Nickel Aluminium Bronze (NAB)

Nickel aluminium bronze is a widely used alloy that offers high strength and resilience, making it a cost-effective solution for demanding applications across many industries. It also has excellent corrosion resistance, thanks to a thin coating of self-repairing copper/aluminium oxide, which makes it ideal for applications in challenging conditions.

Some common applications of nickel aluminium bronze include naval defence, commercial marine, aerospace, and offshore industries. In naval defence, it is used for hatches, valves, pipework, sonar equipment, low-noise propellers, propulsion equipment couplings, bearings, fasteners, and sealing flanges.

In commercial marine, it is used to manufacture ship propellers, winch equipment on yachts, and other applications that require resistance to corrosion, galling, and cavitation.

In aerospace, nickel aluminium bronze is commonly used in the production of bearings for aircraft landing gear, thanks to its excellent mechanical properties and high corrosion resistance. It is also used for offshore applications, such as seawater pumping systems, fire-fighting equipment, bearings, and underwater communications equipment like optic electrical connectors and acoustic release transponders.

There are several grades of NAB, including AB2 NES833, DEF STAN 02-834, and CA104.

Here's some information on each of these grades:

• NES833: This grade of NAB has high strength, excellent corrosion resistance, and good wear resistance, making it suitable for marine applications, such as propellers, shipbuilding, and offshore structures. It also has good shock resistance and is used in heavy-duty machinery and equipment. It contains 10% aluminum, 5% nickel, 3% iron, and 82% copper.
• DEF STAN 02-834: This grade of NAB has similar properties to AB2 NES833 but has a higher aluminum content of 12%. It has high strength, excellent corrosion resistance, and good wear resistance, making it suitable for marine applications, such as seawater pump impellers and propellers, as well as heavy-duty machinery and equipment.
• CA104: This grade of NAB has good corrosion resistance and is used in applications such as bearings, bushings, and valve components. It contains 10% aluminum, 5% nickel, 5% iron, and 80% copper.

Other applications of nickel aluminium bronze include architectural features where strength and aesthetic appeal are vital, as well as desalination and water condenser system components like condenser tube plates, valves, pumps, impellers, and water boxes. It is well-suited for use at high temperatures and in harsh environments.