Cupronickel

Description

An alloy of copper that contains up to 40% nickel. Examples of cupronickel alloys are found as coinage metals. Bactrian coinage was as early example of the use of cupronickel alloys (Scott 1991). The alloy, with about 25% nickel, is currently used for the interior of dimes and quarters in the United States.

Synonyms and Related Terms

copper nickel alloy; cupronickel (Fr.); cuproníquel (Port.)

Additional Information

D.Scott, Metallography and Microstructure of Ancient and Historic Metals. Getty Conservation Institute, 1991.

Authority

• David C. Scott, Metallography and Microstructure of Ancient and Historic Metals, The Getty Conservation Institute, Los Angeles, 1991 Comment: 15-40% nickel

• Random House, Webster's Encyclopedic Unabridged Dictionary of the English Language, Grammercy Book, New York, 1997

• The American Heritage Dictionary or Encarta, via Microsoft Bookshelf 98, Microsoft Corp., 1998 Comment: 10-30% nickel

• Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia, at http://www.wikipedia.com Comment: typical 25% nickel, 75% copper