True bronze is an alloy made of copper and tin. It is harder than pure copper, more suitable for casting, and also resists corrosion. Bronze may contain as much as 25% tin, together with small amounts of other metals, mainly lead.
Bronze is one of the first metallic alloys known and was used widely by early peoples during the period of history known as the Bronze Age. People discovered it by accident, likely when copper ore with tin impurities was heated.
Bronze is one of the first metallic alloys known and was used widely by early peoples during the period of history known as the Bronze Age. People discovered it by accident, likely when copper ore with tin impurities was heated.
Most Mediterranean civilizations were using Bronze for tools and weapons by 2500 B.C., replacing the previous 'copper only' period, which lasted approximately 1,000 years.
Below is a hoard of bronze socketed axes from the Bronze Age found in modern Germany. This was the top tool of the period, and also seems to have been used as a store of value.
 |
| By Wolfgang Sauber - Own work, Wikipedia |
By 1500 BC bronze cutting implements were being used from the British Isles to China.
Charlemagne owned a water clock that marked hours by dropping bronze balls into a bowl as mechanical knights emerged from little doors.
Bronze was once a popular material for mirrors, used well into the Middle Ages when glass became more widely available.
Gold, silver and bronze medals were awarded for the first time at the 1904 Olympics.
Gold, silver and bronze medals were awarded for the first time at the 1904 Olympics.
The gold medals awarded at the Olympic Games are actually not pure gold, but rather a silver core plated with about 6 grams of gold. The bronze medals, however, are indeed composed primarily of bronze, with some tin and zinc in the mix.
Modern bronze can incorporate other metals besides tin, such as aluminium, manganese, or silicon. These variations offer different properties depending on the intended use.
Although we often associate bronze with a brown color, it can actually range from a reddish hue to a yellow gold tone, depending on the alloy composition.
Many cymbals, gongs, and bells are made from bronze alloys because of the metal's combination of strength and resonance.
The greenish layer that sometimes forms on bronze is called a patina. While it might look like corrosion, it actually protects the underlying metal from further deterioration.
Bronze is relatively resistant to saltwater corrosion, making it a common material for shipwrecks and underwater archaeological finds.
No comments:
Post a Comment