Comparing Beryllium Copper, Brass, and Bronze

Comparing Beryllium Copper, Brass, and Bronze

Alloys are made by mixing metal with other metal or non-metallic elements to improve their properties. Copper is used to making brass, bronze, and beryllium copper. Copper is the “solvent” or main element that makes these mixtures work together. Copper has properties like resistance to corrosion, biofouling, and heat and electricity conductivity.

Brass – Zinc and copper are mixed together to make brass. Zinc’s properties make it a metal that is both strong and easy to shape. It can be shaped better than bronze. It has been used since prehistoric times, but it wasn’t found until about 1,400 BCE. In the past, it was called “yellow copper.” Depending on how much zinc is mixed into it, its color ranges from dull yellowish to reddish. Brass is used to making musical instruments, plumbing supplies, and parts for guns. Gold-colored jewelry is sometimes made out of brass that has been dyed to look like gold.

Bronze – This alloy is made of copper and other metals like tin, manganese, and phosphorus. Tin is the main metal added to this alloy. It was found before brass, around 3,500 B.C.E., and dates back to that time. It has a higher melting point than brass and is hard and brittle. It stands out because its color is reddish gold. Bronze is used to make statues, musical instruments, electrical connectors and springs, fittings, and many other things.

Beryllium Copper – This alloy is made of beryllium, copper, and a small number of elements that help them stick together. There are 30 types of minerals that contain beryllium. It’s a steel-gray metal that is soft and not very dense. When it is mixed with copper, it gets stronger, harder, and better at conducting electricity and heat. In the next chapters, we’ll talk about more of beryllium copper’s properties and how it can be used.

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Types of Beryllium Copper Alloys: Beryllium-copper alloys are split into two groups based on what they are made of and what physical properties they have. Pieces of beryllium copper can be forged or cast, and they can be sold as plates, rods, strips, and wires, among other things.

Common Uses For Beryllium Copper: Beryllium Copper is used in a lot of different fields and industries. This is mostly because it is strong, can conduct electricity and heat, and doesn’t spark or attract magnets. Today, I’ll talk about the unique things about Beryllium Copper that make it such a popular choice.

Types of Beryllium Copper Alloys

Types of Beryllium Copper Alloys

Pieces of beryllium copper can be forged or cast, and they can be sold as plates, rods, strips, and wires, among other things. Most of the time, metals like beryllium and copper are shaped by hot or cold working. Melted beryllium copper is poured or injected into a mould to make cast beryllium copper pieces. After the forming process, the material gets harder over time so that the mechanical properties can be changed and controlled better.

Beryllium-copper alloys are split into two groups based on what they are made of and what physical properties they have. Most of the physical beryllium properties depend on how much beryllium is in the alloy, how it is mixed with other elements, and how it is heated and treated by the manufacturer.

High Strength Beryllium Copper Alloys

High-strength beryllium copper alloys have between 1.6% and 2.05% beryllium in them and are used for things that need to be stronger. Age hardening or precipitation hardening are two ways that beryllium alloys get their very high strength. When beryllium and copper are precipitation-hardened, the results are made when beryllium falls out of a solid solution that is mostly pure copper and is already very dense.

When the alloys cool down very slowly, pure copper starts to form because beryllium is less able to dissolve in copper as it cools. After annealing, the alloys are usually cooled quickly so that the beryllium stays solidly mixed with the copper. The alloy stays at 392°F to 860°F (200°C to 460°C) for at least an hour during a precipitation or age-hardening treatment. During tempering, the beryllium-containing phase, called beryllides, comes out of the solution.

During precipitation, beryllium-copper alloys change their properties and get stronger. The beryllium-copper alloy is stronger because of the coherency strains that form where the matrix and precipitates meet. The best thing about beryllium copper alloys is how well they respond to treatment for precipitation hardening and how well they resist stress relaxation.

Some high-strength beryllium copper alloys are:

C17200 or Alloy 25

C17200 is the hardest and strongest of the beryllium copper alloys. It is about as hard and strong as steel. It has 2% beryllium and a Rockwell hardness of C45. Its tensile strength can be more than 200 ksi. The electrical conductivity of C17200 is at least 22% IACS, and at high temperatures, it has a very high resistance to stress relaxation. It is used a lot in the oil and gas industry and for springs that don’t have to be magnetic, conduct electricity (springs that carry current), or rust.

When C17200 is put into a plastic mould, it lowers the temperature of the mould. This means that water is no longer needed to cool the mould. C17200 is four times better at moving heat than the steel used to make the mould. This part of C17200 can make sure that plastic products cool quickly and evenly, reduce product deformation, and help get rid of defects. Using C17200 to cool plastic moulds makes them work better and speeds up the production process.

