Tombac
Encyclopedia
Tombac, as spelled in French
, or Tombak is a brass
alloy
with high copper
content and 5-20% zinc
content. Tin
, lead
or arsenic
may be added for colouration.
It is a cheap malleable alloy
mainly used for medal
s, ornament, decoration and some munitions.
In older use, the term may apply to brass
alloy with a zinc content as high as 28%-35%.
(erroneously termed Malay
) word of Javanese
origin meaning copper. Tembaga entered Dutch usage concurrent with their colonisation of Indonesia
(see Dutch East Indies
). Likely, the term was used generically to describe Indonesian high-copper brass items, including gamelan
gong
s. It is one of the very few Indonesian loan words used in English
, German
or Dutch
.
(DIN: CuZn15 ; UNS: C23000 ; BS: CW 502L (CZ 102) ; ISO: CuZn15) Tombak with a gold
colour, very good for cold forming, suitable for pressing, hammer
ing, embossing.
(not standardized)
Same characteristics and applications as CuZn15; slightly different colour.
(DIN: CuZn10 ; UNS: C22000 ; BS: CW 501L (CZ 101) ; ISO: CuZn10)
Similar characteristics and applications as CuZn15 und CuZn12; noticeable reddish colour.
CuZn10- that is Zinc content 10%, with trace arsenic
An alloy of 95% copper and 5% zinc is very suitable for enamelling, therefore the name.
Ure notes the following forms of Tombak in widespread use during the time the text was published (1856):
Copper 80%, Zinc 17%, 3% Tin
Copper 85%, Zinc 15%, trace% Tin
Copper 85.3%, Zinc 14.7%
Copper 86%, Zinc 14%
Copper 90%, Zinc 7.9%, 1.5% Lead
Copper 97.8%, Zinc 2.2%
Piggot states the brass used for machinery and locomotive
s in England was composed of Copper 74.5%, Zinc 25%and Lead 0.5%- which would make it a tombak according to Ure.
Piggot's own definition of tombak is problematic at best: "red brass or tombak as it is called by some, has a great preponderance of copper, from 5 ounces of zinc down to 1/2 ounce of zinc to the pound [sic: copper?]"
, cut, enamel
, repousse, engrave, gilt
or etch
it. It has a higher sheen
than most brass
es or copper
, and does not easily tarnish
.
Historically it was used by the Javanese as a faux gold finish for objet d'art and ornaments.
French language
French is a Romance language spoken as a first language in France, the Romandy region in Switzerland, Wallonia and Brussels in Belgium, Monaco, the regions of Quebec and Acadia in Canada, and by various communities elsewhere. Second-language speakers of French are distributed throughout many parts...
, or Tombak is a brass
Brass
Brass is an alloy of copper and zinc; the proportions of zinc and copper can be varied to create a range of brasses with varying properties.In comparison, bronze is principally an alloy of copper and tin...
alloy
Alloy
An alloy is a mixture or metallic solid solution composed of two or more elements. Complete solid solution alloys give single solid phase microstructure, while partial solutions give two or more phases that may or may not be homogeneous in distribution, depending on thermal history...
with high copper
Copper
Copper is a chemical element with the symbol Cu and atomic number 29. It is a ductile metal with very high thermal and electrical conductivity. Pure copper is soft and malleable; an exposed surface has a reddish-orange tarnish...
content and 5-20% zinc
Zinc
Zinc , or spelter , is a metallic chemical element; it has the symbol Zn and atomic number 30. It is the first element in group 12 of the periodic table. Zinc is, in some respects, chemically similar to magnesium, because its ion is of similar size and its only common oxidation state is +2...
content. Tin
Tin
Tin is a chemical element with the symbol Sn and atomic number 50. It is a main group metal in group 14 of the periodic table. Tin shows chemical similarity to both neighboring group 14 elements, germanium and lead and has two possible oxidation states, +2 and the slightly more stable +4...
, lead
Lead
Lead is a main-group element in the carbon group with the symbol Pb and atomic number 82. Lead is a soft, malleable poor metal. It is also counted as one of the heavy metals. Metallic lead has a bluish-white color after being freshly cut, but it soon tarnishes to a dull grayish color when exposed...
or arsenic
Arsenic
Arsenic is a chemical element with the symbol As, atomic number 33 and relative atomic mass 74.92. Arsenic occurs in many minerals, usually in conjunction with sulfur and metals, and also as a pure elemental crystal. It was first documented by Albertus Magnus in 1250.Arsenic is a metalloid...
may be added for colouration.
