US4681629A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Powder metallurgical process for manufacturing copper-nickel-tin spinodal alloy articles
Assignee: Ametek Inc
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Filing: 1985-12-19
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Granted: 1987-07-21
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Expires: 2005-12-19
Abstract
Abstract Discrete copper-nickel-tin spinodal alloy articles, such as bearings, containing from about 5 to about 35 wt. % nickel, from about 4 to about 13 wt. % tin and the balance copper are produced by processing a prealloyed alloy powder to form a green body having substantially the desired shape of, and proportionally sized to, the final article and sintering the green body in a reducing atmosphere or a vacuum at a temperature of at least 1650 DEG F. for sufficient time to achieve at least 90% of the theoretical density. The green body may be formed by either compaction or injection molding of the prealloyed powder. The resulting sintered article may be age hardened to effect a spinodal decomposition of the copper-nickel-tin alloy. The age hardened articles exhibit excellent strength properties and homogeneity while retaining significant ductility.
Inventors
- 👤 John H. Reinshagen
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 03:54
CPC Classifications
B; B22; B22F; B22F3/00; B22F3/22; B22F3/225; B22F3/12; B22F7/00; B22F7/002; C; C22; C22C; C22C1/00; C22C1/04; C22C1/0425; C22C9/00; C22C9/02; C22C9/06; C22F; C22F1/00; C22F1/08; B22F2301/00; B22F2301/10; B22F2998/00; F; F16; F16C; F16C33/00; F16C33/02; F16C33/04; F16C33/06; F16C33/14; F16C33/145
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
141 words
A process for preparing a discrete copper-base spinodal alloy article which comprises the steps of: (a) providing a prealloyed copper base alloy powder containing from about 5 to about 35 percent by weight nickel, from about 4 to about 13 percent by weight tin, and the balance copper; (b) compacting the alloy powder to form a green body having structural integrity, sufficient porosity to be penetrated by a reducing atmosphere or a vacuum and substantially the desired size and shape of said article; and (c) sintering the green body in the reducing atmosphere or a vacuum at a temperature of from about 1700° F. to about 1800° F. for at least about 30 minutes to form a metallurgical bond and achieve a post-sinter alloy body density which is from 90 to 96 percent of the theoretical density of said alloy body.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
141 words
A process for preparing a discrete copper-base spinodal alloy article which comprises the steps of: (a) providing a prealloyed copper base alloy powder containing from about 5 to about 35 percent by weight nickel, from about 4 to about 13 percent by weight tin, and the balance copper; (b) compacting the alloy powder to form a green body having structural integrity, sufficient porosity to be penetrated by a reducing atmosphere or a vacuum and substantially the desired size and shape of said article; and (c) sintering the green body in the reducing atmosphere or a vacuum at a temperature of from about 1700° F. to about 1800° F. for at least about 30 minutes to form a metallurgical bond and achieve a post-sinter alloy body density which is from 90 to 96 percent of the theoretical density of said alloy body.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
25 words
A process of claim 1 wherein the density of the green body is at least about 70 percent of the theoretical density of said body.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
28 words
A process of claim 2 wherein the density of the green body is from about 80 percent to about 90 percent of the theoretical density of said body.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
25 words
A process of claim 1 comprising additionally the step of cooling the sintered body at a rate such that age hardening and embrittlement are prevented.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
15 words
A process of claim 1 comprising additionally the step of age hardening the sintered body.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
33 words
A process of claim 4 comprising additionally the step of age hardening the sintered body at a temperature of from about 500° F. to about 1000° F. for at least about 15 seconds.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
30 words
A process of claim 6 wherein the duration of the age hardening treatment is approximately equal to the peak strength aging time of the alloy at the age hardening temperature.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
29 words
A process of claim 6 wherein the duration of the age hardening treatment is less than the peak strength aging time of the alloy at the age hardening temperature.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
34 words
A process of claim 1 wherein said alloy powder contains from about 6 to about 15 percent by weight nickel, from about 4 to about 8 percent by weight tin, and the balance copper.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
26 words
A process of claim 1 wherein said alloy powder contains about 15 percent by weight nickel, about 8 percent by weight tin, and the balance copper.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
26 words
A process of claim 1 wherein said alloy powder contains about 7.5 percent by weight nickel, about 4.5 percent by weight tin, and the balance copper.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
94 words
An article of manufacture comprising a discrete age hardened copper base alloy part prepared by powder metallurgy, said alloy containing from about 5 to about 35 percent by weight nickel, from about 4 to about 13 percent by weight tin, and the balance copper, and said part having a density of from 90 to 96 percent of the theoretical density of the part, a transverse rupture strength of at least about 180 ksi, an ultimate tensile strength of at least about 90 ksi and a percent elongation at break of at least 2 percent.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
94 words
An article of manufacture comprising a discrete age hardened copper base alloy part prepared by powder metallurgy, said alloy containing from about 5 to about 35 percent by weight nickel, from about 4 to about 13 percent by weight tin, and the balance copper, and said part having a density of from 90 to 96 percent of the theoretical density of the part, a transverse rupture strength of at least about 180 ksi, an ultimate tensile strength of at least about 90 ksi and a percent elongation at break of at least 2 percent.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
27 words
An article of manufacture of claim 12 wherein said alloy contains about 15 percent by weight nickel, about 8 percent by weight tin, and the balance copper.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1990-07-20 | 1991-01-19 | 1991-07-21 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1994-07-20 | 1995-01-19 | 1995-07-21 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1998-07-20 | 1999-01-19 | 1999-07-21 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |