These tests generally involve dissolvinga small portion in a beaker or test tube and observing the effects of added reagents. Spot tests are not always reliable, due to the intense blue color of the copper masking the effects of subsequent reactions. There is no reliable substitute for the spectrograph except a complete qualitative chemical analysis with all its time-consuming operations.