Manganese bronze — identify the most characteristic property set Manganese bronze is a high-strength brass used for gears, propellers, and heavy-duty bearings. Which option best captures its hallmark performance characteristics relevant to design selection?

Difficulty: Easy

Correct Answer: good wearing qualities and high elasticity

Explanation:


Introduction / Context:
Manganese bronze refers to a family of high-strength brasses (copper–zinc with additions such as manganese, iron, and sometimes aluminium) engineered for tough service: worm gears, marine propellers, and heavy-duty bushings. Designers value its balance of strength, wear resistance, and resilience under impact and fluctuating loads.


Given Data / Assumptions:

  • Typical alloying: Cu–Zn base with Mn (and sometimes Fe/Al).
  • Applications demand wear resistance and spring-like resilience.
  • We seek the most representative property set, not just a single partial attribute.


Concept / Approach:
Classic descriptions of manganese bronze emphasize very good wearing qualities and relatively high elasticity (resilience), enabling it to absorb shocks and transmit power without rapid surface failure. While it also has useful corrosion resistance, especially in marine environments, its distinctive selection drivers versus plain brass are wear and resilience at high strength.


Step-by-Step Solution:

Relate microstructure (solid-solution strengthening + intermetallic dispersion) to macroscopic properties: high strength and wear resistance.Identify “high elasticity” as resilience useful in gears and propellers.Compare alternatives: some are true but incomplete; pick the most characteristic description.


Verification / Alternative check:
Handbooks list manganese bronze for high-load, sliding applications needing toughness and wear resistance; fatigue performance is good, but the common summary phrase is “good wearing qualities” with “springy” resilience.


Why Other Options Are Wrong:

  • “High resistance to corrosion”: true but not unique; many bronzes offer this.
  • “Valuable cold working property”: Mn bronzes are usually hot worked; cold workability is not their standout trait.
  • “High yield point… excellent hot and cold corrosion resistance”: partly valid but overly broad; the canonical textbook pairing remains wear + elasticity.
  • “Low electrical resistivity”: brasses/bronzes are not chosen for bus bars; copper or high-conductivity alloys are.


Common Pitfalls:
Assuming corrosion resistance alone defines Mn bronze; confusing it with aluminium bronze or nickel aluminium bronze in marine service.


Final Answer:

good wearing qualities and high elasticity

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