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Machining always begins with the selection of stock material. The basis of a machined part - and especially a tubular part like bushings, bearing sleeves, liner tubes, and cylindrical housings - will often be a bronze hollow bar. Using an appropriate hollow bar at the outset reduces material waste and ensures the correct alloy is in the right place without issue.
In this guide, we look at the specifics of what a bronze hollow bar is, the grades and their mechanical properties, which industries use them, and a systematic methodology for approaching specification selection, both as an engineer defining a component and as a purchasing department procuring material in the UAE.
A bronze hollow bar is a pre-machined cylindrical bar where the outer diameter (OD), inner diameter (ID), and wall thickness have already been determined.
In contrast to a solid round bar, which would have to be fully bored to create a tubular component, a hollow bar has already been cast or extruded with the center bore and then finished to the final size.
Bearing sleeves, bushing blanks, pump liners and housings, and valve bodies would all be appropriate for hollow bar supply, as opposed to solid bar stock, if the ratio of finished ID to OD is sufficient to render hollow bar a more cost-effective material to utilize.
The alloy grades, the corrosion properties, and the mechanical qualities are the same as a solid bar of equivalent grade, only the geometry is different.
The table shows mechanical properties for the four grades of hollow bar form:
| Grade | Tensile Strength | Yield Strength | Hardness | Elongation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| RG5 | 270 MPa | 130 MPa | 70–90 | 13% |
| RG7 | 280 MPa | 150 MPa | 75–90 | 15% |
| RG12 | 220 MPa | 100 MPa | 60–75 | 12% |
| LG2 | 290 MPa | 140 MPa | 65–85 | 18% |
Regardless of grade-specific mechanical properties, all bronze hollow bars possess common engineering characteristics across all alloy types:
Bronze hollow bars are manufactured in a broad range of OD and ID combinations. Standard items provide the most commonly used diameter combinations. Non-standard wall thicknesses and custom bore sizes can be supplied on request, subject to reasonable lead times.
| OD Range | ID Range | Wall Thickness | Lengths | Grades |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 40–80 mm | 20–50 mm | 10–20 mm | 1 m / 3 m | RG5, LG2 |
| 85–150 mm | 40–100 mm | 15–40 mm | 1 m / 3 m | RG5, RG7, LG2 |
| 155–250 mm | 80–180 mm | 20–60 mm | 1 m / 3 m | RG5, RG7, RG12, LG2 |
| 255–500 mm | 150–400 mm | 30–80 mm | 0.5 m / 1 m | RG7, RG12 |
| Custom | Per specification | Per specification | On request | All grades |
A bronze hollow bar is commonly used to manufacture sterntube liners, rudder bearing sleeves, water-lubricated shaft bushes, and seacock housings. For use in marine service, the corrosion resistance of LG2 and RG7 in seawater is the main reason for selection.
Pump bearing sleeves, valve body blanks, and liner tubes for process equipment in oil and gas service are typical uses of bronze hollow bar. Bronze is specifically required to be non-sparking within some hazardous area classifications, and LG2 and RG7 grades' pressure-tight requirements are suitable for pressurized fluid systems.
Presses, conveyors, mixers, compressors, and all types of plant equipment use bronze hollow bars to make bearing sleeves and bushing blanks, enabling the smooth operation of rotating and sliding parts. RG5 and RG12 are used in various applications, with RG12 selected where self-lubrication is required.
In the context of electrical and telecommunication infrastructure, hollow bronze bars are utilized in electrical connector housing, grounding elements, and cylindrical contact parts that need good conductivity and corrosion resistance.
For precisely machined bushings, hydraulic cylinder liners, and bearing components used in automotive and aerospace applications, which have strict requirements for both dimensional consistency and material traceability, bronze hollow bar is the primary stock material.
Learn More: How to Select the Right Bronze Alloy for UAE Industrial Projects?
A hollow bar is usually the more economical start in most cases for tubular parts.
For teams that are evaluating the bronze hollow bar price UAE, the main drivers for cost are:
Choose the alloy for the operating conditions. RG5 for general bearing and bushing use. RG7 for severe loading and corrosive conditions. RG12 for self-lubricating plain bearing operating at heavy loads. LG2 for bodies of valves, marine uses, and for parts handled in pressurized fluid.
Calculate the required OD, ID, and finished wall thickness of the component. Add machining allowance for the hollow bar size needed. Check if the desired OD-ID is readily available in the standard stock or add lead time for a custom item.
For oil & gas, marine, and pressure equipment requirements, confirm material standard - BS 1400, ASTM B505, EN 1982, or as specified for the project. Clearly state that mill test reports and heat traceability records are needed at the time of order.
The choice of grade depends on the corrosive environment, temperature, the presence of lubrication, and load type. Marine or offshore service should use a minimum grade of LG2 or RG7. Higher service temperature suggests that RG7 should be used instead of RG5. If only intermittent lubrication is required, then RG12 could be specified for bearings.
Source from a reliable bronze hollow bar supplier UAE who has stock of all the grades and dimensions you require, offering complete certification, and can advise on availability before confirming project timescales.
Golden Harbour has stocks of bronze hollow bars in grades RG5, RG7, RG12, and LG2 in all standard and non-standard OD and ID combinations. Our stocks are available to engineering workshops, marine contractors, oil and gas operators, and the manufacturing industry throughout the UAE.
All materials are accompanied by a mill test report, material certificates, and heat traceability. Our technical team assists in the selection of grades and specification requests before supply.
For a project procurement team that needs a continuous supply, with fixed lead times and complete certification, Golden Harbour is a proven and trusted supplier of bronze alloys within the UAE.
A bronze hollow bar is the economic and reliable alternative in any tubular application. The pre-formed bore minimizes machine time and material wastage. In all respects, particularly corrosion, wear, pressure tightness, and machinability, the bronze hollow bar possesses the same characteristics as the solid bar.
Indicate the correct grade based on the working condition. State precise dimensions. Clarify if certification is required. Purchase from a supplier holding stock in the UAE, as well as documentation for your requirements. That method, in practice, is what keeps the components in service.