C17300 or Alloy M25

The amount of lead in C17300 is between 0.2 and 0.6%. The addition of lead makes it less likely that cutting tools will chip edges. This reduces tool wear and makes C17300 a good choice for making parts for electronics, cars, and aeroplanes. C17300 is easier to work with than other high-strength, high-fatigue-resistance alloys.

C17300 is like C17200 in that it has the same properties. It is called “leaded beryllium copper” because it has a small amount of lead in it, which makes it easy to work with. Because it has lead in it, its cutting coefficient goes from 20% to 50%, which makes it better for making precise parts. Some of the performance properties of the C17300 process are high thermal conductivity, the ability to be welded, resistance to corrosion, polishability, resistance to wear and adhesion, and the ability to be forged. C17300 is used to make fuse fasteners, springs, connectors, spot welding heads, seam welding rollers, die casting heads, and plastic moulding dies.

C17000 or Alloy 165

C17000 has less beryllium in it and is a little bit weaker. It doesn’t cost as much as C17200 and is used for lighter tasks. Even when it is very cold, C17000 keeps its strength. It is also used to make tools, fasteners, bearings, and bushings for business. C17000 is often used in equipment for resistance welding.

C17000 is mostly used for things that need to be strong and have good conductivity. It can be softened by heat and made harder by running it through a mill. Soldering, brazing, arc welding, spot welding, and butt welding can all be used to join C17000, but Oxy-Acetylene welding is not recommended. C17000 threaded joints are resistant to galling, whether they are joined to each other or to stainless steel.

High Conductive Beryllium Copper Alloys:

Beryllium copper alloys with high conductivity have a small amount of beryllium in them, between 0.2% and 0.7%, along with small amounts of cobalt and nickel. As the name suggests, these alloys conduct electricity and heat well. The copper alloying element makes the copper better at both heat and electricity. But as the amount of beryllium goes up, these properties go down. This makes the material stronger. The same is true for other systems that mix metals (e.g., brass and bronze). Some of the beryllium copper alloys that are highly conductive are:

C17510 or Alloy 3

C17510 has between 0.2% and 0.6% beryllium and between 1.4% and 2.2% nickel. It is used in places where moderate strength and resistance to thermal fatigue are needed. In the form of wire, it is used for power and signal cables in oil and gas operations that take place far from land. Because it is a good conductor of electricity, its stripped form is used in switches and relays.

Most of the time, C17510 is used to spot weld and seam weld high-resistance alloys like stainless steel. It is suggested for welder structural current members that are stressed and electrode holders that are set at an angle. C17510 has a tensile strength of 140 ksi, a Rockwell hardness of B100, and a conductivity of 45% to 60% of regular copper.

C17500 or Alloy 10

C17500 has between 0.4% and 0.27% beryllium and between 2.4% and 2.7% cobalt. Its mechanical properties are similar to those of C17510. By adding cobalt, the melting point and thermal conductivity of C17500 are slightly lowered. C17500 works well both hot and cold because it has a high thermal resistance. It is a great material for making tools that are cast or moulded.

With a tensile strength of 140 ksi and a Rockwell hardness of B100, C17500 has 45% to 60% of the conductivity of regular copper. All C175 grades of beryllium copper have a cobalt alloy added, but C17510 is different because it also has nickel added. The performance of C17500 and C17510 is the same, no matter how much nickel is in C17510.

Alloy 10X

Alloy 10x is made of copper, cobalt, beryllium, and zirconium. It was made to make beryllium copper stronger and more flexible at high temperatures. It is very strong and flexible, even at temperatures of 806°F (430°C), and it doesn’t crack when heated. Due to its high thermal conductivity and resistance to thermal cracking, one of the main places Alloy 10x is used is in automotive powertrains, such as exhaust valve seats and pre-ignition chambers.

Alloy 310

Copper, beryllium, nickel, and cobalt are mixed together to make alloy 310. It has the same good qualities as C17500 and C17510, like their high electrical and thermal conductivity, strength, and hardness. Also, Alloy 310 has a high resistance to thermal fatigue. Alloy 310 is very popular because it costs less than the other beryllium copper alloys.

Alloy 310 is a good choice for welding electrodes and parts, non-ferrous casting dies, nozzles, and plungers because of its unique properties.

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Common Uses For Beryllium Copper: Beryllium Copper is used in a lot of different fields and industries. This is mostly because it is strong, can conduct electricity and heat, and doesn’t spark or attract magnets.

Types of Beryllium Copper Alloys: Beryllium-copper alloys are split into two groups based on what they are made of and what physical properties they have. Pieces of beryllium copper can be forged or cast, and they can be sold as plates, rods, strips, and wires, among other things.

