Melchior (alloy) corrosion in air, freshwater and seawater. Increasing content of nickel iron or manganese improves corrosion and cavitation resistance, especially in sea water and atmospheric water vapor. The alloy of 30% Ni, 0.8% Fe, 1% Mn and 68.2% copper is used in maritime shipping, in particular for the manufacture of condenser tubes. Thanks to the nickel, melchior, unlike brass and bronze, has not a yellow but a silver color. Together with high corrosion resistance, this silvery color is preferred for the manufacture of household utensils. Melchior (alloy) In metallurgy, melchior is an alloy of copper, mainly with nickel (5–30%). Its name
Chinese sun and moon mirrors most (1 part tin per 1 part copper) for "metallic mirrors", namely, the "jiànsuì" 鑒燧 "mirror-igniter" alloy (Hirth 1907: 217-218). However, these ratios are based on Chinese numerology instead of practical metallurgy. Beyond about 32% the alloy becomes excessively brittle, and increasing tin content brings no further advantages of any kind; this the Han metallurgists evidently knew. Indeed they knew much more, for they almost always added up to 9% of lead, a constituent which greatly improved the casting properties. Han specular metal is truly white, reflects without tinning or silvering, resists scratching and corrosion well, and was admirably adapted