Editing Gong (section)

== Materials and size ==
{{Update-EB|section=y|date=February 2023}}
Gongs vary in diameter from about {{convert|20|to|60|in|cm|-1|order=flip|abbr=on}}. They are made of a [[bronze]] alloy composed of a maximum of 22 parts [[tin]] to 78 parts copper, but in many cases the proportion of tin is considerably less. This [[alloy]] is excessively brittle when cast and allowed to cool slowly, but it can be [[tempering (metallurgy)|tempered]] and [[Annealing (metallurgy)|annealed]] in a peculiar manner to alleviate this. When suddenly cooled from red heat, the alloy becomes so soft that it can be hammered and worked on the [[Lathe (tool)|lathe]] then hardened by reheating. Afterwards, the gong has all of the qualities and timbre of the Chinese instruments. The composition of the alloy of bronze used for making gongs is stated to be as follows: 76.52% Cu, 22.43% Sn, 0.26% Pb, 0.23% Zn, 0.81% Fe. In Turkish Cymbal making there is also sulfur and silicon in the alloy.{{sfn|Schlesinger|1911}}

Turkish Cymbals and Gamelan Gongs share beta phase bronze as a metallurgical roots. Tin and copper mix [[phase transition]] graphs show a very narrow up-down triangle at 21–24% tin content and {{cvt|780|C}} symbolized by β. This is the secret of all past bronze instrument making. When bronze is mixed and heated, it glows orange-red which indicates it has been heated to the beta phase borders where the metal needs to be submerged in cold water to lock the alloy in the beta phase for cymbal making.{{Citation needed|date=February 2023}} The gong is then beaten with a round, hard, leather-covered pad that is fitted on a short stick or handle. It emits a peculiarly sonorous sound which can be varied by particular ways of striking the disk. Its complex vibrations burst into a wave-like succession of [[pitch (music)|tones]] that can be either shrill or deep. In China and Japan gongs are used in religious ceremonies, state processions, marriages and other festivals.{{sfn|Schlesinger|1911}}