古往今来，铜及其合金对人类有着无数的用途。铜成功地与许多常见元素结合在一起，以至于它的数千种合金曾一度被用于多种用途，原因也大相径庭。 对于压力容器而言，铜及其大约25种合金继续得到应用，因为它们耐多种腐蚀剂，在低温和中高温下都具有良好的机械性能，并且几乎可以通过任何方法使用现成的设备进行制造。 本报告向面临压力容器合理经济使用铜及其合金问题的人员提供了有关铜及其合金特性的基本信息。 它们的固有特性和对现代制造方法的适应性使这些材料成为许多应用的合理选择。

Down through the ages, copper and its alloys have been useful to mankind for a myriad of purposes. Copper combines successfully with so many of the common elements that thousands of its alloys have been used at one time or another in many types of service and for widely differing reasons. For pressure vessels, copper and some 25 of its alloys continue to find application because of resistance to a great variety of corrosive agents, good mechanical properties at both low and moderately high temperatures and relative ease of fabrication by almost any method, using readily available equipment. This report presents essential information on the characteristics of copper and its alloys to those faced with the problem of using them properly and economically for pressure vessels. Their inherent properties and adaptability to modern methods of fabrication make these materials the logical choice for many applications.