For the last several months, metal markets have remained tough to predict because of the pandemic’s various impacts on demand and supply and the overall economic climate. Still, prudent businesses must base forecasts upon the best information they have available. Take a look at this year’s copper market and business developments to gain perspective on…

Are you looking for an alternative to lead-based alloys? Many companies are moving away from lead and copper and tin alloys due to the regulations and toxicity associated with the heavy metal, and that often means choosing bismuth. The good news is that bismuth has a relatively low melting point, and it’s durable and malleable…

When certain materials are added to copper it changes the physical and mechanical composition of the metal. Two such materials are tin and zinc. Copper that has tin added into it is considered bronze. Bronze alloys provide a very hard metal that can sometimes be brittle and inflexible. When zinc is added to copper, it…

Copper’s immense popularity in products made around the world requires manufacturers to develop this alloy in high quantities to meet rising demand. However, copper by itself is often not suitable for products when it is melted and cast into shape. Its soft properties require strengthening yet also elasticity so it does not become brittle. In…

Many of the metals used in applications are the combinations of several different types of materials. The reason for this is quite simple. Many pure metals have the unique properties we need in certain types of applications. Such as in the case of copper, this metal offers excellent corrosion resistance in saltwater environments. It also…

When out for a walk by a church or watching a marching band in a parade, you may have listened to the deep ringing tones of a bell or strikes against a cymbal. Such melodious vibrating sounds are created due to the specific type of metal that is used. Bell metals have been around for…

Cobalt has seen rapid market growth for the past few decades. It has wide ranging uses in a number of applications as prices have skyrocketed for this metal since 2017. With the increase in demand, and its use in certain specific applications, manufacturers have to consider whether they will have enough supplies for their current…

Due to advanced manufacturing processes, companies today can use a range of base metals and alloys to create the right products and components to their industries. When obtaining the metals that will be used in casting, extruding and forming processes, manufacturers can request the alloys and base metals in various sizes and shapes. Ingots, cubes,…

Copper alloys are widely used metals for manufacturing purposes around the world. From copper pipes, electrical wires, mechanical components and other applications, manufacturers are creating the products for companies to run their operations and for the public to improve their daily lives. This unique alloy offers excellent thermal and electrical capabilities. Other elements will also…

When working with commercial and industrial manufacturing operations, many companies use specific metals in their applications due to their inherent capabilities. One of the most common metals used is copper, as Belmont Metals offers copper metal, copper alloys, and copper-master alloys such as beryllium copper, lithium copper and zirconium copper to manufacturers, jewelers, artists, and…

Copper is well known for its electrical and thermal conductivity. It’s often used for electrical wiring purposes and electrical contacts for small and large applications. This metal is also considered a very soft material, as its malleability allows it to be worked into wires and cables. To add strength without impacting its ductility, magnesium is…

Craftspeople have been casting with bronze for so long that the BBC called it the “first alloy.” Introduced around 3,500 BC and typically made with mostly copper and tin, items made with bronze offered a more durable alternative to coper alone. Artifacts from brass have been dated to 500 BC. Brass may have been favored…

Craftsman of home cabinetry, doors, windows and other features require hardware finishings to add functionality and beauty to the room. Home hardware consists of a wide range of applications, including door knockers, knobs, handles, hinges, cabinet pulls, and even air register covers. These items are typically made of a solid metal such as brass and…

When it comes to tools, superalloys, magnets and batteries, cobalt is a key material used in manufacturing products we need in our daily lives. Purchasing this metal at an acceptable price and answering consumer demand can influence a manufacturer’s operations now and in the future. When looking at the price market, there has been drastic…

Throughout industrial and manufacturing operations, you’ll find copper metals used in both equipment and finished products. Pure copper has incredible thermal and conducive properties. It also provides exceptional corrosion resistance. So you’ll often find it in electrical applications and electronic products. In addition, pure copper is very soft and malleable, making it ideal for numerous…

For specific applications, you know that using alloys will be the best choice when you are looking for metals that will provide special properties such as strength, thermal conductivity or corrosion resistance. Yet you may be wondering why you can’t simply use the metal it its original form. For example, why can’t you get the…

Are you looking for high-quality copper boron that can be easily mixed with other metals in order to create custom alloys? If you are, we offer 2 percent boron copper, which is a great degassifier, deoxifier and grain refiner. Boron: Uses and Properties Boron is a non-metallic element located in group 13, period 2, block…