It is a cheap malleable alloy
Alloy
An alloy is a mixture or metallic solid solution composed of two or more elements. Complete solid solution alloys give single solid phase microstructure, while partial solutions give two or more phases that may or may not be homogeneous in distribution, depending on thermal history...
mainly used for medal
Medal
A medal, or medallion, is generally a circular object that has been sculpted, molded, cast, struck, stamped, or some way rendered with an insignia, portrait, or other artistic rendering. A medal may be awarded to a person or organization as a form of recognition for athletic, military, scientific,...
s, ornament, decoration and some munitions.
In older use, the term may apply to brass
Brass
Brass is an alloy of copper and zinc; the proportions of zinc and copper can be varied to create a range of brasses with varying properties.In comparison, bronze is principally an alloy of copper and tin...
alloy with a zinc content as high as 28%-35%.
Etymology
The term tombak is derived from tembaga, an IndonesianIndonesian language
Indonesian is the official language of Indonesia. Indonesian is a normative form of the Riau Islands dialect of Malay, an Austronesian language which has been used as a lingua franca in the Indonesian archipelago for centuries....
(erroneously termed Malay
Malay language
Malay is a major language of the Austronesian family. It is the official language of Malaysia , Indonesia , Brunei and Singapore...
) word of Javanese
Javanese language
Javanese language is the language of the Javanese people from the central and eastern parts of the island of Java, in Indonesia. In addition, there are also some pockets of Javanese speakers in the northern coast of western Java...
origin meaning copper. Tembaga entered Dutch usage concurrent with their colonisation of Indonesia
Indonesia
Indonesia , officially the Republic of Indonesia , is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania. Indonesia is an archipelago comprising approximately 13,000 islands. It has 33 provinces with over 238 million people, and is the world's fourth most populous country. Indonesia is a republic, with an...
(see Dutch East Indies
Dutch East Indies
The Dutch East Indies was a Dutch colony that became modern Indonesia following World War II. It was formed from the nationalised colonies of the Dutch East India Company, which came under the administration of the Netherlands government in 1800....
). Likely, the term was used generically to describe Indonesian high-copper brass items, including gamelan
Gamelan
A gamelan is a musical ensemble from Indonesia, typically from the islands of Bali or Java, featuring a variety of instruments such as metallophones, xylophones, drums and gongs; bamboo flutes, bowed and plucked strings. Vocalists may also be included....
gong
Gong
A gong is an East and South East Asian musical percussion instrument that takes the form of a flat metal disc which is hit with a mallet....
s. It is one of the very few Indonesian loan words used in English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
, German
German language
German is a West Germanic language, related to and classified alongside English and Dutch. With an estimated 90 – 98 million native speakers, German is one of the world's major languages and is the most widely-spoken first language in the European Union....
or Dutch
Dutch language
Dutch is a West Germanic language and the native language of the majority of the population of the Netherlands, Belgium, and Suriname, the three member states of the Dutch Language Union. Most speakers live in the European Union, where it is a first language for about 23 million and a second...
.
Common Types
- Modern CuZn15
(DIN: CuZn15 ; UNS: C23000 ; BS: CW 502L (CZ 102) ; ISO: CuZn15) Tombak with a gold
Gold
Gold is a chemical element with the symbol Au and an atomic number of 79. Gold is a dense, soft, shiny, malleable and ductile metal. Pure gold has a bright yellow color and luster traditionally considered attractive, which it maintains without oxidizing in air or water. Chemically, gold is a...
colour, very good for cold forming, suitable for pressing, hammer
Hammer
A hammer is a tool meant to deliver an impact to an object. The most common uses are for driving nails, fitting parts, forging metal and breaking up objects. Hammers are often designed for a specific purpose, and vary widely in their shape and structure. The usual features are a handle and a head,...
ing, embossing.
- modern CuZn12
(not standardized)
Same characteristics and applications as CuZn15; slightly different colour.
- modern CuZn10
(DIN: CuZn10 ; UNS: C22000 ; BS: CW 501L (CZ 101) ; ISO: CuZn10)
Similar characteristics and applications as CuZn15 und CuZn12; noticeable reddish colour.
- modern White Tombak
CuZn10- that is Zinc content 10%, with trace arsenic
- modern Enamel Tombak or Emailler Tombak
An alloy of 95% copper and 5% zinc is very suitable for enamelling, therefore the name.