Sheet Metal Gauge Chart

Sheet Metal Gauge Chart

When dealing with sheet metal the term used is the gauge which means the thickness of it. The gauge system is a standardized method of measuring and categorizing sheet metal thickness with the highest gauge number corresponding to a thinner sheet. An example of this is that 18 8 gauge steel is heavier than 22 gauge steel.

The sheet metal gauge system requires understanding in the fabrication, manufacturing and design. The thickness of 18 gauge in mm gives an accurate reference when calculating between various units of measurement, so that no mistakes are made in the production of instruments.

Our Sheet Metal Gauge Chart makes this process simpler because it shows the numbers of the gauge together with numbers of their corresponding thickness in both inches and millimeters. This can enable the engineers, fabricators and designers to interpret and choose suitable metal thickness used by them in a short time. The Browne & Sharpe system of measurement, which gave rise to the gauge (Ga.) unit, was first applied to medicine and jewelry, as the measurement of wire or tube diameter. It has come to signify the thickness of sheets in metalworking. Importantly, no direct equation exists to change between the gauge and the inches because the values of the thickness can be different based on the type of non-ferrous metal and steel sheets are characterized by different gauge-to-thickness relations.

Knowing the sheet metal gauge chart, you are able to determine the material thickness correctly, profile the fabrication processes and achieve cost-effective and quality results in construction, manufacturing and metal fabrication industries.

How Are Sheet Metal Gauges Used?

The gauges of sheet metals play a crucial role in the measurement of thickness of metal sheets that are utilized in different fabrication works. The gauge system offers a simple reference scale that is applicable to determine the thickness of metal in a short period of time instead of using a standard measurement or imperial system. Nevertheless, gauge values do not have a direct relationship with millimeter or inch measurements and therefore a gauge conversion chart is required to obtain precise readings. Every kind of metal, e.g. steel, aluminum, brass, or copper, is subject to its gauge scale, i.e. two sheets of the same gauge number may vary in thickness. An example is 18 gauge steel is about 1.21 mm and 18 gauge aluminum is a little bit smaller. This variation necessitated the need to check the precise size during manufacture or design. Gauge charts are essential material selection tools in such industries as automotive, aerospace, construction, manufacturing, and others. They guarantee that the metal has the right thickness to meet the mechanical strength, formability and weight requirements needed. Knowledge about sheet metal gauges guides engineers and fabricators in selecting materials that would balance both strength and flexibility along with affordability. Though less value of the gauge describes the thickness and strength of the sheet intended to use, higher values of the gauge depict the thinness of the metals intended to use in light tasks or decorations. With the effective application of gauge charts, professionals would be able to maximize their designs, make them compatible with production tools and keep all the stages of metal fabrication precise.

History and Importance of Sheet Metal Gauge

The concept of sheet metal gauge has deep historical origins going back to the British wire industry where it was initially used to measure the diameter of drawn wire. Over time this measurement system was selected to indicate the thickness of metal sheets as well. Different from metric units where thickness is calculated in millimeters the gauge in sheet metal is an irregular scale meaning a lower gauge number means a thicker sheet and a higher number shows a thinner sheet.

The gauge of metal sheet you select can significantly affect your project’s strength, longevity and application. For instance a 10-gauge sheet is generally utilized for constructional parts, while a 22-gauge sheet is perfect for lighter operations like ductwork. Actually any sheet metal above 6 mm thick is no longer called sheet—it’s classified as plate.

To simplify selection, fabricators often refer to a sheet metal gauge chart or sheet gauge chart, which lists the corresponding thickness in inches or millimeters for each gauge number. This is specifically useful for ensuring compatibility with design requirements and manufacturing standards.

Despite the global push towards the metric system, gauge measurement remains widely used in the sheet metal industry, helping craftsmen, engineers, and manufacturers maintain consistency and precision in their work.

Sheet Metal Gauge Charts

In Kalpataru Piping Solutions, we are distributors of high end sheet metals of diverse thickness and sizes to meet all the needs of a project. Produced using material like stainless steel sheets, copper sheets, brass sheets and aluminium sheets among others. In order to choose the appropriate thickness to use in your application, check our sheet metal gauge charts to make the correct conversions.