Metals such as copper are very popular in a range of industries including manufacturing, plumbing and construction. However, it can be prone to deformations when hot worked or during machining. The deformations can cause the metal to fail to keep its desired shape and impact its structure, especially during pipe bending processes. Adding zirconium can…

When discussing lithium, most people associate this element to the lithium batteries that are found in computing devices such as laptops, smartphones and tablet devices. Yet lithium is a metal that is used throughout a range of commercial, manufacturing and industrial processes including the aviation and aerospace industries. The Properties of Lithium Lithium is considered…

Creating art using the casting process dates back thousands of years as the oldest surviving piece of cast art dates back to 3200 BC. Yet artists today still enjoy creating a range of decorations, statues, figurines, jewelry and other artistic pieces using this process. The procedure involves using molten metals that are poured into a…

Alloys on their own can offer a range of mechanical and structural benefits for manufacturers and other industries. Yet your application may require the alloy to have increased strength, workability, or ductility for the particular application. Magnesium is one of many chemical elements that becomes added to other alloys such as copper and aluminum to…

Copper and aluminum are used in a range of applications around the world. You can find aluminum as beverage cans, metal building sheets and storage tanks. Copper is often found in environments that are electrically conducive, as you may see it as wiring. You can also find copper in electronics and used as brass or…

Brass and bronze are used in a range of applications, such as component parts for factories, end products for commercial retailers, and creating jewelry for the public. Brass alloys consist of the base metal of copper with varying amounts of zinc added, while bronze contains copper with aluminum, tin, magnesium and other materials. Yet how…

Are you looking to go green with your manufacturing business? If you are, Belmont Metals has the lead-free, environmentally conscious metals you need to help make your business more productive while protecting the soil and water from lead contamination and reducing the risk of health problems in your employees from accidentally coming into contact with…

Name a metal alloy that has been used for centuries, and many people will think of aluminum, iron or copper. Yet Zirconium should also be added to the list. There are numerous products in our workplaces and our homes that uses this silvery-gray metal, such as lamp filaments, television glass, and even in some deodorants….

Working with various copper, pure copper and nickel-based alloys allow for manufacturers to create end products for customers and the necessary components for their operations. However, one issue that companies experience is alloy quality during the melting and casting process. When copper and nickel-based alloys are melted, oxygen becomes introduced into the alloys from the…

The deoxidation of copper alloys involves removing the oxygen using a chemical process, usually other metals. As the oxygen and other gases are removed from the metal, certain properties are either enhanced or decreased. For example, when Phosphor is added to bronze alloys, it reacts by removing the oxygen content from the metal which can…

Lead-free and low-lead alloys keep up with plumbing industry regulations Copper faucets, sinks and appliances have a lustrous color that helps create a warm atmosphere, making a house feel like a home. Copper and its alloys also are functional and durable. They resist corrosion and require little maintenance, which makes red metals an ideal choice…

Ensure you get the most out of this red-metal alloy by understanding its unique properties With each new generation of electronics, laptops get slimmer and more powerful and cell phones have even greater capacities for the amount of apps, music, and streaming sports and television that consumers want to carry around with them. All these…

Minor metals are major players in high-tech innovation Typically the word “minor” refers to things of lesser importance, size or degree. Minor metals, however, are far from inferior—they are major players in a wide range of specialty, high-tech industries and used to create alloys with desirable mechanical properties, including deformability and corrosion resistance. Minor metals…

Custom alloys can help streamline production Although custom alloys often are associated with new and advanced applications, they also can solve real-world production problems. For more than a century, Belmont Metals, based in Brooklyn, New York, has been working collaboratively with its customers to create materials that can improve their manufacturing processes. Coming up with…

Master alloys help copper shine Red metals have played an important role in many cultures, including those of the ancient Egyptians and Romans, who crafted tools, cookware, dishes, mirrors and razors out of copper. Modern uses for copper include electrical, heating/cooling applications, fluid handling and plumbing applications, as well as an increasing demand for the…

Create materials that meet specific needs by adding master alloys to the mix It’s important to choose the right materials for a job. Using inferior or unsuitable materials can make completing a project more difficult or even derail it entirely. In the metals industry, combinations of metals, called alloys, are generated to meet the specific…