Copper alloy

Abstract

Copper-nickel alloys have areas of use, including heat extractors and radiators where good thermal conductivity is desired, and marine environments where corrosion resistance is desirable. However, such alloys can be expensive to manufacture and difficult to process. In this regard, there is a need for new alloys with improved mechanical properties. It would also be advantageous to reduce certain costs associated with alloy production. The alloy comprises or consists of 40 to 62.5 atomic percent copper, 5 to 40 atomic percent manganese, up to 24 atomic percent nickel, 5 to 24 atomic percent zinc, and 1 to 15 atomic percent aluminum.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] Field of Disclosure

[0001] The present invention generally relates to alloys, and more particularly to copper alloys.

Background Art

[0002] Background of Disclosure

[0002] Throughout this specification, no consideration of any prior art shall be deemed to imply any admission that such prior art is widely known or forms part of the common general knowledge in the field.

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0003]

[0003] Copper-nickel alloys have applications including heat pumps and radiators where good thermal conductivity is desired, and marine environments where corrosion resistance is desired. However, such alloys can be costly to manufacture and difficult to process. In this regard, there is a need for new alloys with improved mechanical properties. It would also be advantageous to reduce certain costs associated with alloy production.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0004] Summary of Disclosure

[0004] In a first aspect, the present disclosure provides an alloy comprising or consisting of 40 to 62.5 atomic percent copper, 5 to 40 atomic percent manganese, up to 24 atomic percent nickel, 5 to 24 atomic percent zinc, and 1 to 15 atomic percent aluminum.

[0005]

[0005] In some examples, the alloy comprises or consists of 40 to 62.5 atomic percent copper, 5 to 40 atomic percent manganese, 1 to 24 atomic percent nickel, 5 to 24 atomic percent zinc, and 1 to 15 atomic percent aluminum.

[0006]

[0006] In some examples, the alloy comprises or consists of 40 to 62.5 atomic percent copper, 8 to 40 atomic percent manganese, 1 to 24 atomic percent nickel, 5 to 24 atomic percent zinc, and 1 to 15 atomic percent aluminum.

[0007]

[0007] In some examples, the alloy comprises or consists of 40 to 62.5 atomic percent copper, 8 to 40 atomic percent manganese, 1 to 8 atomic percent nickel, 5 to 24 atomic percent zinc, and 1 to 15 atomic percent aluminum.

[0008]

[0008] In some examples, the alloy comprises or consists of 40 to 62.5 atomic percent copper, 8 to 40 atomic percent manganese, 1 to 8 atomic percent nickel, 5 to 24 atomic percent zinc, and 1 to 8 atomic percent aluminum.

[0009]

[0009] In some examples, the alloy comprises or consists of 40 to 62.5 atomic percent copper, 8 to 40 atomic percent manganese, 1 to 8 atomic percent nickel, 5 to 24 atomic percent zinc, and 1 to 5 atomic percent aluminum.

[0010]

[0010] In some examples, the alloy comprises or consists of 45 to 62.5 atomic percent copper, 8 to 40 atomic percent manganese, 1 to 8 atomic percent nickel, 5 to 24 atomic percent zinc, and 1 to 5 atomic percent aluminum.

[0011]

[0011] In some examples, the alloy comprises or consists of 45 to 60 atomic percent copper, 8 to 40 atomic percent manganese, 1 to 8 atomic percent nickel, 5 to 24 atomic percent zinc, and 1 to 5 atomic percent aluminum.

[0012]

[0012] In some examples, the alloy comprises or consists of 45 to 60 atomic percent copper, 12.5 to 40 atomic percent manganese, 1 to 8 atomic percent nickel, 5 to 24 atomic percent zinc, and 1 to 5 atomic percent aluminum.

[0013]

[0013] In some examples, the alloy comprises or consists of 45 to 60 atomic percent copper, 12.5 to 35 atomic percent manganese, 1 to 8 atomic percent nickel, 5 to 24 atomic percent zinc, and 1 to 5 atomic percent aluminum.

[0014]

[0014] In some examples, the alloy comprises or consists of 45 to 60 atomic percent copper, 12.5 to 35 atomic percent manganese, 1 to 7 atomic percent nickel, 5 to 24 atomic percent zinc, and 1 to 5 atomic percent aluminum.

[0015]

[0015] In some examples, the alloy comprises or consists of 45 to 60 atomic percent copper, 12.5 to 35 atomic percent manganese, 1 to 7 atomic percent nickel, 7.5 to 24 atomic percent zinc, and 1 to 5 atomic percent aluminum.

[0016]

[0016] In some examples, the alloy comprises or consists of 45 to 60 atomic percent copper, 12.5 to 35 atomic percent manganese, 1 to 7 atomic percent nickel, 7.5 to 20 atomic percent zinc, and 1 to 5 atomic percent aluminum.

[0017]

[0017] In some examples, the alloy comprises or consists of 45 to 60 atomic percent copper, 12.5 to 35 atomic percent manganese, 3 to 5 atomic percent nickel, 12.5 to 20 atomic percent zinc, and 1 to 3 atomic percent aluminum.

[0018]

[0018] In some examples, the alloy comprises or consists of 50 to 60 atomic percent copper, 12.5 to 35 atomic percent manganese, 1 to 7 atomic percent nickel, 7.5 to 20 atomic percent zinc, and 1 to 5 atomic percent aluminum.

[0019]

[0019] In some examples, the alloy comprises or consists of 50 to 60 atomic percent copper, 15 to 35 atomic percent manganese, 1 to 7 atomic percent nickel, 7.5 to 20 atomic percent zinc, and 1 to 5 atomic percent aluminum.

[0020]

[0020] In some examples, the alloy comprises or consists of 50 to 60 atomic percent copper, 15 to 22.5 atomic percent manganese, 1 to 7 atomic percent nickel, 7.5 to 20 atomic percent zinc, and 1 to 5 atomic percent aluminum.

[0021]

[0021] In some examples, the alloy comprises or consists of 50 to 60 atomic percent copper, 15 to 22.5 atomic percent manganese, 1 to 5 atomic percent nickel, 7.5 to 20 atomic percent zinc, and 1 to 5 atomic percent aluminum.

[0022]

[0022] In some examples, the alloy comprises or consists of 50 to 60 atomic percent copper, 15 to 22.5 atomic percent manganese, 1 to 5 atomic percent nickel, 15 to 20 atomic percent zinc, and 1 to 5 atomic percent aluminum.

[0023]

[0023] In some examples, the alloy comprises or consists of 50 to 60 atomic percent copper, 15 to 22.5 atomic percent manganese, 1 to 5 atomic percent nickel, 15 to 20 atomic percent zinc, and 1 to 3 atomic percent aluminum.

[0024]

[0024] In some examples, the alloy comprises or consists of 50 to 60 atomic percent copper, 22.5 to 35 atomic percent manganese, 1 to 5 atomic percent nickel, 5 to 12.5 atomic percent zinc, and 1 to 3 atomic percent aluminum.

[0025]

[0025] In some examples, the alloy comprises or consists of 50 to 60 atomic percent copper, 22.5 to 35 atomic percent manganese, 1 to 5 atomic percent nickel, 7.5 to 12.5 atomic percent zinc, and 1 to 3 atomic percent aluminum.

[0026]

[0026] In some examples, the alloy comprises or consists of 40 to 62.5 atomic percent copper, 17 to 35 atomic percent manganese, 1 to 7 atomic percent nickel, 10 to 24 atomic percent zinc, and 1 to 5 atomic percent aluminum.

[0027]

[0027] In some examples, the alloy comprises or consists of 45 to 60 atomic percent copper, 17 to 35 atomic percent manganese, 1 to 5 atomic percent nickel, 10 to 20 atomic percent zinc, and 1 to 5 atomic percent aluminum.

[0028]

[0028] In some examples, the alloy comprises or consists of 50 to 60 atomic percent copper, 17 to 35 atomic percent manganese, 1 to 5 atomic percent nickel, 10 to 20 atomic percent zinc, and 1 to 5 atomic percent aluminum.

