High strength and high thermal conductivity copper alloy tube and method for producing the same

Abstract

A high strength and high thermal conductivity copper alloy tube contains: Co of 0.12 to 0.32 mass %; P of 0.042 to 0.095 mass %; and Sn of 0.005 to 0.30 mass %, wherein a relationship of 3.0≦([Co]−0.007) / ([P]−0.008)≦6.2 is satisfied between a content [Co] mass % of Co and a content [P] mass % of P, and the remainder includes Cu and inevitable impurities. Even when a temperature is increased by heat generated by a drawing process, a recrystallization temperature is increased by uniform precipitation of a compound of Co and P and by solid-solution of Sn. Thus, the generation of recrystallization nucleuses is delayed, thereby improving heat resistance and pressure resistance of the high strength and high thermal conductivity copper alloy tube.

Description

[0001]This is a Divisional application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12 / 514,680, filed May 13, 2009, which is a National Phase Application in the United States of International Patent Application No. PCT / JP2008 / 70410 filed Nov. 10, 2008, which claims priority from Japanese Patent Application No. 2007-331080, filed Dec. 21, 2007. The entire disclosures of the above patent applications are hereby incorporated by reference.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]1. Field of the Invention[0003]The invention relates to a drawing-processed high strength and high thermal conductivity copper alloy tube and a method for producing the same.[0004]2. Description of Related Art[0005]Copper having excellent thermal conductivity has been used for tube members (hereinafter, referred to as a pressure-resistance and heat-transfer vessel in the general term) such as a header, a distribution joint, a dryer, a muffler, a filter, and an accumulator used for heat exchangers for such as a refrigerator, a fr...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The invention provides a copper alloy tube that is strong and can maintain that strength even when it is being drawn. The tube also has high thermal conductivity and can handle high pressure. The method for producing this high-quality tube is also provided.

Problems solved by technology

However, pressure resistance of the process end portion 5 and the heat-influenced portion 6 is low, since the strength thereof is decreased by restoration and recrystallization and the thickness thereof is not increased with the large outer diameter.

When the temperature becomes 700° C. or higher even for a moment, crystal gains thereof are coarsened, thereby decreasing the strength.

However, the drawing-processed copper tube formed in a cold state has low productivity, and there is a problem in pressure resistance since the thickness of the process center portion 4 or the process end portion 5 is small.

When the thickness of the pressure-resistance and the heat-transfer vessel increases and thus the weight thereof increases, the cost also increases.

For structural reasons and to prevent vibration, a member for fixing the pressure-resistance and heat-transfer vessel needs to be strengthened, and thus the cost further increases.

Since the amount of the drawing process for producing the pressure-resistance and heat transfer vessel is increased by the increase of the thickness, the cost further increases.

A pressure-resistance and heat-transfer vessel using an inexpensive steel tube has been known, but the vessel is poor in thermal conductivity.

In addition, in the spinning process, it is difficult to the drawing process as long as the temperature does not become a high temperature at which deformation resistance of a material decreases.

For this reason, a tool is overloaded and thus durability of the tool decreases.

Such a steel tube is formed mainly by brazing or welding a press product, but reliability is low.

Since the copper alloy tube shown in Patent Document 1 is easily recrystallized at a high temperature, pressure resistance of the pressure-resistance and heat-transfer vessel processed at a high temperature after a spinning process or a brazing process is not sufficient.

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