Mild Steel Gauge Chart*

Gauge

Number

Inches

MM

7

.1793

4.554

8

.1644

4.175

9

.1495

3.797

10

.1345

3.416

11

.1196

3.038

12

.1046

2.656

14

.0747

1.897

16

.0598

1.518

18

.0478

1.214

20

.0359

.911

22

.0299

.759

24

.0239

.607

26

.0179

.454

28

.0149

.378

 

Aluminum Gauge Chart*

Gauge

Number

Inches

MM

7

.1443

3.665

8

.1285

3.264

9

.1144

2.906

10

.1019

2.588

11

.09074

2.305

12

.08081

2.053

14

.06408

1.628

16

.05082

1.291

18

.04030

1.024

20

.03196

.812

22

.02535

.644

24

.02010

.511

26

.01594

.405

28

.01264

.321

30

.01003

.255

 

Gauge

Number

Inches

MM

8

.17187

4.365

9

.15625

3.968

10

.14062

3.571

11

.125

3.175

12

.10937

2.778

14

.07812

1.984

16

.0625

1.587

18

.050

1.270

20

.0375

.9525

22

.03125

.7937

24

.025

.635

26

.01875

.476

28

.01562

.396

30

.0125

.3175

 

Galvanized Steel Gauge Chart*

Gauge

Number

Inches

MM

8

.1681

4.269

9

.1532

3.891

10

.1382

3.510

11

.1233

3.1318

12

.1084

2.753

14

.0785

1.9939

16

.0635

1.6129

18

.0516

1.310

20

.0396

1.005

22

.0336

.853

24

.0276

.701

26

.0217

.551

28

.0187

.474

30

.0157

.398

 

Brass Gauge Chart*

Gauge

Number

Inches

MM

7

.1443

3.665

8

.1285

3.264

9

.1144

2.906

10

.1019

2.588

11

.09074

2.305

12

.08081

2.053

14

.06408

1.628

16

.05082

1.291

18

.04030

1.024

20

.03196

.812

22

.02535

.644

24

.02010

.511

26

.01594

.405

28

.01264

.321

30

.01003

.255

 

Copper Gauge Chart*

Gauge

Number

Inches

MM

7

.180

4.572

8

.165

4.191

9

.148

3.759

10

.134

3.404

11

.120

3.048

12

.109

2.769

14

.083

2.108

16

.065

1.651

18

.049

1.245

20

.035

.889

22

.028

.711

24

.022

.559

26

.018

.457

28

.014

.356

30

.012

.305

Common Types of Sheet Metal

Selecting the right sheet metal type is the first in finding the correct gauge and guaranteeing project success. Let’s explore at common sheet metals in industry, architecture and production:

Steel: An iron-carbon alloy essential for strength, endurance and cost effectiveness. Perfect for structures, vehicles, tools, tools.

Zinc-plated steel: Zinc-coated for corrosion protection. Perfect for outdoor/moist environments (agriculture, solar mounts, auto parts, construction frames).

Stainless Steel: Contains at least 10.5% chromium for excellent corrosion resistance. Used in sanitary, medical, architectural, food-grade applications.

Aluminum: Lightweight, corrosion-resistant. Common in aerospace, automotive, facades, food packaging.

Brass: Copper-zinc alloy, known for decorative finish and acoustic properties. Used in instruments, architecture, plumbing, electrical connectors.

Copper: Highly conductive, malleable. Used in electrical systems, plumbing, roofing, industrial machinery.

Sheet Metal Gauge Size Chart

Knowing a sheet metal gauge size chart is necessary for identifying thickness, which directly affects strength, weight and usability. Gauge numbers are standardized to help accurately measure and choose materials. Remember, different metals use different gauge systems, so knowing the right sheet metal gauge chart of sizes for your material is crucial.

Below is a guide to common sheet metal gauge charts stainless steel, aluminum etc offering thickness in inches/mm and weight per unit area. 

Thickness

Weight Per Area

Gauge

in

mm

lb/ft²

kg/m²

3

0.2391

6.073

9.754

47.624

4

0.2242

5.695

9.146

44.656

5

0.2092

5.314

8.534

41.668

6

0.1943

4.935

7.927

38.701

7

0.1793

4.554

7.315

35.713

8

0.1644

4.176

6.707

32.745

9

0.1495

3.797

6.099

29.777

10

0.1345

3.416

5.487

26.790

11

0.1196

3.038

4.879

23.822

12

0.1046

2.657

4.267

20.834

13

0.0897

2.278

3.659

17.866

14

0.0747

1.897

3.047

14.879

15

0.0673

1.709

2.746

13.405

16

0.0598

1.519

2.440

11.911

17

0.0538

1.367

2.195

10.716

18

0.0478

1.214

1.950

9.521

19

0.0418

1.062

1.705

8.326

20

0.0359

0.912

1.465

7.151

21

0.0329

0.836

1.342

6.553

22

0.0299

0.759

1.220

5.955

23

0.0269

0.683

1.097

5.358

24

0.0239

0.607

0.975

4.760

25

0.0209

0.531

0.853

4.163

26

0.0179

0.455

0.730

3.565

27

0.0164

0.417

0.669

3.267

28

0.0149

0.378

0.608

2.968

29

0.0135

0.343

0.551

2.689

30

0.0120

0.305

0.490

2.390

31

0.0105

0.267

0.428

2.091

32

0.0097

0.246

0.396

1.932

33

0.0090

0.229

0.367

1.793

34

0.0082

0.208

0.335

1.633

35

0.0075

0.191

0.306

1.494

36

0.0067

0.170

0.273

1.335

37

0.0064

0.163

0.261

1.275

38

0.0060

0.152

0.245

1.195

Gauge Sheet Metal Thickness Chart

In fabrication, thickness is specified by precise measurement (mm/inches) or the gauge system. Sheet metal gauge thickness refers to this measurement, following a non-linear scale – thickness doesn’t increase linearly as gauge numbers rise.

Sheet steel gauge thickness is usually in inches or millimeters, depending on material and standards. The system evolved by relating thickness to weight per square foot, aiding standardization in metalworking.

Sheet Metal Gauge to mm

Gauge Number

Standard Steel (mm)

Galvanized Steel (mm)

Stainless Steel (mm)

Aluminum, Brass, Copper (mm)

3

6.073

   

5.827

4

5.095

 

5.954

5.189

5

5.314

 

5.555

4.62

6

4.935

 

5.159

4.115

7

4.554

 

4.763

3.665

8

4.176

 

4.191

3.264

9

3.797

3.891

3.967

2.906

10

3.416

3.51

3.571

2.588

11

3.038

3.132

3.175

2.304

12

2.657

2.753

2.779

2.052

13

2.278

2.372

2.38

1.829

14

1.897

1.994

1.984

1.628

15

1.709

1.803

1.786

1.45

16

1.519

1.613

1.588

1.29

17

1.367

1.461

1.427

1.151

18

1.214

1.311

1.27

1.024

19

1.062

1.158

1.11

0.912

20

0.912

1.006

0.953

0.813

21

0.836

0.93

0.874

0.724

22

0.759

0.853

0.792

0.643

23

0.683

0.777

0.714

0.574

24

0.607

0.701

0.635

0.536

25

0.531

0.627

0.556

0.455

26

0.455

0.551

0.475

0.404

27

0.417

0.513

0.437

0.361

28

0.378

0.475

0.396

0.32

29

0.343

0.437

0.358

0.287

30

0.305

0.399

0.318

0.254

31

0.267

0.361

0.277

0.226

32

0.246

0.34

0.259

0.203

33

0.229

 

0.239

0.18

34

0.208

 

0.218

0.16

35

0.191

 

0.198

0.142

36

0.17

 

0.178

0.127

37

0.163

 

0.168

0.113

38

0.17

 

0.157

0.101



Gauge Sheet Metal to Inches

Gauge Number

Standard Steel (in)

Galvanized Steel (in)

Stainless Steel (in)

Aluminum, Brass, Copper (in)

3

0.2391

   

0.2294

4

0.2242

 

0.2344

0.2043

5

0.2092

 

0.2187

0.1819

6

0.1943

 

0.2031

0.162

7

0.1793

 

0.1875

0.1443

8

0.1644

 

0.165

0.1285

9

0.1495

0.1532

0.1562

0.1144

10

0.1345

0.1382

0.1406

0.1019

11

0.1196

0.1233

0.125

0.0907

12

0.1046

0.1084

0.1094

0.0808

13

0.0897

0.0934

0.0937

0.072

14

0.0747

0.0785

0.0781

0.0641

15

0.0673

0.071

0.0703

0.0571

16

0.0598

0.0635

0.0625

0.0508

17

0.0538

0.0575

0.0562

0.0453

18

0.0478

0.0516

0.05

0.0403

19

0.0418

0.0456

0.0437

0.0359

20

0.0359

0.0396

0.0375

0.032

21

0.0329

0.0366

0.0344

0.0285

22

0.0299

0.0336

0.0312

0.0253

23

0.0269

0.0306

0.0281

0.0226

24

0.0239

0.0276

0.025

0.0211

25

0.0209

0.0247

0.0219

0.0179

26

0.0179

0.0217

0.0187

0.0159

27

0.0164

0.0202

0.0172

0.0142

28

0.0149

0.0187

0.0156

0.0126

29

0.0135

0.0172

0.0141

0.0113

30

0.012

0.0157

0.0125

0.01

31

0.0105

0.0142

0.0109

0.0089

32

0.0097

0.0134

0.0102

0.008

33

0.009

 

0.0094

0.0071

34

0.0082

 

0.0086

0.0063

35

0.0075

 

0.0078

0.0056

36

0.0067

 

0.007

0.005

37

0.0064

 

0.0066

0.00445

38

0.0067

 

0.0062

0.00396

Understanding Sheet Metal Gauge Conversion

Working with sheet metal demands understanding different measurement systems, especially with international standards. Sheet metal gauge conversion, particularly SWG (Standard Wire Gauge) to metric/imperial, is key. A sheet metal gauge conversion chart helps accurately determine thickness, ensuring right material selection. 

Sheet Metal Gauge Conversion Chart

A sheet metal gauge conversion chart is invaluable, showing equivalent thicknesses in different units. It helps fabricators/engineers quickly convert gauge to mm/inches, ensuring accuracy.

 

SWG

Thickness (mm)

Thickness (inches)

7

4.6213 mm

0.1819 inches

10

3.2510 mm

0.1276 inches

12

2.6410 mm

0.1040 inches

14

2.0320 mm

0.0799 inches

16

1.6268 mm

0.0641 inches

18

1.2192 mm

0.0479 inches

20

0.9144 mm

0.0360 inches

22

0.7112 mm

0.0280 inches

24

0.5590 mm

0.0220 inches

26

0.4572 mm

0.0180 inches

28

0.3760 mm

0.0148 inches

30

0.3150 mm

0.0124 inches

32

0.2743 mm

0.0108 inches

Conclusion

The sheet metal gauge system has been used in the metal industry for many years and originally came from the British wire trade, where it helped measure wire thickness. Over time, this system was adapted to define the thickness of sheet metals as well.

Even with the rise of metric and imperial measurement systems, gauges are still commonly used because they provide an easy and familiar way to describe metal thickness. This makes communication simple across industries that work with different metals.

A gauge conversion chart is used to match gauge numbers with actual thickness values in millimeters or inches. Since gauge numbers don’t follow a direct mathematical formula, these charts help professionals ensure the right dimensions for materials like steel, aluminum, brass, and copper.

Today, the gauge system remains important in manufacturing, fabrication, and construction because it combines tradition with practicality. It allows engineers, fabricators, and builders to choose the right material thickness for strength, cost, and performance—keeping production accurate and consistent across various projects.

Frequently Asked Questions About Sheet Metal Gauge Chart

What is 16 gauge thickness in mm?

Standard Steel: 16 Gauge = 1.519 mm

Galvanized Steel: 16 Gauge = 1.613 mm

Stainless Steel: 16 Gauge = 1.588 mm

Aluminum, Brass, Copper: 16 Gauge = 1.29 mm

What is the standard gauge for sheet metal?
Standard range is 30 thinnest to 7 thickest but actual thickness depends on metal type. Some metals go up to 36 or down to 3.
What is SWG in sheet metal?
SWG means Standard Wire Gauge is a historical system used to measure the thickness of sheet metal and wire. In this system, higher SWG numbers correspond to thinner sheets.
How to convert sheet metal gauge to mm?
To convert sheet metal gauge to millimeters, you can use a sheet metal gauge conversion chart or the following general formulas: For SWG to mm: Thickness (mm) = 0.127 * (32 – SWG) For SWG to inches: Thickness (inches) = 0.005 * (32 – SWG) Using a conversion chart or formula ensures accurate measurement when converting gauges across different standards like SWG to metric or imperial systems.
What is sheet metal gauge thickness?
It indicates the standard thickness of sheet metal material. As the gauge number increases, the material thickness decreases. For steel, often based on 41.82 lbs/sq ft/inch thickness.
What is Sheet Metal Gauge Conversion?
Sheet metal gauge conversion refers to converting thickness measurements of sheet metal between different systems, like Standard Wire Gauge in millimeters (mm) & inches.
Where to use Sheet Metal Gauge Conversion?
Using a sheet metal gauge conversion chart allows you to easily switch between systems, ensuring that materials conform to the required thickness specifications, reducing errors. It’s essential for making informed decisions about material selection and improving workflow efficiency. Accurate conversion helps avoid costly fabrication mistakes and ensures that parts will perform as intended.
What is 18 gauge in mm thickness?
18 gauge is generally 1.214 mm (0.0478 inches), common for 18 gauge steel.
Common Uses For Beryllium Copper

Common Uses For Beryllium Copper

Beryllium Copper, a metal with multiple aliases like BeCu, Copper Beryllium, Beryllium Bronze, Alloy 172, and Spring Copper, has gained popularity across various industries, thanks to its exceptional attributes. Its strength, electrical and thermal conductivity, non-sparking, and non-magnetic properties make it a favoured choice in numerous applications.

COMMON BERYLLIUM COPPER PRODUCTS

The versatility of Beryllium Copper finds its way into electronic connectors, telecommunications equipment, computer components, and small springs. Its outstanding qualities include high electrical and thermal conductivity, ductility allowing complex shapes, excellent corrosion resistance, and superb metalworking and machining abilities.