[0029]

[0029] In some examples, (3 × atomic percent of aluminum) + atomic percent of zinc + (0.2 × atomic percent of manganese) is 22.5% to 32.5%.

[0030]

[0030] In some examples, the atomic percent ratio of copper:nickel is at least 9.

[0031]

[0031] In some examples, the alloy has a strain of about 40% to 65%. Tensile fracture It has a strain.

[0032]

[0032] In some examples, the alloy has an ultimate tensile strength of about 390 MPa to 575 MPa.

[0033]

[0033] In some examples, the alloy has a as-cast hardness (H V ) of about 80 to 170.

[0034]

[0034] In a second aspect, the present disclosure provides an alloy comprising or consisting of 40 to 62.5 atomic percent copper, 5 to 40 atomic percent manganese, up to 24 atomic percent nickel, 5 to 24 atomic percent zinc, 1 to 15 atomic percent aluminum, one or more elements selected from the group consisting of chromium, lead, bismuth, cobalt, iron, carbon, tin, silicon, and magnesium up to 20 atomic percent, and one or more elements selected from the group consisting of arsenic, phosphorus, sulfur, and antimony up to 1 atomic percent.

[0035]

[0035] In some examples, the alloy comprises or consists of 40 to 62.5 atomic percent copper, 5 to 40 atomic percent manganese, up to 24 atomic percent nickel, 5 to 24 atomic percent zinc, 1 to 15 atomic percent aluminum, one or more elements selected from the group consisting of chromium, lead, bismuth, cobalt, iron, carbon, tin, silicon, and magnesium up to 12 atomic percent, and one or more elements selected from the group consisting of arsenic, phosphorus, sulfur, and antimony up to 1 atomic percent.

[0036]

[0036] In some examples, the alloy comprises or consists of 40 to 62.5 atomic percent copper, 5 to 40 atomic percent manganese, up to 24 atomic percent nickel, 5 to 24 atomic percent zinc, 1 to 15 atomic percent aluminum, up to 12 atomic percent of chromium, lead, bismuth, cobalt, iron, carbon, tin, silicon or magnesium, and up to 1 atomic percent of one or more elements selected from the group consisting of arsenic, phosphorus, sulfur and antimony.

[0037]

[0037] In some examples, the alloy comprises or consists of 40 to 62.5 atomic percent copper, 5 to 40 atomic percent manganese, up to 24 atomic percent nickel, 5 to 24 atomic percent zinc, 1 to 15 atomic percent aluminum, up to 7 atomic percent chromium, up to 8 atomic percent lead, up to 8 atomic percent bismuth, up to 8 atomic percent cobalt, up to 12 atomic percent iron, up to 8 atomic percent carbon, up to 8 atomic percent tin, up to 8 atomic percent silicon, up to 2 atomic percent magnesium, up to 0.5 atomic percent arsenic, up to 0.5 atomic percent phosphorus, up to 0.5 atomic percent sulfur, and up to 0.5 atomic percent antimony.

[0038]

[0038] In some examples, the alloy comprises or consists of 40 to 62.5 atomic percent copper, 5 to 40 atomic percent manganese, up to 24 atomic percent nickel, 5 to 24 atomic percent zinc, 1 to 15 atomic percent aluminum, up to 5 atomic percent chromium, up to 5 atomic percent lead, up to 2 atomic percent bismuth, up to 8 atomic percent cobalt, up to 12 atomic percent iron, up to 4 atomic percent carbon, up to 2 atomic percent tin, up to 8 atomic percent silicon, up to 2 atomic percent magnesium, up to 0.3 atomic percent arsenic, up to 0.3 atomic percent phosphorus, up to 0.3 atomic percent sulfur, and up to 0.3 atomic percent antimony.

[0039]

[0039] In some examples, the alloy comprises or consists of 85 to 95 atomic percent copper, manganese, nickel, zinc, and aluminum and the balance of one or more elements selected from the group consisting of chromium, lead, bismuth, cobalt, iron, carbon, tin, and silicon.

[0040]

[0040] In some examples, the alloy comprises or consists of 40 to 62.5 atomic percent copper, 17 to 35 atomic percent manganese, 1 to 7 atomic percent nickel, 10 to 24 atomic percent zinc, 1 to 5 atomic percent aluminum, up to 20 atomic percent of one or more elements selected from the group consisting of chromium, lead, bismuth, cobalt, iron, carbon, tin, silicon, and magnesium, and up to 1 atomic percent of one or more elements selected from the group consisting of arsenic, phosphorus, sulfur, and antimony.

[0041]

[0041] In some examples, the alloy comprises or consists of 45 to 60 atomic percent copper, 17 to 35 atomic percent manganese, 1 to 5 atomic percent nickel, 10 to 20 atomic percent zinc, 1 to 5 atomic percent aluminum, up to 20 atomic percent of one or more elements selected from the group consisting of chromium, lead, bismuth, cobalt, iron, carbon, tin, silicon, and magnesium, and up to 1 atomic percent of one or more elements selected from the group consisting of arsenic, phosphorus, sulfur, and antimony.

[0042]

[0042] In some examples, the alloy comprises or consists of 50 to 60 atomic percent copper, 17 to 35 atomic percent manganese, 1 to 5 atomic percent nickel, 10 to 20 atomic percent zinc, 1 to 5 atomic percent aluminum, up to 20 atomic percent of one or more elements selected from the group consisting of chromium, lead, bismuth, cobalt, iron, carbon, tin, silicon, and magnesium, and up to 1 atomic percent of one or more elements selected from the group consisting of arsenic, phosphorus, sulfur, and antimony.

[0043]

[0043] In some examples, (3 × atomic percent of aluminum) + atomic percent of zinc + (0.2 × atomic percent of manganese) is from 22.5% to 32.5%.

[0044]

[0044] In some examples, the atomic percent ratio of copper to nickel is at least 9.

[0045]

[0045] In some examples, the alloy has a strain of about 30% to 65%. Tensile fracture has a strain.

[0046]

[0046] In some examples, the alloy has an ultimate tensile strength of about 390 MPa to 575 MPa.

[0047]

[0047] In some examples, the alloy has a as-cast hardness (H V ) of about 80 to 170.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0048] Brief Description of the Drawings

Figure 1

[0048] Engineering stress / strain curve of an alloy sample under tension.

Figure 2

[0049] Engineering stress / strain curve of an alloy sample under tension.

Figure 3

[0050] Side profile of the fracture of a Cu-Ni-Mn-Zn-Al tensile test piece. From left to right: Cu60Ni5Mn15Zn17.5Al2.5, Cu60Ni5Mn12.5Zn20Al2.5, Cu57.5Ni5Mn17.5Zn17.5Al2.5, Cu57.5Ni5Mn15Zn20Al2.5, Cu55Ni5Mn20Zn17.5Al2.5, Cu55Ni5Mn17.5Zn20Al2.5, Cu52.5Ni5Mn22.5Zn17.5Al2.5 and Cu52.5Ni5Mn20Zn20Al2.5.

Figure 4

[0051] Side profile of the Cu-Ni-Mn-Zn-Al tensile test piece fracture. From left to right: Cu45Ni5Mn32.5Zn15Al2.5, Cu45Ni5Mn35Zn12.5Al2.5, Cu47.5Ni5Mn30Zn15Al2.5, Cu47.5Ni5Mn32.5Zn12.5Al2.5, Cu50Ni5Mn27.5Zn15Al2.5, Cu50Ni5Mn30Zn12.5Al2.5, Cu52.5Ni5Mn27.5Zn12.5Al2.5 and Cu52.5Ni5Mn25Zn15Al2.5.

Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0049] Detailed Description

[0052] The term "about" is understood to mean a range of ±10%, preferably ±5% or ±1% or more preferably ±0.1%.

