US4425168A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Copper beryllium alloy and the manufacture thereof
Assignee: Cabot Berylco Inc
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Filing: 1982-09-07
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Granted: 1984-01-10
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Expires: 2002-09-07
Abstract
Abstract A process for producing a copper beryllium alloy. The process includes the steps of: preparing a copper beryllium melt; casting the melt; hot working the cast copper beryllium; annealing the copper beryllium; cold working the annealed copper beryllium; and hardening the copper beryllium; and is characterized by the improvement comprising the steps of: solution annealing the cold worked copper beryllium at a temperature of from 1275° (691°) to 1375° F. (746° C.); hardening the annealed copper beryllium at a temperature of from 400° (204°) to 580° F. (304° C.); cold rolling the hardened copper beryllium; and stress relief annealing the cold worked copper beryllium at a temperature of from 400° (204°) to 700° F. (371° C.). An alloy consisting essentially of, in weight percent, from 0.4 to 2.5% beryllium, up to 3.5% of material from the group consisting of cobalt and nickel, up to 0.5% of material from the group consisting of titanium and zirconium, up to 0.3% iron, up to 0.7% silicon, up to 0.3% aluminum, up to 1.0% tin, up to 3.0% zinc, up to 1.0% lead, balance essentially copper. The alloy is characterized by equiaxed grains. The grains have an average grain size of less than 9 microns. Substantially all of the grains are less than 12 microns in size.
Inventors
- 👤 Sherwood Goldstein
- 👤 Henry T. McClelland
- 👤 Paul J. Scherbner
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 02:55
CPC Classifications
C; C22; C22F; C22F1/00; C22F1/08
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
160 words
In a process for producing a copper beryllium alloy having a desirable combination of strength and formability characterized by a yield strength and a 180° bend radius to thickness ratio within, directly to the right or directly above the cross-hatched area of FIG. 1, which process includes the steps of: preparing a copper beryllium melt; casting the melt; hot working the cast copper beryllium; annealing the copper beryllium; cold working the annealed copper beryllium; and hardening the copper beryllium; the improvement comprising the steps of: solution annealing cold worked copper beryllium at a temperature of from 1275° (691°) to 1375° F. (746° C.); hardening said annealed copper beryllium at a temperature of from 400° (204°) to 580° F. (304° C.); cold working said hardened copper beryllium, said cold working resulting in a reduction in thickness of at least 3%; and stress relief annealing said cold worked copper beryllium at a temperature of from 400° (204°) to 700° F. (371° C.).
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
160 words
In a process for producing a copper beryllium alloy having a desirable combination of strength and formability characterized by a yield strength and a 180° bend radius to thickness ratio within, directly to the right or directly above the cross-hatched area of FIG. 1, which process includes the steps of: preparing a copper beryllium melt; casting the melt; hot working the cast copper beryllium; annealing the copper beryllium; cold working the annealed copper beryllium; and hardening the copper beryllium; the improvement comprising the steps of: solution annealing cold worked copper beryllium at a temperature of from 1275° (691°) to 1375° F. (746° C.); hardening said annealed copper beryllium at a temperature of from 400° (204°) to 580° F. (304° C.); cold working said hardened copper beryllium, said cold working resulting in a reduction in thickness of at least 3%; and stress relief annealing said cold worked copper beryllium at a temperature of from 400° (204°) to 700° F. (371° C.).
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
27 words
The process according to claim 1, wherein said cold worked copper beryllium is solution annealed at a temperature of from 1290° (699°) to 1350° F. (732° C.).
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
31 words
The process according to claim 1, wherein said solution anneal at a temperature of from 1275° (691°) to 1375° F. (746° C.) is for a period of less than twelve minutes.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
31 words
The process according to claim 3, wherein said solution anneal at a temperature of from 1275° (691°) to 1375° F. (746° C.) is for a period of less than five minutes.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
25 words
The process according to claim 1, wherein said annealed copper beryllium is hardened at a temperature of from 450° (232°) to 510° F. (266° C.).
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
29 words
The process according to claim 1, wherein said hardening at a temperature of from 400° (204°) to 580° F. (304°) is for a period of at least two hours.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
30 words
The process according to claim 6, wherein said hardening at a temperature of from 400° (204°) to 580° F. (304° C.) is for a period of at least three hours.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
17 words
The process according to claim 1, wherein said aged copper beryllium is cold worked to final gauge.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
30 words
The process according to claim 1, wherein the copper beryllium alloy has a yield strength and a 180° bend radius to thickness ratio within the cross-hatched area of FIG. 1.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
20 words
The process according to claim 1 wherein said cold working results in a reduction in thickness of at least 10%.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
28 words
The process according to claim 1, wherein said cold worked copper beryllium is stress relief annealed at a temperature of from 500° (260°) to 650° F. (343° C.).
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
28 words
The process according to claim 11, wherein said cold worked copper beryllium is stress relief annealed at a temperature of from 580° (304°) to 620° F. (326° C.).
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
32 words
The process according to claim 1, wherein said stress relief anneal at a temperature of from 400° (204°) to 700° F. (371° C.) is for a period of less than seven minutes.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
32 words
The process according to claim 13, wherein said stress relief anneal at a temperature of from 400° (204°) to 700° F. (371° C.) is for a period of less than five minutes.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
57 words
The process according to claim 1, including the step of heat treating the copper beryllium, at an intermediate cold working gauge and prior to said solution anneal at a temperature of from 1275° (691°) to 1375° F. (746° C.), at a temperature of at least 900° F. (482° C.) for a period of at least six hours.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
55 words
The process according to claim 15, wherein the copper beryllium is heat treated at an intermediate cold working gauge and prior to said solution anneal at a temperature of from 1275° (691°) to 1375° F. (746° C.), at a temperature of at least 1000° F. (538° C.) for a period of at least eight hours.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
54 words
A copper beryllium alloy having, in weight percent, from 0.4 to 2.5% beryllium, up to 3.5% of material from the groups consisting of cobalt and nickel, up to 0.5% of material from the groups consisting of titanium and zirconium, and at least 90% copper and made in accordance with the process of claim 1.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3658601A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1987-01-09 | 1987-07-11 | 1988-01-10 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1991-01-09 | 1991-07-11 | 1992-01-10 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1995-01-09 | 1995-07-11 | 1996-01-10 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |