Gold alloys and master alloys for obtaining them

Abstract

Gold alloy comprising, by weight, at least Gold Au≧33%, Iridium Ir≦0.4%, germanium Ge≦2%, 0.015% ≦silicon ≦0.3%, Phosphorus ≦0.02% and Copper Cu≦66%. The alloy can also comprise, in percentage by weight, Silver Ag≦34%, nickel Ni≦20% and Zinc Zn≦25%. In some variations the gold alloy can further comprise no more than 4% of at least one of the elements of the group constituted by cobalt, manganese, tin and indium, and no more than 0.15% of at least one of the deoxidizing elements of the group constituted by magnesium, silicon, boron and lithium. To the alloy can also be added at least one of the refining elements of the group constituted by ruthenium, rhenium and platinum in quantities not exceeding 0.4% by weight. The invention further relates to a master alloy for obtaining said gold alloy.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A Gold alloy comprising, in terms of weight, at least: 
 Gold: Au≧33%;    Iridium: Ir≦0.4%;    Germanium: Ge≦2%;    Silicon: 0.015% ≦Si≦0.3%;    Phosphorus: P≦0.02%;    Copper: Cu sufficient to reach 100.    
     
     
         2 . A Gold alloy as claimed in  claim 1 , comprising in terms of weight, at least: 
 Gold: Au≧51%;    Iridium: Ir≦0.2%;    Germanium: Ge≦2%;    Silicon: 0.015% ≦Si≦0.2%;    Phosphorus: P≦0.02%;    Copper: Cu sufficient to reach 100.    
     
     
         3 . A Gold alloy as claimed in  claim 2  characterized in that it further comprises silver with a percentage by weight of: Ag≦34%.  
     
     
         4 . A Gold alloy as claimed in  claim 1  characterized in that it further comprises Nickel with a percentage by weight of: Ni≦20%.  
     
     
         5 . A Gold alloy as claimed in  claim 1  characterized in that it further comprises Zinc with a percentage by weight of: Zn≦15%.  
     
     
         6 . A Gold alloy as claimed in  claim 1  characterized in that it comprises Gold with a percentage by weight of: 74≦Au≦77%.  
     
     
         7 . A Gold alloy as claimed in  claim 1  characterized in that it comprises Gold with a percentage by weight of: 57≦Au≦60%.  
     
     
         8 . A Gold alloy as claimed in  claim 1 , characterized in that it comprises Gold with a percentage by weight of: 33≦Au≦3 5%.  
     
     
         9 . A Gold alloy as claimed in  claim 1  characterized in that it comprises Gold with a percentage by weight of: 37≦Au≦39%.  
     
     
         10 . A Gold alloy as claimed in  claim 1 , characterized in that it comprises Gold with a percentage by weight of: 40≦Au≦43%.  
     
     
         11 . A Gold alloy as claimed in  claim 1  characterized in that it further comprises no more than 4% by weight of at least one of the elements of the group constituted by cobalt, manganese, tin and indium.  
     
     
         12 . A Gold alloy as claimed in  claim 1  characterized in that it further comprises no more than 0.15% by weight of at least one of the elements of the group constituted by magnesium, silicon, boron and lithium.  
     
     
         13 . A Gold alloy as claimed in  claim 1  characterized in that it further comprises no more than 0.4% by weight of at least one of the elements of the group constituted by ruthenium, rhenium and platinum.  
     
     
         14 . A Gold alloy comprising, in terms of weight, at least: 
 Gold: Au≧33%;    Iridium: Ir≦0.4%    Germanium: Ge≦2%;    Phosphorus: 0.003≦P≦0.02%;    Copper: Cu sufficient to reach 100.    
     
     
         15 . A Gold alloy as claimed in  claim 14 , comprising in terms of weight, at least: 
 Gold: Au≧74%;    Iridium: 0.005≦Ir≦0.02%;    Germanium: 0.05≦Ge≦0.2%;    Phosphorus: 0.003≦P≦0.02%;    Zinc: Zn≦5%;    Silver: 1≦Ag≦20%    Copper: Cu sufficient to reach 100.    
     
     
         16 . A master alloy for obtaining gold alloys as claimed in any of the claims from 1 to 13 characterized in that it comprises, by weight, at least: 
 Iridium: Ir≦0.4%    Germanium: Ge≦4%;    Silicon: 0.03≦Si≦1.2%;    Phosphorus: P≦0.1%    Copper: Cu sufficient to reach 100.    
     
     
         17 . Master alloy as claimed in  claim 16  characterized in that it further comprises Silver with a percentage by weight of Ag≦72%.  
     
     
         18 . Master alloy as claimed in  claim 16  characterized in that it further comprises nickel with a percentage by weight of Ni≦41%.  
     
     
         19 . Master alloy as claimed in  claim 16  characterized in that it further comprises Zinc with a percentage by weight of: Zn≦25%.  
     
     
         20 . Master alloy as claimed in  claim 16  characterized in that it further comprises no more than 8% of at least one of the elements of the group constituted by cobalt, manganese, tin and indium.  
     
     
         21 . Master alloy as claimed in  claim 16  characterized in that it further comprises no more than 0.56% of at least one of the elements of the group constituted by magnesium, silicon, boron and lithium.  
     
     
         22 . Master alloy as claimed in  claim 16  characterized in that it further comprises no more than 0.96% by weight of at least one of the elements of the group constituted by ruthenium, rhenium and platinum.  
     
     
         23 . Master alloy for obtaining gold alloys as claimed in any of the claims  14  and  15  comprising, in terms of weight, at least: 
 Iridium: Ir≦0.4%  
 Germanium: Ge≦4%  
 Phosphorus: 0. 01≦P≦0.1%  
 Copper: Cu sufficient to reach 100.  
 
     
     
         24 . Master alloy as claimed in  claim 23 , comprising in terms of weight, at least: 
 Iridium: 0.02≦Ir≦0.08%;    germanium: 0.2≦Ge≦0.8%;    Phosphorus: 0.012≦P≦0.08%;    Zinc: Zn≦20%;    Silver: 4≦Ag≦80%    Copper: Cu sufficient to reach 100.