[0050]

[0053] Throughout this specification, unless the context requires otherwise, the word "comprise", or variations such as "comprises" or "comprising", are understood to mean including the stated element, integer or step or group of elements, integers or steps but not to mean excluding any other element, integer or step or group of elements, integers or steps. Thus, as relevant to this specification, the term "comprise" means "including mainly ~ but not necessarily only that".

[0051]

[0054] Any numerical range recited in this specification is intended to include all sub-ranges of the same numerical precision that are included within the recited range. For example, the range of 1.0 to 5.0 is intended to include all sub-ranges between the recited minimum value of 1.0 and the recited maximum value of 5.0 (including both ends), i.e., sub-ranges having a minimum value of 1.0 or more and a maximum value of 5.0 or less, such as 2.1 to 4.5. Any maximum numerical limitation recited in this specification is intended to include all lower numerical limitations subsumed therein, and any minimum numerical limitation recited in this specification is intended to include all higher numerical limitations subsumed therein.

[0052]

[0055] The present disclosure provides an alloy comprising or consisting of 40 to 62.5 atomic percent copper, 5 to 40 atomic percent manganese, up to 24 atomic percent nickel, 5 to 24 atomic percent zinc, and 1 to 15 atomic percent aluminum. It will be understood that the alloys described herein may contain unavoidable impurities. Preferably, the unavoidable impurities do not exceed 0.5 atomic %, or preferably 0.1 atomic %, or more preferably 0.05 atomic %.

[0053]

[0056] In certain examples, the present disclosure provides an alloy comprising or consisting of 42.5 to 65 atomic % Cu, 10 to 40 atomic % Mn, 0.5 to 8 atomic % Ni, 5 to 24 atomic % Zi, and 1 to 5 atomic % Al. In certain examples, the present disclosure provides an alloy comprising or consisting of 44 to 64 atomic % Cu, 8 to 40 atomic % Mn, 1 to 8 atomic % Ni, 6 to 20 atomic % Zi, and 1 to 4 atomic % Al. In certain examples, the present disclosure provides an alloy comprising or consisting of 42 to 62.5 atomic % Cu, 8 to 40 atomic % Mn, 1 to 8 atomic % Ni, 6 to 20 atomic % Zi, and 1 to 4 atomic % Al. In certain examples, the present disclosure provides an alloy comprising or consisting of 42.5 to 65 atomic % Cu, 8 to 40 atomic % Mn, 1 to 5 atomic % Ni, 6 to 20 atomic % Zi, and 1 to 3 atomic % Al. In certain examples, the present disclosure provides an alloy comprising or consisting of 47.5 to 62.5 atomic % Cu, 8 to 40 atomic % Mn, 1 to 6 atomic % Ni, 6 to 15 atomic % Zi, and 1 to 3 atomic % Al. In certain examples, the present disclosure provides an alloy comprising or consisting of 47.5 to 65 atomic % Cu, 8 to 40 atomic % Mn, 1 to 6 atomic % Ni, 6 to 13 atomic % Zi, and 1 to 3 atomic % Al. In certain examples, the present disclosure provides an alloy comprising or consisting of 45 to 60 atomic % Cu, 12.5 to 35 atomic % Mn, 3 to 5 atomic % Ni, 12.5 to 20 atomic % Zi, and 2 to 3 atomic % Al.

[0054]

[0057] In certain examples, the present disclosure provides an alloy consisting of about 60 atomic % Cu, about 5 atomic % Ni, about 15 atomic % Mn, about 17.5 atomic % Zn, and about 2.5 atomic % Al. The present disclosure also provides an alloy consisting of about 60 atomic % Cu, about 5 atomic % Ni, about 12.5 atomic % Mn, about 20 atomic % Zn, and about 2.5 atomic % Al. The present disclosure also provides an alloy consisting of about 57.5 atomic % Cu, about 5 atomic % Ni, about 17.5 atomic % Mn, about 17.5 atomic % Zn, and about 2.5 atomic % Al. The present disclosure also provides an alloy consisting of about 57.5 atomic % Cu, about 5 atomic % Ni, about 15 atomic % Mn, about 20 atomic % Zn, and about 2.5 atomic % Al. The present disclosure also provides an alloy consisting of about 55 atomic % Cu, about 5 atomic % Ni, about 20 atomic % Mn, about 17.5 atomic % Zn, and about 2.5 atomic % Al. The present disclosure also provides an alloy consisting of about 55 atomic % Cu, about 5 atomic % Ni, about 17.5 atomic % Mn, about 20 atomic % Zn, and about 2.5 atomic % Al. The present disclosure also provides an alloy consisting of about 52.5 atomic % Cu, about 5 atomic % Ni, about 20 atomic % Mn, about 20 atomic % Zn, and about 2.5 atomic % Al. The present disclosure also provides an alloy consisting of about 52.5 atomic % Cu, about 5 atomic % Ni, about 22.5 atomic % Mn, about 17.5 atomic % Zn, and about 2.5 atomic % Al. The present disclosure also provides an alloy consisting of about 52.5 atomic % Cu, about 5 atomic % Ni, about 25 atomic % Mn, about 15 atomic % Zn, and about 2.5 atomic % Al. The present disclosure also provides an alloy consisting of about 52.5 atomic % Cu, about 5 atomic % Ni, about 27.5 atomic % Mn, about 12.5 atomic % Zn, and about 2.5 atomic % Al. The present disclosure also provides an alloy consisting of about 50 atomic % Cu, about 5 atomic % Ni, about 30 atomic % Mn, about 12.5 atomic % Zn, and about 2.5 atomic % Al. The present disclosure also provides an alloy consisting of about 50 atomic % Cu, about 5 atomic % Ni, about 27.5 atomic % Mn, about 15 atomic % Zn, and about 2.5 atomic % Al. The present disclosure also provides an alloy consisting of about 47.5 atomic % Cu, about 5 atomic % Ni, about 30 atomic % Mn, about 15 atomic % Zn, and about 2.5 atomic % Al.The present disclosure also provides an alloy consisting of about 47.5 atomic % Cu, about 5 atomic % Ni, about 32.5 atomic % Mn, about 12.5 atomic % Zn, and about 2.5 atomic % Al. The present disclosure also provides an alloy consisting of about 45 atomic % Cu, about 5 atomic % Ni, about 32.5 atomic % Mn, about 15 atomic % Zn, and about 2.5 atomic % Al. The present disclosure also provides an alloy consisting of about 45 atomic % Cu, about 5 atomic % Ni, about 35 atomic % Mn, about 12.5 atomic % Zn, and about 2.5 atomic % Al. The present disclosure also provides an alloy consisting of about 59 atomic % Cu, about 3 atomic % Ni, about 15.5 atomic % Mn, about 20 atomic % Zn, and about 2.5 atomic % Al.

[0055]

