PRECIPITATION HARDENABLE COPPER ALLOY AND PROCESS

摘要

Alloy has improved stress relaxation resistance when subjected to discontinuous precipitation and consists of (by wt.) 10-15% Ni, 1-3% Al, up to 1% Mn, 0.05-0.5% Mg and less than 0.05% Si, balance Cu. The alloy is treated by (i) holding at 880-980 deg.C; (ii) hot working followed by rapid cooling; (iii) cold working the alloy to 0.90% reduction in thickness; (iv) solution treating at a temp. near or above the solvus of the alloy; (v) cold working up to a 75% reduction in thickness; and (vi) aging at 400-550 deg.C. The alloy has improved properties due to the Mg content, without adversely affecting the strength to bend properties or the electrical conductivity.