Zirconium-based and beryllium free solid amorphous alloy

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016010194-A1
Application number	US-201414769580-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Nov 11, 2014
Priority date	Dec 6, 2013
Publication date	Jan 14, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

The invention concerns a zirconium and/or hafnium based, beryllium free, solid, amorphous alloy, with the addition of silver and/or gold and/or platinum to increase its critical diameter.

First claim

1 . A solid amorphous alloy, wherein the alloy contains no beryllium and consists of, in atomic percentage:
a base composed of zirconium and/or hafnium, with the total zirconium and hafnium having a minimum value of 57% and a maximum value of 63%; at least one first additional metal, wherein the total value of said at least one first additional metal ranges from a minimum value of 0% to a maximum value of 0.5%, said at least a first additional metal being selected from a first group consisting of niobium and tantalum, the niobium value being less than or equal to 0.5%; at least one second additional metal, wherein the total value of said at least one second additional metal ranges from a minimum value of 1.2% to a maximum value of 4.5%, said at least one second additional metal being selected from a second group consisting of silver, gold and platinum; at least one third additional metal, wherein the total value of said at least one third additional metal ranges from a minimum value of 8.5% to a maximum value of 17.5%, said at least one third additional metal being selected from a third group consisting of nickel, cobalt, manganese and iron; aluminium ranging from a minimum value 9% to a maximum value 13%; copper and inevitable impurities constituting the complement to 100%, but less than or equal to 18% in atomic percentage of the alloy.

2 . Alley The alloy according to claim 1 , wherein said base composed of zirconium and/or hafnium, has a total zirconium and hafnium content with a minimum value of 57% and a maximum value of 63%.

3 . The alloy according to claim 1 , wherein the total value of said at least one second additional metal in atomic percentage ranges from a minimum value of 1.2% to a maximum value of 4.0%.

4 . The alloy according to claim 3 , wherein the total value of said at least one second additional metal in atomic percentage ranges from a minimum value of 1.5% to a maximum value of 3.8%.

5 . The alloy according to claim 4 , the total value of said at least one second additional metal in atomic percentage ranges from a minimum value of 2.6% to a maximum value of 3.0%.

6 . The alloy according claim 1 , wherein the gold content in atomic percentage ranges from a minimum value of 1.5% to a maximum value of 2.5%.

7 . The alloy according to claim 1 , wherein the platinum content in atomic percentage ranges from a minimum value of 1.5% to a maximum value of 2.5%.

8 . The alloy according to claim 1 , wherein the silver content in atomic percentage ranges from a minimum value of 1.0% to a maximum value of 3.8%.

9 . The alloy according to claim 1 , wherein the total value in atomic percentage of zirconium and hafnium in the base is less than or equal to 60%.

10 . The alloy according to claim 1 , wherein the aluminium content is more than 10.0%.

11 . The alloy according to claim 1 , wherein the ratio of zirconium content to copper content: Zr/Cu, ranges from a minimum value of 3.0 to a maximum value of 5.0.

12 . The alloy according to claim 1 , wherein the ratio of zirconium content to total copper and nickel content: Zr/(Cu+Ni) ranges from a minimum value of 1.5 to a maximum value of 3.0.

13 . The alloy according to claim 1 , wherein the ratio of the total atomic percentage of zirconium hafnium, niobium and tantalum to the total atomic percentage of copper and nickel: (Zr, Hf, Nb, Ta)/(Cu+Ni) ranges from a minimum value of 1.5 to a maximum value of 3.0.

14 . The alloy according to claim 1 , wherein said alloy does not contain niobium.

15 . The alloy according to claim 1 , wherein said alloy does not contain either titanium or niobium.

16 . The alloy according to claim 1 , wherein the alloy includes less than 0.5% nickel in atomic percentage.

17 . A solid amorphous alloy, wherein the alloy contains no beryllium and consists of, in atomic percentage:
a base composed of zirconium and/or hafnium, with the total zirconium and hafnium having a minimum value of 57% and a maximum value of 63%; at least one first additional metal, wherein the total value of said at least one first additional metal ranges from a minimum value of 0% to a maximum value of 0.5%, said at least a first additional metal being selected from a first group consisting of niobium and tantalum, the niobium value being less than or equal to 0.5%; at least one second additional metal, wherein the total value of said at least one second additional metal ranges from a minimum value of 1.2% to a maximum value of 4.5%, said at least one second additional metal being selected from a second group consisting of silver, gold, palladium and platinum; at least one third additional metal, wherein the total value of said at least one third additional metal ranges from a minimum value of 8.5% to a maximum value of 17.5%, said at least one third additional metal being selected from a third group consisting of chromium, cobalt, manganese and iron; aluminium ranging from a minimum value 9% to a maximum value 13%; copper and inevitable impurities constituting the complement to 100%, but less than or equal to 18% in atomic percentage of the alloy.

18 . The alloy according to claim 17 , wherein said base composed of zirconium and/or hafnium, has a total zirconium and hafnium content with a minimum value of 57% and a maximum value of 63%;

19 . The alloy according to claim 17 , wherein the gold content in atomic percentage ranges from a minimum value of 1.5% to a maximum value of 2.5%.

20 . The alloy according to claim 17 or 18 , wherein the platinum content in atomic percentage ranges from a minimum value of 1.5% to a maximum value of 2.5%.

21 . A timepiece or jewellery component made of an amorphous alloy according to claim 1 .

Assignees

• Swatch Group Res & Dev Ltd

Inventors

• Dubach Alban
• Winkler Yves
• Carozzani Tommy

Classifications

• C22C1/11

  Making amorphous alloys · CPC title

• C22C45/10 Primary

  with molybdenum, tungsten, niobium, tantalum, titanium, or zirconium {or Hf} as the major constituent · CPC title

• G04B37/22

  Materials or processes of manufacturing pocket watch or wrist watch cases {(machines or tools for the manufacture of clockwork cases G04D3/0064, G04D3/0097, G04D3/029; decoration or tools therefor G04B45/0076)} · CPC title

• A44C27/001

  Materials for manufacturing jewellery · CPC title

• C22F1/186

  of zirconium or alloys based thereon · CPC title