[0058] In some examples, the present disclosure provides an alloy comprising or consisting of 5 to 40 atomic % Mn, 1 to 24 atomic % Ni, 5 to 24 atomic % Zn, 1 to 15 atomic % Al, and the balance Cu. In some examples, the present disclosure provides an alloy comprising or consisting of 8 to 40 atomic % Mn, 1 to 8 atomic % Ni, 5 to 24 atomic % Zn, 1 to 15 atomic % Al, and the balance Cu. In some examples, the present disclosure provides an alloy comprising or consisting of 8 to 40 atomic % Mn, 1 to 8 atomic % Ni, 5 to 24 atomic % Zn, 1 to 5 atomic % Al, and the balance Cu. In some examples, the present disclosure provides an alloy comprising or consisting of 12.5 to 35 atomic % Mn, 1 to 7 atomic % Ni, 7.5 to 24 atomic % Zn, 1 to 5 atomic % Al, and the balance Cu. In some examples, the present disclosure provides an alloy comprising or consisting of 12.5 to 35 atomic % Mn, 1 to 7 atomic % Ni, 7.5 to 20 atomic % Zn, 1 to 5% Al, and the balance Cu. In some examples, the present disclosure provides an alloy comprising or consisting of 22.5 to 35 atomic % Mn, 1 to 5 atomic % Ni, 7.5 to 12.5 atomic % Zn, 1 to 3 atomic % Al, and the balance Cu. In some examples, the present disclosure provides an alloy comprising or consisting of 17 to 35 atomic % Mn, 1 to 8 atomic % Ni, 9.5 to 20 atomic % Zn, 0 to 5 atomic % Al, and the balance Cu. In some examples, the present disclosure provides an alloy comprising or consisting of 17 to 35 atomic % Mn, 1 to 8 atomic % Ni, 9.5 to 20 atomic % Zn, 1 to 5 atomic % Al, and the balance Cu. In some examples, the present disclosure provides an alloy comprising or consisting of 17 to 35 atomic % Mn, 1 to 8 atomic % Ni, 9.5 to 15 atomic % Zn, 1 to 5 atomic % Al, and the balance Cu. In some examples, the present disclosure provides an alloy comprising or consisting of 17 to 35 atomic % Mn, 1 to 8 atomic % Ni, 9.5 to 12.5 atomic % Zn, 1 to 5 atomic % Al, and the balance Cu. In some examples, the present disclosure provides an alloy comprising or consisting of 17 to 35 atomic % Mn, 1 to 8 atomic % Ni, 9.5 to 12.5 atomic % Zn, 1 to 3 atomic % Al, and the balance Cu.In some examples, the present disclosure provides an alloy comprising or consisting of 17 to 35 atomic % Mn, 1 to 5 atomic % Ni, 9.5 to 12.5 atomic % Zn, 1 to 3 atomic % Al, and the balance Cu.

[0056]

[0059] In some examples, the present disclosure provides an alloy comprising or consisting of 40 to 62.5 atomic percent copper, 5 to 40 atomic percent manganese, up to 24 atomic percent nickel, 5 to 24 atomic percent zinc, 1 to 15 atomic percent aluminum, and up to 20 atomic percent of one or more elements selected from the group consisting of chromium, lead, bismuth, cobalt, iron, carbon, tin, silicon, and magnesium. In some examples, the present disclosure provides an alloy comprising or consisting of 40 to 62.5 atomic percent copper, 5 to 40 atomic percent manganese, up to 24 atomic percent nickel, 5 to 24 atomic percent zinc, 1 to 15 atomic percent aluminum, and up to 1 atomic percent of one or more elements selected from the group consisting of arsenic, phosphorus, sulfur, and antimony. In some examples, the present disclosure provides an alloy comprising or consisting of 40 to 62.5 atomic percent copper, 5 to 40 atomic percent manganese, up to 24 atomic percent nickel, 5 to 24 atomic percent zinc, 1 to 15 atomic percent aluminum, up to 20 atomic percent of one or more elements selected from the group consisting of chromium, lead, bismuth, cobalt, iron, carbon, tin, silicon, and magnesium, and up to 1 atomic percent of one or more elements selected from the group consisting of arsenic, phosphorus, sulfur, and antimony. It will be understood that in such examples, the alloy may include one or more of chromium, lead, bismuth, cobalt, iron, carbon, tin, silicon, and magnesium so long as the total concentration of the one or more elements does not exceed 20 atomic %. Similarly, such an alloy may include one or more of arsenic, phosphorus, sulfur, and antimony so long as the total concentration of the one or more elements does not exceed 1 atomic %. In certain examples, arsenic, phosphorus, sulfur, and antimony are present individually in an amount of about 0.5 atomic % or in total in an amount of about 0.7 atomic %.

[0057]

[0060] In some examples, the present disclosure provides an alloy comprising or consisting of 40 to 62.5 atomic % Cu, 5 to 40 atomic % Mn, up to 24 atomic % Ni, 5 to 24 atomic % Zn, 1 to 15 atomic % Al, and up to 20 atomic % Cr. In some examples, the present disclosure provides an alloy comprising or consisting of 40 to 62.5 atomic % Cu, 5 to 40 atomic % Mn, up to 24 atomic % Ni, 5 to 24 atomic % Zn, 1 to 15 atomic % Al, and up to 20 atomic % Pb. In some examples, the present disclosure provides an alloy comprising or consisting of 40 to 62.5 atomic % Cu, 5 to 40 atomic % Mn, up to 24 atomic % Ni, 5 to 24 atomic % Zn, 1 to 15 atomic % Al, and up to 20 atomic % Bi. In some examples, the present disclosure provides an alloy comprising or consisting of 40 to 62.5 atomic % Cu, 5 to 40 atomic % Mn, up to 24 atomic % Ni, 5 to 24 atomic % Zn, 1 to 15 atomic % Al, and up to 20 atomic % Co. In some examples, the present disclosure provides an alloy comprising or consisting of 40 to 62.5 atomic % Cu, 5 to 40 atomic % Mn, up to 24 atomic % Ni, 5 to 24 atomic % Zn, 1 to 15 atomic % Al, and up to 20 atomic % Fe. In some examples, the present disclosure provides an alloy comprising or consisting of 40 to 62.5 atomic % Cu, 5 to 40 atomic % Mn, up to 24 atomic % Ni, 5 to 24 atomic % Zn, 1 to 15 atomic % Al, and up to 20 atomic % C. In some examples, the present disclosure provides an alloy comprising or consisting of 40 to 62.5 atomic % Cu, 5 to 40 atomic % Mn, up to 24 atomic % Ni, 5 to 24 atomic % Zn, 1 to 15 atomic % Al, and up to 20 atomic % Sn. In some examples, the present disclosure provides an alloy comprising or consisting of 40 to 62.5 atomic % Cu, 5 to 40 atomic % Mn, up to 24 atomic % Ni, 5 to 24 atomic % Zn, 1 to 15 atomic % Al, and up to 20 atomic % Si. In some examples, the present disclosure provides an alloy comprising or consisting of 40 to 62.5 atomic % Cu, 5 to 40 atomic % Mn, up to 24 atomic % Ni, 5 to 24 atomic % Zn, 1 to 15 atomic % Al, and up to 20 atomic % Mg.

[0058]

[0061] In some examples, the alloy comprises 0 to 7 atomic % chromium, such as 0 to 5 atomic % chromium, 0.5 to 4.5 atomic % chromium, 0.5 to 4 atomic % chromium, 0.5 to 3.5 atomic % chromium, 1 to 3.5 atomic % chromium, 1 to 3 atomic % chromium, 1.5 to 3 atomic % chromium, or 1.5 to 2.5 atomic % chromium. For example, the alloy may comprise about 0.5 atomic %, about 0.75 atomic %, about 1 atomic %, about 1.25 atomic %, about 1.5 atomic %, about 1.75 atomic %, about 2 atomic %, about 2.25 atomic %, about 2.5 atomic %, about 2.75 atomic %, about 3 atomic %, about 3.25 atomic %, about 3.5 atomic %, about 3.75 atomic %, about 4 atomic %, about 4.25 atomic %, about 4.5 atomic %, about 4.75 atomic %, about 5 atomic %, about 5.25 atomic %, about 5.5 atomic %, about 5.75 atomic %, about 6 atomic %, about 6.25 atomic %, about 6.5 atomic %, about 6.75 atomic %, or about 7 atomic % chromium. In some examples, chromium is not present in the alloy (i.e., 0 atomic %). In some examples, the present disclosure provides an alloy comprising or consisting of 40 to 62.5 atomic % Cu, 5 to 40 atomic % Mn, up to 24 atomic % Ni, 5 to 24 atomic % Zn, 1 to 15 atomic % Al, and 0 to 7 atomic % Cr, such as 0.5 to 5 atomic % Cr.

[0059]

[0062] In some examples, the alloy contains from 0 to 8 atomic percent lead, such as from 0 to 6 atomic percent lead, from 0.5 to 5.5 atomic percent lead, from 0.5 to 5 atomic percent lead, from 0.5 to 4.5 atomic percent lead, from 1 to 4.5 atomic percent lead, from 1 to 4 atomic percent lead, from 1.5 to 3.5 atomic percent lead, or from 1.5 to 3 atomic percent lead. For example, the alloy may contain about 0.5 atomic percent, about 0.75 atomic percent, about 1 atomic percent, about 1.25 atomic percent, about 1.5 atomic percent, about 1.75 atomic percent, about 2 atomic percent, about 2.25 atomic percent, about 2.5 atomic percent, about 2.75 atomic percent, about 3 atomic percent, about 3.25 atomic percent, about 3.5 atomic percent, about 3.75 atomic percent, about 4 atomic percent, about 4.25 atomic percent, about 4.5 atomic percent, about 4.75 atomic percent, about 5 atomic percent, 5.25 atomic percent, about 5.5 atomic percent, about 5.75 atomic percent, about 6 atomic percent, about 6.25 atomic percent, about 6.5 atomic percent, about 6.75 atomic percent, about 7 atomic percent, about 7.25 atomic percent, about 7.5 atomic percent, about 7.75 atomic percent, or about 8 atomic percent lead. In some examples, lead is not present in the alloy (i.e., 0 atomic percent). In some examples, the present disclosure provides an alloy comprising or consisting of from 40 to 62.5 atomic percent Cu, from 5 to 40 atomic percent Mn, up to 24 atomic percent Ni, from 5 to 24 atomic percent Zn, from 1 to 15 atomic percent Al, and from 0 to 8 atomic percent Pb, such as from 0.5 to 6 atomic percent Pb.

[0060]

[0063] In some examples, the alloy comprises from 0 to 8 atomic percent bismuth, such as from 0 to 5 atomic percent bismuth, from 0.5 to 4.5 atomic percent bismuth, from 0.5 to 4 atomic percent bismuth, from 0.5 to 3.5 atomic percent bismuth, from 1 to 3 atomic percent bismuth, from 1 to 2.5 atomic percent bismuth, or from 1.5 to 2.5 atomic percent bismuth. For example, the alloy can comprise about 0.5 atomic percent, about 0.75 atomic percent, about 1 atomic percent, about 1.25 atomic percent, about 1.5 atomic percent, about 1.75 atomic percent, about 2 atomic percent, about 2.25 atomic percent, about 2.5 atomic percent, about 2.75 atomic percent, about 3 atomic percent, about 3.25 atomic percent, about 3.5 atomic percent, about 3.75 atomic percent, about 4 atomic percent, about 4.25 atomic percent, about 4.5 atomic percent, about 4.75 atomic percent, about 5 atomic percent, about 5.25 atomic percent, about 5.5 atomic percent, about 5.75 atomic percent, about 6 atomic percent, about 6.25 atomic percent, about 6.5 atomic percent, about 6.75 atomic percent, about 7 atomic percent, about 7.25 atomic percent, about 7.5 atomic percent, about 7.75 atomic percent, or about 8 atomic percent bismuth. In some examples, the alloy comprises less than 0.7 atomic percent bismuth, such as less than 0.5 atomic percent bismuth. In some examples, bismuth is not present in the alloy (i.e., 0 atomic percent). In some examples, the present disclosure provides an alloy comprising or consisting of from 40 to 62.5 atomic percent Cu, from 5 to 40 atomic percent Mn, up to 24 atomic percent Ni, from 5 to 24 atomic percent Zn, from 1 to 15 atomic percent Al, and from 0 to 8 atomic percent Bi, such as from 0.2 to 2 atomic percent Bi, such as about 0.55 atomic percent or about 0.6 atomic percent Bi.

[0061]

[0064] In some examples, the alloy comprises from 0 to 8 atomic percent cobalt, such as from 0 to 6 atomic percent cobalt, from 0.5 to 5.5 atomic percent cobalt, from 0.5 to 5 atomic percent cobalt, from 0.5 to 4.5 atomic percent cobalt, from 1 to 4.5 atomic percent cobalt, from 1 to 4 atomic percent cobalt, from 1.5 to 3.5 atomic percent cobalt, or from 1.5 to 3 atomic percent cobalt. For example, the alloy may comprise about 0.5 atomic percent, about 0.75 atomic percent, about 1 atomic percent, about 1.25 atomic percent, about 1.5 atomic percent, about 1.75 atomic percent, about 2 atomic percent, about 2.25 atomic percent, about 2.5 atomic percent, about 2.75 atomic percent, about 3 atomic percent, about 3.25 atomic percent, about 3.5 atomic percent, about 3.75 atomic percent, about 4 atomic percent, about 4.25 atomic percent, about 4.5 atomic percent, about 4.75 atomic percent, about 5 atomic percent, about 5.25 atomic percent, about 5.5 atomic percent, about 5.75 atomic percent, about 6 atomic percent, about 6.25 atomic percent, about 6.5 atomic percent, about 6.75 atomic percent, about 7 atomic percent, about 7.25 atomic percent, about 7.5 atomic percent, about 7.75 atomic percent, or about 8 atomic percent cobalt. In some examples, cobalt is not present in the alloy (i.e., 0 atomic percent). In some examples, the present disclosure provides an alloy comprising or consisting of from 40 to 62.5 atomic percent Cu, from 5 to 40 atomic percent Mn, up to 24 atomic percent Ni, from 5 to 24 atomic percent Zn, from 1 to 15 atomic percent Al, and from 0 to 8 atomic percent Co, such as from 0.5 to 5 atomic percent Co.

[0062]

[0065] In some examples, the alloy comprises from 0 to 12 atomic % iron, such as from 0 to 10 atomic % iron, from 0.5 to 9 atomic % iron, from 0.5 to 8 atomic % iron, from 0.5 to 7 atomic % iron, from 1 to 6.5 atomic % iron, from 1 to 6 atomic % iron, from 1.5 to 5.5 atomic % iron, or from 1.5 to 5 atomic % iron. For example, the alloy can comprise about 0.5 atomic %, about 0.75 atomic %, about 1 atomic %, about 1.25 atomic %, about 1.5 atomic %, about 1.75 atomic %, about 2 atomic %, about 2.25 atomic %, about 2.5 atomic %, about 2.75 atomic %, about 3 atomic %, about 3.25 atomic %, about 3.5 atomic %, about 3.75 atomic %, about 4 atomic %, about 4.25 atomic %, about 4.5 atomic %, about 4.75 atomic %, about 5 atomic %, about 5.25 atomic %, about 5.5 atomic %, about 5.75 atomic %, about 6 atomic %, about 6.25 atomic %, about 6.5 atomic %, about 6.75 atomic %, about 7 atomic %, about 7.25 atomic %, about 7.5 atomic %, about 7.75 atomic %, about 8 atomic %, about 8.25 atomic %, about 8.5 atomic %, about 8.75 atomic %, about 9 atomic %, about 9.25 atomic %, about 9.5 atomic %, about 9.75 atomic %, about 10 atomic %, about 10.25 atomic %, about 10.5 atomic %, about 10.75 atomic %, about 11 atomic %, about 11.25 atomic %, about 11.5 atomic %, about 11.75 atomic %, or about 12 atomic % iron. In some examples, iron is not present in the alloy (i.e., 0 atomic %). In some examples, the present disclosure provides an alloy comprising or consisting of from 40 to 62.5 atomic % Cu, from 5 to 40 atomic % Mn, up to 24 atomic % Ni, from 5 to 24 atomic % Zn, from 1 to 15 atomic % Al, and from 0 to 12 atomic % Fe, such as from 0.5 to 7 atomic % Fe.