BERYLLIUM COPPER AND DANGEROUS ENVIRONMENTS

In hazardous settings like oil rigs and coal mines, where a single spark could spell disaster, Beryllium Copper becomes a life-saving option. Its non-sparking and non-magnetic nature makes tools like wrenches, screwdrivers, and hammers made from BeCu a reliable choice for use in such environments.

BERYLLIUM COPPER AND SPECIALIZED TOOLS

Copper Beryllium also lends its charm to the world of music, being a preferred material for crafting professional percussion instruments like tambourines and triangles. The consistent tone and resonance of these instruments make Copper Beryllium a sought-after material for high-end musical productions.

BERYLLIUM COPPER AND VARIOUS TEMPERATURES

Beryllium Copper maintains its strength and thermal conductivity even at low temperatures, making it ideal for cryogenic equipment. On the other hand, in high-performance four-stroke engines with coated titanium valves, BeCu is used in valve seats and guides due to its ability to dissipate heat faster than powdered steel or iron.

CHOOSE KALPATARU PIPING SOLUTIONS FOR YOUR BERYLLIUM COPPER NEEDS

As you can see, the properties of Beryllium Copper make it a great choice for a wide range of industries and uses. Kalpataru Piping Solutions sells Beryllium Copper in three different hardnesses, from 0.003 to 0.060: annealed, quarter hard, and half hard. Only a small number of full hard and mill-hardened tempers are kept in stock.

We offer a lot of extra services to make the production process easier for our customers. For our Beryllium Copper products, we also offer precision slitting from.250″ to 12,000″, edge rolling, cut-to-length, and de-burring services.

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5 UNIQUE PROPERTIES OF BERYLLIUM COPPER: Beryllium copper, sometimes referred to as spring copper or beryllium bronze, is one of the greatest-strength copper-based alloys now on the market. Commercial grades of beryllium copper range in beryllium content from 0.4 to 2.0 percent.

Differences Between Regular Copper and Beryllium Copper: Beryllium copper is a copper alloy containing less than 3% beryllium and occasionally additional elements. Beryllium copper combines great strength with non-magnetic characteristics and no sparking.

Selecting between an Electropolish and a Passivation Stainless Steel Finish

Selecting between an Electropolish and a Passivation Stainless Steel Finish

What Is Passivation?

On metal surfaces, corrosion prevention methods like passivation are widely used. Using citric or nitric acid, free iron from the metal surface is eliminated during the passivation process for stainless steel.

A thick layer of protective oxide is produced by the chemical treatment, shielding the product from chemical reactions with the air that would otherwise erode the stainless steel. After passivation, the chemical being treated frequently looks just like it did before.

3 Benefits of Passivation

Reduced Maintenance

The tiny components of your stainless steel applications are safeguarded by the corrosion resistance that passivation provides. It follows that you won’t need to perform any additional maintenance to stop rust from weakening the bolts and other tiny parts of your product, which could cause your application to break down or stop working altogether.

Removes Contamination

The passivation process gives stainless steel a uniform, smooth appearance and finishes by thoroughly cleaning off all grease, oils, and grime from its surface. You can be confident that your final custom stainless steel basket will be hygienic and simple to clean, however, you intend to use it.

Increases Corrosion Resistance

The corrosion resistance of stainless steel, which already has this property, is improved by passivation. The surface of the stainless steel is unipotentialized by oxygen absorption and develops an oxide coating. The result is that the metal corrodes at a low rate that is desirable.

What Is Electropolishing?

During the electropolishing procedure, which makes use of an electric current and an electrolyte bath heated to a specific temperature, the material’s surface layer dissolves. This process results in a surface that is featureless and smooth. In addition to the food and pharmaceutical industries, electropolishing is frequently used in the manufacturing of semiconductors. The smoothness of the finish virtually eliminates any small imperfections where debris might typically adhere, making the material nearly completely nonstick.

3 Benefits of Electropolishing Stainless Steel

Enhanced Surface Appearance

Electropolished stainless steel surfaces have a clean, shiny appearance. The sterility of the stainless steel tool, basket, or component can thus be easily determined. Additionally, it enhances weldability without lowering the hardness of the surface or resulting in peeling or abrading.

Better Corrosion Resistance

The most resistance to tarnishing and corrosion is produced by electropolishing in various metals and alloys. The electropolished steel baskets from Marlin can be used in demanding conditions with the assurance that they won’t tarnish or corrode soon.

Improved Sanitation Control

Electropolishing smooths out surfaces by filling in tiny fissures where impurities might hide. Applications made of stainless steel used in the medical or pharmaceutical industries must be easy to sanitize in order to prevent the spread of bacteria and viruses. On medical equipment, surfaces that are uneven or rough may hold bacteria. The likelihood of contamination and the spread of bacteria, viruses, and other organisms is thus increased.

