Copper-Zinc Alloy and Synchronizer Ring Produced Therefrom

Abstract

A copper-zinc alloy is particularly suitable for forming synchronizer rings. The novel alloy contains 55 to 75 wt. % copper, 0.1 to 8 wt. % aluminum, 0.3 to 3.5 wt. % iron, 0.5 to 8 wt. % manganese, 0 to less than 5 wt. % nickel, 0 to less than 0.1 wt. % lead, 0 to 3 wt. % tin, 0.3 to 5 wt. % silicon, 0 to less than 0.1 wt. % cobalt, 0 to less than 0.05 wt. % titanium, 0 to less than 0.02 phosphorus, unavoidable impurities and the remainder zinc.

1 . A copper-zinc alloy, comprising:
 55 to 75 wt. % copper;   0.1 to 8 wt. % aluminum;   0.3 to 3.5 wt. % iron;   0.5 to 8 wt. % manganese;   0 to less than 5 wt. % nickel;   0 to less than 0.1 wt. % lead;   0 to 3 wt. % tin;   0.3 to 5 wt. % silicon;   0 to less than 0.1 wt. % cobalt;   0 to less than 0.05 wt. % titanium;   0 to less than 0.02 wt. % phosphorus;   unavoidable impurities; and   a remainder zinc.   
     
     
         2 . The copper-zinc alloy according to  claim 1 , which contains nickel in an amount of less than 5 wt. % nickel, lead in an amount of less than 0.1 wt. %, tin in an amount of up to 3 wt. %, cobalt in an amount of less than 0.1 wt. %, titanium in an amount of less than 0.05 wt. %, and phosphorus in amount of less than 0.02 wt. %. 
     
     
         3 . The copper-zinc alloy according to  claim 1 , which contains aluminum in a proportion of from 0.5 to 2.5 wt. %, iron in a proportion of from 0.3 to 1 wt. %, manganese in a proportion of from 0.5 to 5 wt. %, nickel in a proportion of from 0.5 to less than 5 wt. %, tin in a proportion of from 0 to 1.5 wt. %, and silicon in a proportion of from 0.3 to 2 wt. %. 
     
     
         4 . The copper-zinc alloy according to  claim 1 , which contains aluminum in a proportion of from 3 to 8 wt. %, iron in a proportion of from 1 to 3 wt. %, manganese in a proportion of from 5 to 8 wt. %, nickel in a proportion of from 0 to less than 0.5 wt. %, tin in a proportion of from 0 to less than 0.5 wt. %, and silicon in a proportion of from 1 to 4 wt. %. 
     
     
         5 . The copper-zinc alloy according to  claim 1 , which contains at least one of the following components: nickel in an amount of less than 5 wt. %, lead in an amount of less than 0.1 wt. %, tin in an amount of up to 3 wt. %, cobalt in an amount of less than 0.1 wt. %, titanium in an amount of less than 0.05 wt. %, and phosphorus in amount of less than 0.02 wt. %. 
     
     
         6 . The copper-zinc alloy according to  claim 1 , which contains at least two of the following components: nickel in an amount of less than 5 wt. %, lead in an amount of less than 0.1 wt. %, tin in an amount of up to 3 wt. %, cobalt in an amount of less than 0.1 wt. %, titanium in an amount of less than 0.05 wt. %, and phosphorus in amount of less than 0.02 wt. %. 
     
     
         7 . The copper-zinc alloy according to  claim 1 , which contains at least three of the following components: nickel in an amount of less than 5 wt. %, lead in an amount of less than 0.1 wt. %, tin in an amount of up to 3 wt. %, cobalt in an amount of less than 0.1 wt. %, titanium in an amount of less than 0.05 wt. %, and phosphorus in amount of less than 0.02 wt. %. 
     
     
         8 . The copper-zinc alloy according to  claim 1 , which contains at least four of the following components: nickel in an amount of less than 5 wt. %, lead in an amount of less than 0.1 wt. %, tin in an amount of up to 3 wt. %, cobalt in an amount of less than 0.1 wt. %, titanium in an amount of less than 0.05 wt. %, and phosphorus in amount of less than 0.02 wt. %. 
     
     
         9 . A synchronizer ring consisting of a copper-zinc alloy according to  claim 1 . 
     
     
         10 . A method of producing a synchronizer ring, which comprises:
 providing a copper-zinc alloy according to  claim 1 ; and   forming a synchronizer ring from the copper-zinc alloy.   
     
     
         11 . The method according to  claim 10 , wherein the forming step comprises machining the synchronizer ring from the copper-zinc alloy.