High strength, homogeneous copper-nickel-tin alloy and production process

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9994946-B2
Application number	US-201514659801-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 17, 2015
Priority date	Mar 17, 2014
Publication date	Jun 12, 2018
Grant date	Jun 12, 2018

Abstract

A process for producing a high strength, homogeneous copper-nickel-tin alloy with high strength includes preparing a molten mixture of copper, nickel, and tin; pressure assist casting the molten mixture to form a casting; and thermally treating the casting. Novel combinations of properties can be attained for the alloy.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. An article comprising a copper-nickel-tin alloy, wherein the article is produced by a process comprising:
preparing a molten mixture of copper, nickel, and tin;
pressure assist casting the molten mixture to form a casting;
homogenizing the casting; and
shaping the casting to produce the article.

2. The article of claim 1 , wherein the process further comprises: spinodally hardening the casting.

3. The article of claim 2 , wherein the spinodal hardening is performed by solution annealing, quenching, and spinodal decomposition.

4. The article of claim 1 , wherein the article is net-shaped or is an input billet.

5. The article of claim 1 , wherein the alloy comprises from about 9 wt % to about 15 wt % nickel.

6. The article of claim 1 , wherein the alloy comprises from about 6 wt % to about 8 wt % tin.

7. The article of claim 1 , wherein the alloy comprises from about 9 wt % to about 15 wt % nickel and from about 6 to about 8 wt % tin.

8. The article of claim 1 , wherein the molten mixture is prepared by gathering solid copper, nickel, and tin; and melting the gathered solid copper, nickel, and tin.

9. The article of claim 1 , wherein the casting is homogenized by heating the casting at a temperature in the range of from about 1500° F. to about 1625° F. for a time period of from about 4 hours to about 24 hours.

Assignees

• Materion Corp

Inventors

• Cribb W Raymond
• Grensing Fritz C

Classifications

• C22C9/06

  with nickel or cobalt as the next major constituent · CPC title

• C22C1/02

  by melting {(C22C1/1036 takes precedence)} · CPC title

• C22F1/057

  of alloys with copper as the next major constituent · CPC title

• C22F1/002

  by rapid cooling or quenching; cooling agents used therefor · CPC title

• B22D21/025

  Casting heavy metals with high melting point, i.e. 1000 - 1600 degrees C, e.g. Co 1490 degrees C, Ni 1450 degrees C, Mn 1240 degrees C, Cu 1083 degrees C · CPC title