Method of producing copper alloy by melting technique

Claim 1

A method of producing a zirconium-containing alloy by melting copper, together with other alloying ingredients, in an air atmosphere, and adding the zirconium in two separate steps to assure uniform dispersion within the melt, said method comprising the successive steps of: (a) melting from about 85 to about 95% by weight of copper of the total copper content in a crucible in air; (b) introducing only zirconium in at least a deoxidizing amount to the copper melt; thereafter (c) introducing an alloying amount of zirconium to the substantially deoxidizing melt of step (b), thereby dispersing the thus added zirconium uniformly throughout the melt; and (d) adding the remaining amount of copper of about 5 to about 15% by weight to the melt, thereby rapidly cooling the melt to a casting temperature and minimizing the loss of zirconium added in step (b), the melt being substantially exposed to an air atmosphere during steps (a), (b), (c) and (d).

Claim 2

A method of producing a zirconium-containing alloy by melting copper, together with other alloying ingredients, in an air atmosphere, and adding the zirconium in two separate steps to assure uniform dispersion within the melt, said method comprising the successive steps of: (a) melting from about 85 to about 95% by weight of copper of the total copper content in a crucible in air; (b) introducing only zirconium in at least a deoxidizing amount to the copper melt; thereafter (c) introducing an alloying amount of zirconium to the substantially deoxidizing melt of step (b), thereby dispersing the thus added zirconium uniformly throughout the melt; and (d) adding the remaining amount of copper of about 5 to about 15% by weight to the melt, thereby rapidly cooling the melt to a casting temperature and minimizing the loss of zirconium added in step (b), the melt being substantially exposed to an air atmosphere during steps (a), (b), (c) and (d).