We use cookies to provide you with a better experience. By continuing to browse the site you are agreeing to our use of cookies in accordance with our Cookie Policy.

logo
  • Engineers & Specifiers
  • Contractors & Installers
  • Wholesalers & Distributors
  • Sign In
  • Create Account
  • Sign Out
  • My Account
Free Subscription
  • Sign In
  • Create Account
  • Sign Out
  • My Account
  • PRODUCTS
    • Bath & Kitchen
    • Fire Protection
    • HVAC
    • Hydronics/Radiant
    • Plumbing
    • PVF
    • Tools
  • PROJECTS
    • Commercial
    • Green Building
    • MRO/Retrofit
    • Remodeling
    • Residential
  • HOW TO
    • Design
    • Fire Protection
    • Legal Matters
    • Management
  • BUSINESS
    • Buying Groups
    • Technology
    • Associations
  • CODES & STANDARDS
    • ANSI
    • ASHRAE
    • ASSE
    • Regulations
    • Green Building
    • IAPMO
    • ICC
    • NFPA
  • RESOURCES
    • PROS REPS
    • Media Kit
    • Advertise
    • Contact Us
    • Classifieds
    • Digital Editions
    • Behind the Wall
    • Webinars
    • AHR Live 2023
  • PODCASTS
  • DIGITAL EDITIONS
Home » Purdue Researchers Discover New Lead-free Alloy

Purdue Researchers Discover New Lead-free Alloy

April 24, 2019
Perdue Researchers Discover New Lead-free Alloy

A discovery made by Purdue University researchers to help ensure water safety may have applications that reach far beyond plumbing. The researchers wanted to find alternative lead-free bronze alloys for use in water valves and the plumbing systems for more than 10 million homes in the United States.

The use of lead in such systems is greatly restricted in the United States because of health concerns. Purdue University’s team found new copper-manganese alloys that have higher strength and better castability compared to the current lead-free alternatives.

“Our alloys have been shown to have superior overall mechanical properties compared to other cast, lead-free alternatives,” said Kevin Trumble, a professor of materials engineering at Purdue and director of the Purdue Center for Metal Casting Research, who led the research team. “We are helping to meet the growing need for new alloys with superior mechanical properties, especially amid an increasing amount of government regulation requiring industries to reduce the lead content they use.

Plumbing fitting and valve manufacturers have traditionally used small additions of lead to improve machinability of the bronze alloys and to plug the continuous shrinkage porosity that develops because of their wide freezing range in casting. Those manufacturers have spent the past decade trying to find lead substitutes, such as bismuth, that are easy to use and affordable.

“These alloys solidify over a very narrow temperature range and are completely free of microscopic shrinkage porosity and have higher strength, so thinner-walled castings can be used compared to their counterparts,” Trumble said. “We have proven their effectiveness as feasible, cost-effective alternatives for water pumps and marine components, and now we are turning our attention to many other potential applications for our discovery.”

The Purdue researchers are testing their alloy on various valves, fittings and fixtures outside the plumbing and marine industries. Trumble said the economic advantages of using manganese, which is a more affordable alternative to other options, has been drawing interest from manufacturers across several industries.       

Contractors & Installers Engineers & Specifiers Engineering Industry Community News Lead Plumbing Water Quality Wholesalers & Distributors
  • Related Articles

    New California Law Requires Use of Lead-Free Plumbing Fixtures

    Purdue Engineers: Water Quality Could Change in Buildings Closed Down During COVID-19 Pandemic

    Matco-Norca Lead Free Cold Expansion PEX Fittings

Most Popular

  • Uponor Celebrates Grand Opening of New Experience Center

  • Avoiding Mistakes When Installing Non-Metallic Plumbing Systems

  • Carrier Launches New Indianapolis Technical Training Center to Address HVAC Technician Shortage

  • Building a Company Through Teamwork and the Next Generation

Featured Video

Dan video 4

Dan Foley on U.S. Boiler Company's Alta Boiler: Ease of Service

Industry Events

  • 05Oct

    PVF Roundtable TroutBlast Fishing Tournament

  • 08Oct

    2023 SFPE Annual Conference & Expo

    North Bethesda, MD
  • 09Oct

    2023 AD PHCP North American Meeting

    Phoenix, AZ
More Events

Subscribe to our newsletters & stay updated

Subscribe & Learn More

  • Tw09 2023
    Learn More
  • Pe09 2023 cover
    Learn More
  • Phc09 2023 cover
    Learn More
  • Es 2022
    Learn More
Subscribe

More from PHCP Pros

  • Editorial Team
  • Home
  • Contact Us
  • About
  • Advertise

Follow Us

© 2023 All Rights Reserved

Design, CMS, Hosting & Web Development | ePublishing