For those unaware aluminum bronze is an alloy of aluminum, copper, along with other trace metals and is characterized by being corrosion resistance, wear resistance, and strength. Sounds like the perfect material for safety razors and yet, I haven’t found any examples of razors being made out of this. Why do you think this is? P.S. Turns out there is also an alloy called aluminum brass which is similarly corrosion resistant but slightly less strong. I would ask the same question about this material as well.
Not hard enough and thus not sharp enough.
Aluminum bronze can be strong but it cannot get very hard (my Google says around 27 Rockwell C hardness). A typical razor blade is at least 60 HRC.
The hardness of a material generally dictates how sharp of an edge can be put on it. Harder materials do not deflect away from your grinding wheel and can thus keep a narrower, sharper edge. Also harder materials keep an edge longer and better.
That aluminum bronze would make a good corrosion resistant blade, but you wouldn’t be able to get (or keep) it sharp enough to make for a comfortable shave.
I am not asking about blades but the razor handle and head.
Ahhh. Important distinction.
In that case it is likely just a cost and practicality thing. Copper alloys are significantly more expensive than stainless steels or plastics. They’re a little harder to form and shape as well due to their cold work hardening properties (the more you bend it, the harder it gets, until it breaks; stainless is more ductile in this regard).
It would be pretty, but I guess manufacturers have likely not determined an economic benefit to making a higher end, more expensive, harder to manufacture razor body out of these metals.
Then why are stainless steel razors often more expensive than brass? Also with its lower melting point means it can be cast and I have heard machining stainless steel is difficult to machine.
Super good looking. It will get a patina to it but its famously corrosion resistant. There is a reason they make propellers out of it.
I’m not sure how it will go for galvanic corrosion from the blades. Should be fine with stainless screws/parts.