Ure notes the following forms of Tombak in widespread use during the time the text was published (1856):
-
- "Gilting Tombak":
- Copper 82%, Zinc 18%, Lead 1.5%, Tin 3%
- Copper 82%, Zinc 18%, Lead 3%, Tin 1%
- Copper 82%, Zinc 18%, Lead, Tin 0.2%
- "Gilting Tombak":
-
- "FrenchFrench languageFrench is a Romance language spoken as a first language in France, the Romandy region in Switzerland, Wallonia and Brussels in Belgium, Monaco, the regions of Quebec and Acadia in Canada, and by various communities elsewhere. Second-language speakers of French are distributed throughout many parts...
Tombak for sword handles", pommelPommelPommel may refer to:* pommel, the raised area at the front of an equestrian saddle.* Pommel, the counterweight at the end of the hilt of a European sword* Pommel horse, an artistic gymnastics apparatus...
s and fittings:
- "French
Copper 80%, Zinc 17%, 3% Tin
-
- "Yellow Tombak of ParisParisParis is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
" for gilt ornaments:
- "Yellow Tombak of Paris
Copper 85%, Zinc 15%, trace% Tin
-
- "HanoverHanoverHanover or Hannover, on the river Leine, is the capital of the federal state of Lower Saxony , Germany and was once by personal union the family seat of the Hanoverian Kings of Great Britain, under their title as the dukes of Brunswick-Lüneburg...
Tombak":
- "Hanover
Copper 85.3%, Zinc 14.7%
-
- Chrysochalk
Copper 86%, Zinc 14%
-
- "Red Tombak of ParisParisParis is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
"
- "Red Tombak of Paris
Copper 90%, Zinc 7.9%, 1.5% Lead
-
- "Red Tombak of ViennaViennaVienna is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Austria and one of the nine states of Austria. Vienna is Austria's primary city, with a population of about 1.723 million , and is by far the largest city in Austria, as well as its cultural, economic, and political centre...
"
- "Red Tombak of Vienna
Copper 97.8%, Zinc 2.2%
Piggot states the brass used for machinery and locomotive
Locomotive
A locomotive is a railway vehicle that provides the motive power for a train. The word originates from the Latin loco – "from a place", ablative of locus, "place" + Medieval Latin motivus, "causing motion", and is a shortened form of the term locomotive engine, first used in the early 19th...
s in England was composed of Copper 74.5%, Zinc 25%and Lead 0.5%- which would make it a tombak according to Ure.
Piggot's own definition of tombak is problematic at best: "red brass or tombak as it is called by some, has a great preponderance of copper, from 5 ounces of zinc down to 1/2 ounce of zinc to the pound [sic: copper?]"
Applications
Tombak is easy and soft to work by hand: hand tools can easily punchPunch (tool)
A punch is a hard metal rod with a shaped tip at one end and a blunt butt end at the other, which is usually struck by a hammer. Punches are used to drive objects, such as nails, or to form an impression of the tip on a workpiece...
, cut, enamel
Vitreous enamel
Vitreous enamel, also porcelain enamel in U.S. English, is a material made by fusing powdered glass to a substrate by firing, usually between 750 and 850 °C...
, repousse, engrave, gilt
Gilding
The term gilding covers a number of decorative techniques for applying fine gold leaf or powder to solid surfaces such as wood, stone, or metal to give a thin coating of gold. A gilded object is described as "gilt"...
or etch
Etch
Etch may refer to:*Etch : an open source, cross-platform, multi-language framework for building network services released by Cisco Systems into the Apache Software Foundation*Etch, a character from the film Toy Story, based on the Etch A Sketch...
it. It has a higher sheen
Sheen
Sheen could mean:Places:*In south west London, England:** Sheen or West Sheen, an alternative name for Richmond, London** East Sheen** North Sheen** Sheen Priory* Sheen, Staffordshire, United Kingdom...
than most brass
Brass
Brass is an alloy of copper and zinc; the proportions of zinc and copper can be varied to create a range of brasses with varying properties.In comparison, bronze is principally an alloy of copper and tin...
es or copper
Copper
Copper is a chemical element with the symbol Cu and atomic number 29. It is a ductile metal with very high thermal and electrical conductivity. Pure copper is soft and malleable; an exposed surface has a reddish-orange tarnish...
, and does not easily tarnish
Tarnish
Tarnish is a thin layer of corrosion that forms over copper, brass, silver, aluminum, and other similar metals as their outermost layer undergoes a chemical reaction. Tarnish does not always result from the sole effects of oxygen in the air. For example, silver needs hydrogen sulfide to tarnish; it...
.
