Abstract: Band or wire shaped material consisting of a metal alloy containing at least phosphorus and tin, for example, phosphor bronze or a similar material, and comprisng an outer coating made of a tin-lead alloy. When the phosphorus content of the metal alloy ranges from 0.03 to 0.13 percent by weight, and preferably from 0.05 to 0.06 percent by weight, the tin content of the metal alloy is greater than or equal to 7 percent by weight. When the tin content amounts to less than 7 percent by weight of the metal alloy, the phosphorus content is greater than 0.13 percent by weight of the alloy, and preferably is between 0.27 and 0.35 percent by weight of the alloy.