| 摘要 |
Electrodes comprised of spinodal copper alloys. Applicant's tests have shown erosion rates of these alloys under certain environmental conditions are a factor of 5 or more lower than erosion rates of similar prior art copper alloys. In one application, the erosion of spinodal electrodes was at least an order of magnitude lower than the prior art material. A preferred application of these electrodes are as electrodes in excimer lasers which utilize a circulating laser gas containing fluorine. A preferred spinodal copper alloy is a copper-tin-nickel alloy known as spinodal bronze. These alloys are prepared using spinodal decomposition. This material forms atomic layers several atoms thick. The spinodal decomposition process permits atoms of one kind to concentrate to an extent while maintaining a relatively uniform crystal structure. A specific alloy of spinodal bronze commercially available which has been tested by Applicant with amazing results is comprised primarily of about 80 percent copper, about 7 percent tin and about 12.5 percent nickel. It is commercially available and sold under the spinodal decomposition. This material forms atomic layers several atoms thick. The spinodal decomposition process permits atoms of one kind to concentrate to an extent while maintaining a relatively uniform crystal structure. A specific alloy of spinodal bronze commercially available which has been tested by Applicant with amazing results is comprised primarily of about 80 percent copper, about 7 percent tin and about 12.5 percent nickel. It is commercially available and sold under the tradename, Nicomet (R)3 Spinodal Bronze.
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