[0063]

[0066] In some examples, the alloy comprises from 0 to 8 atomic % carbon, such as from 0 to 6 atomic % carbon, from 0.5 to 5.5 atomic % carbon, from 1 to 5 atomic % carbon, from 1.5 to 5 atomic % carbon, from 1.5 to 5 atomic % carbon, from 2 to 5 atomic % carbon, from 2.5 to 5 atomic % carbon, or from 3 to 5 atomic % carbon. For example, the alloy may comprise about 0.5 atomic %, about 0.75 atomic %, about 1 atomic %, about 1.25 atomic %, about 1.5 atomic %, about 1.75 atomic %, about 2 atomic %, about 2.25 atomic %, about 2.5 atomic %, about 2.75 atomic %, about 3 atomic %, about 3.25 atomic %, about 3.5 atomic %, about 3.75 atomic %, about 4 atomic %, about 4.25 atomic %, about 4.5 atomic %, about 4.75 atomic %, about 5 atomic %, about 5.25 atomic %, about 5.5 atomic %, about 5.75 atomic %, about 6 atomic %, about 6.25 atomic %, about 6.5 atomic %, about 6.75 atomic %, about 7 atomic %, about 7.25 atomic %, about 7.5 atomic %, about 7.75 atomic %, or about 8 atomic % carbon. In some examples, the alloy comprises less than 0.7 atomic % carbon, such as less than 0.5 atomic % carbon. In some examples, carbon is not present in the alloy (i.e., 0 atomic %). In some examples, the present disclosure provides an alloy comprising or consisting of from 40 to 62.5 atomic % Cu, from 5 to 40 atomic % Mn, up to 24 atomic % Ni, from 5 to 24 atomic % Zn, from 1 to 15 atomic % Al, and from 0 to 8 atomic % C, such as from 0.5 to 5 atomic % C.

[0064]

[0067] In some examples, the alloy comprises 0 to 20 atomic % tin, such as 0 to 10 atomic % tin, 0.5 to 8 atomic % tin, 0.5 to 4 atomic % tin, 0.5 to 3.5 atomic % tin, 1 to 3 atomic % tin, 1 to 2.5 atomic % tin, or 1.5 to 2.5 atomic % tin. For example, the alloy may comprise about 0.5 atomic %, about 0.75 atomic %, about 1 atomic %, about 1.25 atomic %, about 1.5 atomic %, about 1.75 atomic %, about 2 atomic %, about 2.25 atomic %, about 2.5 atomic %, about 2.75 atomic %, about 3 atomic %, about 3.25 atomic %, about 3.5 atomic %, about 3.75 atomic %, about 4 atomic %, about 4.25 atomic %, about 4.5 atomic %, about 4.75 atomic %, about 5 atomic %, about 5.25 atomic %, about 5.5 atomic %, about 5.75 atomic %, about 6 atomic %, about 6.25 atomic %, about 6.5 atomic %, about 6.75 atomic %, about 7 atomic %, about 7.25 atomic %, about 7.5 atomic %, about 7.75 atomic %, or about 8 atomic % tin. In some examples, tin is not present in the alloy (i.e., 0 atomic %). In some examples, the present disclosure provides an alloy comprising or consisting of 40 to 62.5 atomic % Cu, 5 to 40 atomic % Mn, up to 24 atomic % Ni, 5 to 24 atomic % Zn, 1 to 15 atomic % Al, and 0 to 20 atomic % Sn, such as 0.5 to 9 atomic % Sn.

[0065]

[0068] In some examples, the alloy contains 0 to 8 atomic % silicon, such as 0 to 6 atomic % silicon, 0.5 to 5.5 atomic % silicon, 0.5 to 5 atomic % silicon, 0.5 to 4.5 atomic % silicon, 1 to 4.5 atomic % silicon, 1 to 4 atomic % silicon, 1.5 to 3.5 atomic % silicon, or 1.5 to 3 atomic % silicon. For example, the alloy may contain about 0.5 atomic %, about 0.75 atomic %, about 1 atomic %, about 1.25 atomic %, about 1.5 atomic %, about 1.75 atomic %, about 2 atomic %, about 2.25 atomic %, about 2.5 atomic %, about 2.75 atomic %, about 3 atomic %, about 3.25 atomic %, about 3.5 atomic %, about 3.75 atomic %, about 4 atomic %, about 4.25 atomic %, about 4.5 atomic %, about 4.75 atomic %, about 5 atomic %, about 5.25 atomic %, about 5.5 atomic %, about 5.75 atomic %, about 6 atomic %, about 6.25 atomic %, about 6.5 atomic %, about 6.75 atomic %, about 7 atomic %, about 7.25 atomic %, about 7.5 atomic %, about 7.75 atomic %, or about 8 atomic % silicon. In some examples, silicon is not present in the alloy (i.e., 0 atomic %). In some examples, the present disclosure provides an alloy comprising or consisting of 40 to 62.5 atomic % Cu, 5 to 40 atomic % Mn, up to 24 atomic % Ni, 5 to 24 atomic % Zn, 1 to 15 atomic % Al, and 0 to 8 atomic % Si, such as 0.5 to 5 atomic % Si.

[0066]

[0069] In some examples, the alloy contains 0 to 2 atomic % magnesium, such as 0 to 1.75 atomic % magnesium, 0.25 to 1.75 atomic % magnesium, 0.25 to 1.5 atomic % magnesium, or 0.5 to 1.5 atomic % magnesium. For example, the alloy may contain about 0.25 atomic %, about 0.5 atomic %, about 0.75 atomic %, about 1 atomic %, about 1.25 atomic %, about 1.5 atomic %, about 1.75 atomic %, or about 2 atomic % magnesium. In some examples, magnesium is not present in the alloy (i.e., 0 atomic %). In some examples, the present disclosure provides an alloy comprising or consisting of 40 to 62.5 atomic % Cu, 5 to 40 atomic % Mn, up to 24 atomic % Ni, 5 to 24 atomic % Zn, 1 to 15 atomic % Al, and 0 to 2 atomic % Mg, such as 0.2 to 1 atomic % Mg.

[0067]

[0070] In some examples, the alloys of the present disclosure include one or more elements selected from the group consisting of arsenic, phosphorus, sulfur, and antimony up to 1 atomic percent. For example, the alloys of the present disclosure may include about 0.1 atomic %, about 0.2 atomic %, about 0.3 atomic %, about 0.4 atomic %, about 0.5 atomic %, about 0.6 atomic %, about 0.7 atomic %, about 0.8 atomic %, about 0.9 atomic % or about 1 atomic % of As. In some examples, the alloy may include about 0.1 atomic %, about 0.2 atomic %, about 0.3 atomic %, about 0.4 atomic %, about 0.5 atomic %, about 0.6 atomic %, about 0.7 atomic %, about 0.8 atomic %, about 0.9 atomic % or about 1 atomic % of P. In some examples, the alloy may include about 0.1 atomic %, about 0.2 atomic %, about 0.3 atomic %, about 0.4 atomic %, about 0.5 atomic %, about 0.6 atomic %, about 0.7 atomic %, about 0.8 atomic %, about 0.9 atomic % or about 1 atomic % of S. In some examples, the alloy may include about 0.1 atomic %, about 0.2 atomic %, about 0.3 atomic %, about 0.4 atomic %, about 0.5 atomic %, about 0.6 atomic %, about 0.7 atomic %, about 0.8 atomic %, about 0.9 atomic % or about 1 atomic % of Sb.

[0068]

[0071] In some examples, the present disclosure provides an alloy comprising or consisting of 40 to 62.5 atomic percent copper, 5 to 40 atomic percent manganese, up to 24 atomic percent nickel, 5 to 24 atomic percent zinc, 1 to 15 atomic percent aluminum, and up to 0.5 atomic percent carbon or bismuth. In some examples, the present disclosure provides an alloy comprising or consisting of 45 to 62.5 atomic percent copper, 8 to 40 atomic percent manganese, 1 to 8 atomic percent nickel, 5 to 24 atomic percent zinc, 1 to 5 atomic percent aluminum, up to 0.4 atomic percent carbon, and up to 0.4 atomic percent bismuth.