What Is Natural Finish?

A natural polish gives stainless steel a natural appearance. This suggests that no surface augmentation or protection has been carried out. The surface appears dull grey and is hardly reflective. It functions best in applications that are concealed or where aesthetics are not important.

Why Finish Stainless Steel?

To withstand environmental factors such as dust, corrosive chemicals, solvents, and dust.

To get a smooth, shiny finish. It matters if you use stainless steel products for manufacturing, in the lab, or in the medical field.

It makes it easy to clean the surface. Since stainless steel with a polished finish is easier to clean than stainless steel with a natural finish, this is important when using stainless steel in food production.

To make them more resistant to being hit, worn down, corroded, and scratched.

Choosing the Right Finish for Your Custom Metal Basket Applications

Electropolishing is frequently faster, easier to control, and readily adaptable to different stainless steel alloys. It provides a better finish and eliminates passivation-related stains. However, electropolishing isn’t always the best option. One of the key advantages of passivation is its capacity to alter the composition of the oxide layer that protects stainless steel from corrosion. In some cases, the design of the oxide layer can be improved to improve the corrosion resistance of the steel.

Depending on how the stainless steel will be used, you should choose between electropolishing and passivating it. The finest option if you need a faultless, flaw-free surface that is also simple to clean is electropolishing. If you need to effectively remove surface contaminants without affecting the metal’s corrosion resistance properties, passivation may be a better option for you.

Read More :

What Role Does Steel Play In The Furniture Industry? : There is no other reason to doubt the claim that rising market demand will lead to significant industry growth in the steel sector. Present circumstances make it abundantly clear that steel is necessary for higher-quality products in all market segments.

Selecting Metals and Alloys for Medical Device Manufacturing: The work quality of metal component manufacturers who supply the medical device industry has recently improved significantly. The product quality of these alloys has never been better since the implementation of statistical process control, ISO 9000 certifications, and other initiatives.

What Role Does Steel Play In The Furniture Industry?

What Role Does Steel Play In The Furniture Industry?

Introduction

There is no other reason to doubt the claim that rising market demand will lead to significant industry growth in the steel sector. Present circumstances make it abundantly clear that steel is necessary for higher-quality products in all market segments. The presence of steel is one of the most crucial metrics for determining the efficacy and lifetime of a product.

Steel is essential to several industries, including the furniture industry. Many products utilized in the furniture industry are made of steel. Steel offers the possibility to ensure that the finished product is of the highest caliber due to its stronger tensile strength and longer lifespan. We may therefore claim that steel provides a stable foundation for the production of several steel sector items. Furniture goods made with the aid of steel are appealing to both small and large businesses that deal with the provision of furniture.

Various products made up of steel that is used in the Furniture industry

Multiple steel components are used in the construction of many furniture industry products. The finished items benefit from the strength, shape, credibility, and durability provided by these steel materials. The following is a list of the various products:

Table Frame

Table frames are frequently constructed with as much steel as is practical. This is done to give the tables the illusion of being more sturdy by including steel components. The manufacturer can construct a variety of table designs thanks to a robust table structure.

Chair Frame

Similar to table frames, chair frames are made with a lot of steel. The weight and tension must be supported by a strong enough chair frame. This is made possible by the presence of steel components in it. Many different decorative chair frame designs may contain a significant amount of steel. It gives the chair frames a strong, durable appearance.

Curtain rods

There are many different types of rods available, each having a different shape, size, and measurement. If you look closely, you might see that steel also contributes to the production of these rods. The steel components help to increase the tensile strength and durability of the rods.

Decorative Tube Frames

Additionally, steel is used to create a variety of decorative tube frames. It is polished and attractive without compromising the integrity of the tubes thanks to the use of steel. There are numerous varieties of steel parts available on the market that offer both great appearances and performance.

Other products

In addition to the previously stated furniture-related products, steel is also widely employed in many other products. Bedside lights, table lamps, and lamps are all made of steel.

To conclude

There are many benefits to steel’s contribution to the furniture industry. There is no denying that the furniture industry has an increasing need for steel producers. This has encouraged numerous businesses to successfully enter the steel manufacturing industry for the furniture sector.

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All you need to know about Grade 304 Stainless Steel: 304 Stainless Steel, also called 304, is a type of steel that is used to make a wide range of appliances and long-lasting items. It is an all-purpose steel alloy that can be used for many different things.

Benefits of Stainless Steel 310 Sheets: Austenitic stainless steel in Grade 310 is easy to weld and bend, and it has great properties at high temperatures. Type 310 stainless steel tubing is often used in situations with high temperatures. 

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