Historically it was used by the Javanese as a faux gold finish for objet d'art and ornaments.
- most commonly Tombak in modern society is used in medalMedalA medal, or medallion, is generally a circular object that has been sculpted, molded, cast, struck, stamped, or some way rendered with an insignia, portrait, or other artistic rendering. A medal may be awarded to a person or organization as a form of recognition for athletic, military, scientific,...
s and awardAwardAn award is something given to a person or a group of people to recognize excellence in a certain field; a certificate of excellence. Awards are often signifiedby trophies, titles, certificates, commemorative plaques, medals, badges, pins, or ribbons...
s of lesser importance, such as the Dutch Oldensburge Long-Service Medallion for their Gendarmerie (Oldenburgse Onderscheiding voor Langdurige Dienst in de Gendarmerie). - the PickelhaubePickelhaubeThe Pickelhaube , also "Pickelhelm," was a spiked helmet worn in the 19th and 20th centuries by German military, firefighters, and police...
and cuirassCuirassA cuirass is a piece of armour, formed of a single or multiple pieces of metal or other rigid material, which covers the front of the torso...
of the ImperialGerman EmpireThe German Empire refers to Germany during the "Second Reich" period from the unification of Germany and proclamation of Wilhelm I as German Emperor on 18 January 1871, to 1918, when it became a federal republic after defeat in World War I and the abdication of the Emperor, Wilhelm II.The German...
GermanGermanyGermany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
and Prussian ArmyArmyAn army An army An army (from Latin arma "arms, weapons" via Old French armée, "armed" (feminine), in the broadest sense, is the land-based military of a nation or state. It may also include other branches of the military such as the air force via means of aviation corps...
were at one time made of tombak - German, particularly Prussian field uniformUniformA uniform is a set of standard clothing worn by members of an organization while participating in that organization's activity. Modern uniforms are worn by armed forces and paramilitary organizations such as police, emergency services, security guards, in some workplaces and schools and by inmates...
s (which were also sold to equip the White RussiansWhite movementThe White movement and its military arm the White Army - known as the White Guard or the Whites - was a loose confederation of Anti-Communist forces.The movement comprised one of the politico-military Russian forces who fought...
had buttonButtonIn modern clothing and fashion design, a button is a small fastener, most commonly made of plastic, but also frequently of seashell, which secures two pieces of fabric together. In archaeology, a button can be a significant artifact. In the applied arts and in craft, a button can be an example of...
s and decorative fittings made of tombak - currently tombak foils used in art and craft for decorative articles, especially as an economic alternative to very expensive gold leafGold leafright|thumb|250px|[[Burnishing]] gold leaf with an [[agate]] stone tool, during the water gilding processGold leaf is gold that has been hammered into extremely thin sheets and is often used for gilding. Gold leaf is available in a wide variety of karats and shades...
. - Industry uses tombak foil for heating foils and etch applications.
- gilding metalGilding metalGilding metal is a copper alloy, comprising 95% copper and 5% zinc. Technically, it is a brass.Gilding metal is used for various purposes, including the jackets of bullets, driving bands on some artillery shells, as well as enameled badges and other jewellery....
is a type of tombak which is one of the most common jacketing materials for full metal jacketFull metal jacket bulletA full metal jacket is a bullet consisting of a soft core encased in a shell of harder metal, such as gilding metal, cupronickel or less commonly a steel alloy. This shell can extend around all of the bullet, or often just the front and sides with the rear left as exposed lead...
and jacketed hollow point bullets. - The 1980 Olympic1980 Winter OlympicsThe 1980 Winter Olympics, officially known as the XIII Olympic Winter Games, was a multi-sport event which was celebrated from 13 February through 24 February 1980 in Lake Placid, New York, United States of America. This was the second time the Upstate New York village hosted the Games, after 1932...
'Bronze' Medals were actually Tombak - During World War IIWorld War IIWorld War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
CanadaCanadaCanada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
minted nickelsNickel (Canadian coin)The Canadian five-cent coin, commonly called a nickel, is a coin worth five cents or one-twentieth of a Canadian dollar. It was patterned on the corresponding coin in the neighbouring United States...
in tombac in 1942 and 1943. - German military use for some combat medals, during World War IIWorld War IIWorld War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
.
External links
- National Pollutant Inventory - Copper and compounds fact sheet
- Tombac - DiracDelta Science & Engineering Encyclopedia
- The Line Pickelhaube (Detailed explanation of Pickelhaube and use of Tombak for economic reasons)
- Schlenk German tombak manufacturer: http://www.schlenk.de