[0069]

[0072] Manganese, zinc, and aluminum generally reduce the stacking fault energy of copper alloys. Among these three elements, aluminum is the most potent and reduces the stacking fault energy at a rate of approximately 3×Zn. Manganese provides a smaller reduction in stacking fault energy compared to zinc, generally about 0.2×Zn. The alloys of the present disclosure preferably contain manganese, zinc, and aluminum in amounts that impart a stacking fault energy similar to that imparted by 22.5 to 35 atomic percent zinc. In certain examples, the alloys of the present disclosure contain aluminum, zinc, and manganese in the following amounts: (3×atomic percent of aluminum) + atomic percent of zinc + (0.2×atomic percent of manganese) is 22.5% to 35%. Or, alternatively represented as follows: [(3×atomic % of Al) + (atomic % of Zi) + (0.2×atomic % of Mn)] = 22.5 to 35 atomic %.

[0070]

[0073] In some examples, (3×atomic percent of aluminum) + atomic percent of zinc + (0.2×atomic percent of manganese) is 22.5 atomic % to 35 atomic %, such as 23.5 atomic % to 32.5 atomic %, 24 atomic % to 31 atomic %, 24.5 atomic % to 30.5 atomic %, 25 atomic % to 30 atomic %, 25.5 atomic % to 29.5 atomic %, 26 atomic % to 29.5 atomic %, 26.5 atomic % to 29.5 atomic %, or 27 atomic % to 29 atomic %.

[0071]

[0074] The ductility of typical brass is mainly the result of mechanical twinning formation within its microstructure. The twinning ability of an alloy is directly related to its stacking fault energy. Alloys with low stacking fault energy generally form twins more easily and are more ductile than alloys with high stacking fault energy. Increasing the nickel content of a copper alloy typically increases the stacking fault energy of the alloy, thus increasing its strength while decreasing its ductility. This may not be very desirable industrially because more force is required to process the alloy into a given shape. The alloys of the present disclosure preferably have more copper than nickel in atomic percent units and are thus more ductile and easier to process compared to high-nickel alloys. For example, in the alloys of the present disclosure, the atomic percent ratio of copper: nickel can be at least 2, such as at least 3 or at least 4, at least 4.5, at least 5, at least 5.5, at least 6, at least 6.5, at least 7, at least 7.5, at least 8, at least 8.5, at least 9, at least 9.5, at least 10, at least 10.5, at least 11, at least 11.5, at least 12, at least 12.5, at least 13, at least 13.5, at least 14, at least 14.5, at least 15, at least 15.5, at least 16, at least 16.5, at least 17, at least 17.5, at least 18, at least 18.5, at least 19 or at least 19.5.

[0072]

[0075] Copper is also known to have high antimicrobial properties in certain regions or environments. Therefore, the alloys of the present disclosure can be applied in situations where microbial resistance is desired. For example, the alloys described herein can be used in the manufacture of autoclaves, doorknobs, cooking utensils or food containers.

[0073]

[0076] The alloys described herein are preferably low or non-sparking, i.e., they do not easily spark during mechanical collisions, cutting with metal tools or grinding / pulverization, thus making their use in volatile environments safe.

[0074]

[0077] Although present at lower levels compared to copper, nickel in the present alloy can impart corrosion resistance and increase the solubility of manganese and copper. Moreover, nickel can also prevent dezincification of the alloy during use. Dezincification occurs when zinc atoms migrate to grain boundaries and surfaces, locally enriching these regions with zinc and causing local corrosion and embrittlement of the alloy.

[0075]

[0078] Microstructurally, the particular alloys of the present disclosure can be primarily single-phase (alpha / face-centered cubic crystal structure) or multiphase, depending on their composition and the heat treatment applied.

[0076]

[0079] The particular alloys described herein can be hardened via a crystal structure ordering mechanism or spinodal decomposition events when heat-treated at intermediate temperatures for extended periods.

[0077]

[0080] In certain examples, the alloys of the present disclosure have a strain of about 25% to 70%, such as about 30% to 65%, or about 31% to 64%, or about 35% to 65%, or about 40% to 65%, or about 45% to 65%, or about 45% to 60%, or about 50% to 65%, or about 55% to 65%, or about 60% to 65%. Tensile fracture With strain.

[0078]

[0081] In certain examples, the alloys of the present disclosure have an ultimate tensile strength of about 350 MPa to 600 MPa, such as about 360 MPa to 600 MPa, or about 370 MPa to 600 MPa, or about 380 MPa to 600 MPa, or about 380 MPa to 590 MPa, or about 385 MPa to 590 MPa, or about 385 MPa to 585 MPa, or about 390 MPa to 585 MPa, or about 390 MPa to 580 MPa, or about 390 MPa to 575 MPa, or about 394 MPa to 572 MPa.

[0079]

[0082] In some examples, the alloys of the present disclosure have a casting release hardness (H V ) of about 70 - 190, such as about 75 - 180, or about 80 - 170, or about 86 - 90, or about 83 - 89, or about 111 - 114, or about 94 - 103, about 135 - 137, or about 111 - 116, or about 133 - 137, or about 111 - 116, or about 133 - 137, or about 142 - 166, or about 120 - 126, or about 120 - 150, about 125 - 155, or about 130 - 160, or about 130 - 165, or about 105 - 127, or about 122 - 139, or about 129 - 139, or about 150 - 166, or about 130 - 137, or about 135 - 150, or about 130 - 140, or about 94 - 103.

[0080]

[0083] The alloys of the present disclosure can be cast or pressure die cast into final products (casting alloys) at relatively low temperatures, can be hot forged, hot rolled or hot extruded into plates or rods / tubes, can be cold rolled or cold forged into plates, rods or tubes, and can be machined by deep drawing, turning, milling or metal cutting tools according to specifications. The alloys can be soldered, brazed or welded. The alloys can also be chromium or nickel plated.

[0081]

[0084] The alloys of the present disclosure can be used for general architectural fixtures and hardware such as door and window hinges, latches, doorknobs, door locks, knockers, keys, decorative fixtures, and for mobile phone casings, bezels, badges and medals, decorative castings and sculptures. The alloys can also be used for zippers, hooks for clothing or luggage / travel bags, gears, gear drive shafts, solid slip bearings, military supplies / cartridge or shell cases, ammunition, marine / ship applications, air liquid / liquid / liquid heating / cooling radiators, piping, currency, clamps, fasteners, nuts, bolts, screws, washers, acoustic devices such as speakers, resonators, tuning forks and musical instruments (e.g., trumpets or trombones), electrical contacts, electrically conductive devices, circuit electronic couplings, hydraulic or pneumatic fluid transfer tube couplings or connectors (high pressure or low pressure), hydraulic or pneumatic manifolds, switches, gates and non-sparking tools (e.g., for use in explosive environments).

Example

[0082] Example

[0085] From the addition of nearly pure copper, zinc and nickel, a Cu-Ni-Mn-Zn-Al alloy charge balance was produced with a calculated final volume of 40 cm 3 . Manganese was added using a commercially available 50 / 50 wt% copper-manganese master alloy. The alloy was produced in the following two-step process. 1. A Cu-Mn-Ni button was produced in a Buhler electric arc melting furnace via cycle melting of a copper and nickel balance with a copper-manganese master alloy. Three repeated purgings of the melting chamber with high purity argon, followed by 10 using both a roughing pump and a turbo vacuum pump -4An argon atmosphere of titanium getter was generated through evacuation to the mbar level. At this time, the melting chamber was filled with high-purity argon up to 60% of atmospheric pressure. Subsequently, the titanium getter was melted. First, it was brought into direct contact with copper, and through the melting of nickel shots (thus melting copper into the molten nickel), the uniformity of the Cu-Ni-Mn button was obtained. By repeatedly melting the newly formed Cu-Ni alloy and subsequently melting the Cu-Ni button into the Cu-Mn master alloy, a uniform Cu-Ni-Mn button was produced. 2. Using an induction furnace, the final alloy was produced and zinc and aluminum were incorporated. Zinc and aluminum were placed at the bottom of a boron nitride-coated graphite crucible, and the Cu-Ni-Mn button was placed on top to minimize zinc evaporation. In a circulating argon-rich environment within the induction furnace chamber, melting of the complete Cu-Ni-Mn-Zn-Al charge balance was carried out. The complete charge balance was melted twice in the induction furnace. This was found to assist in uniformity. During the first alloying cycle, the charge balance was heated to 1100 °C and held at that temperature for 2 minutes to ensure complete melting of all charge components. Then, the alloying ingot was left in the crucible to cool, and afterwards, it was taken out and mechanically cleaned / polished to a shiny finish, removing any oxidation products. The ingot was inverted and remelted in the induction furnace, held again at 1100 °C for 2 minutes, cooled to approximately 950 °C, and the liquid metal was poured (in air) into a copper mold with a width of 16 mm, a length of 100 mm, and a depth of 50 mm.

[0083]

[0086] The casting (100 mm × 16 mm × 35 mm) was divided into 50 mm × 16 mm × 35 mm blocks. One half of the casting was used for the as-cast structure metallographic examination and hardness testing. The remaining half of the casting was processed through hot rolling and heat treatment. The initial heat treatment of the as-cast structure was carried out at 750 °C for 2 hours (it was found that this heat treatment completely dissolved the as-cast microstructure in the Cu-Ni-Mn-Zn-Al alloy). Subsequently, the sample was hot rolled laterally from an initial thickness of 16 mm to 8 mm at 750 °C. The purpose of the hot rolling process was to close any casting pores or defects, consolidate the material, and refine and recrystallize the grain structure to essentially reproduce industrial processing. During the hot rolling process, the sample was periodically removed from the 750 °C furnace and rolled by 0.25 mm each time until its final thickness of 8 mm. Following the hot rolling process, the sample was subjected to a final heat treatment at 750 °C for 2 hours to produce the final processed alloy under hot rolling and annealing conditions. At this stage, the processed alloy billet had approximate dimensions of 8 mm × 35 mm × 90 mm. To produce tensile test specimens from the processed alloy material, an 8 mm × 8 mm × 62 mm strip was cut from the billet and machined into cylindrical tensile test specimens with a gauge diameter of 4 mm and a gauge length of 20 mm in accordance with ASTM E8M. Tensile tests were carried out in accordance with ASTM A370 using an Instron tensile testing machine, a laser extensometer, and related computers and data loggers. Software made by Bluehill was used to record the measured load and laser extensometer readings. Representative engineering stress-strain data are provided in Figures 1 and 2, and characteristic mechanical properties are shown in Table 1. The side profiles of the alloy fractured under tension are shown in Figures 3 and 4.

[0084]

[0087] Hardness tests were performed on suitably prepared sections taken from the as-cast and processed samples. After a suitable calibration of the semi-automatic machine with a 400 HV test block, hardness tests were carried out using a Struers duramen A300 hardness testing machine with a 1 kg load and a dwell time of 5 seconds. A minimum of 20 hardness indentations were made for each sample.

[0085]

Table 1

[0086]

[0088] The techniques described above in this example may be suitable for laboratory-scale alloy production, but it will be understood by those skilled in the art that other methods may be used, particularly for industrial-scale alloy production. For example, the alloy may be produced by performing large-scale melting of all alloy components in an induction or resistance heating furnace until completely melted. This may include alloying the higher melting point components while gradually reducing the melting temperature initially when adding the lower melting point components in order to avoid gas evolution of zinc and / or manganese. Additives, fluxes or coke may be used to reduce oxygen, hydrogen and other impurities in the melt and to protect the melt surface from further oxidation or decomposition. The melt may then be cast as an ingot. The ingot may then be cast directly into the product or pressure die cast. It is possible to continuously cast the alloy through a water-cooled graphite or copper or other metal nozzle of a fixed cross-sectional area to produce plates, bars, rods or hollow-section products. Alternatively, the melt may be twin-roll strip cast into sheet products. Subsequently, the product may be homogenized, hot rolled, hot extruded, hot drawn or forged at a temperature above 700 °C to its required shape at a temperature above 600 °C. The product may be cold worked (rolled, extruded, forged or drawn) and annealed or hardened by low-temperature annealing.

[0087]

[0089] Although the invention has been described with reference to specific embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that the invention may be embodied in many other forms.

Claims

1. 50 to 60 atomic percent of copper, 15 to 22.5 atomic percent of manganese, 1 to 7 atomic percent of nickel, 7.5 to 20 atomic percent of zinc, 1 to 5 atomic percent of aluminum, 0 to 1 atomic percent of one or more elements selected from the group consisting of arsenic, phosphorus, sulfur, and antimony, inevitable impurities, and, (3 × atomic percent of aluminum) + atomic percent of zinc + (0.2 × atomic percent of manganese) is 22.5% to 32.5%, an alloy.

2. 50 to 60 atomic percent of copper, 15 to 22.5 atomic percent of manganese, 1 to 5 atomic percent of nickel, 7.5 to 20 atomic percent of zinc, 1 to 5 atomic percent of aluminum, 0 to 1 atomic percent of one or more elements selected from the group consisting of arsenic, phosphorus, sulfur, and antimony, inevitable impurities, and comprising the alloy according to Claim 1.

3. 50 to 60 atomic percent of copper, 15 to 22.5 atomic percent of manganese, 1 to 5 atomic percent of nickel, 15 to 20 atomic percent of zinc, 1 to 5 atomic percent of aluminum, 0 to 1 atomic percent of one or more elements selected from the group consisting of arsenic, phosphorus, sulfur, and antimony, inevitable impurities, and comprising the alloy according to Claim 1 or 2.

4. 50 to 60 atomic percent of copper, 15 to 22.5 atomic percent of manganese, 1 to 5 atomic percent of nickel, 15 to 20 atomic percent of zinc, 1 to 3 atomic percent of aluminum, 0 to 1 atomic percent of one or more elements selected from the group consisting of arsenic, phosphorus, sulfur, and antimony, inevitable impurities, and comprising the alloy according to any one of Claims 1 to 3.

5. The atomic percent ratio of copper to nickel is at least 9, the alloy according to any one of Claims 1 to 4.

6. Having a tensile fracture strain of 40% to 65%, the alloy according to any one of Claims 1 to 5.

7. Having an ultimate tensile strength of 390 MPa to 575 MPa, the alloy according to any one of Claims 1 to 6.

8. Having a as-cast hardness (HV) of 80 to 170, the alloy according to any one of Claims 1 to 7.

9. Cu ５７．５ Ni ５ Mn １７．５ Zn １７．５ Al ２．５ is The alloy according to Claim 1.

10. Cu ５７．５ Ni ５ Mn １５ Zn ２０ Al ２．５ is The alloy according to Claim 1.

11. 50 to 60 atomic percent of copper, 15 to 22.5 atomic percent of manganese, 1 to 7 atomic percent of nickel, 7.5 to 20 atomic percent of zinc, 1 to 5 atomic percent of aluminum, comprising, (3 × atomic percent of aluminum) + atomic percent of zinc + (0.2 × atomic percent of manganese) is 22.5% to 32.5%, an alloy.

12. 50 to 60 atomic percent of copper, 15 to 22.5 atomic percent of manganese, 1 to 7 atomic percent of nickel, 7.5 to 20 atomic percent of zinc, 1 to 5 atomic percent of aluminum, inevitable impurities, comprising, (3 × atomic percent of aluminum) + atomic percent of zinc + (0.2 × atomic percent of manganese) is 22.5% to 32.5%, an alloy.

13. 50 to 60 atomic percent of copper, 15 to 22.5 atomic percent of manganese, 1 to 7 atomic percent of nickel, 7.5 to 20 atomic percent of zinc, 1 to 5 atomic percent of aluminum, 0 to 1 atomic percent of one or more elements selected from the group consisting of arsenic, phosphorus, sulfur, and antimony, comprising, (3 × atomic percent of aluminum) + atomic percent of zinc + (0.2 × atomic percent of manganese) is 22.5% to 32.5%, an alloy.

Images