Age-hardenable copper alloy

Abstract

An age-hardenable copper alloy made of 1.2 to 2.7% cobalt, which is able to be partially replaced by nickel, 0.3 to 0.7% beryllium, 0.01 to 0.5% zirconium, optionally 0.005 to 0.1% magnesium and/or iron and in some instances up to a maximum of 0.15% of at least one element from the group including niobium, tantalum, vanadium, hafnium, chromium, manganese, titanium and cerium. The remainder is copper and includes production-conditioned impurities and usual processing-additives. This copper alloy is used as the material for producing mold blocks for the side dams of continuous strip-casting installations.

1 . An age-hardenable copper alloy suitable as a material for producing block for the side of dams of strip-casting installations, comprising: 1.2 to 2.7% cobalt, 0.3 to 0.7% beryllium, 0.01 to 0.5% zirconium, and a balance of copper. 
     
     
         2 - 19 . (canceled) 
     
     
         20 . A strip-casting installation dam block comprising an age-hardenable copper alloy consisting essentially of: 1.2 to 2.7 weight % cobalt, 0.3 to 0.7 weight % zirconium, copper, and at least one element selected from the group consisting of niobium, tantalum, and vanadium, wherein the copper alloy has a grain size between 30 and 90 μm, ascertained according to ASTM E112, wherein the at least one element selected from the group consisting of niobium, tantalum, and vanadium is present in an amount which does not exceed 0.15 weight % of the copper alloy; and
 wherein the dam block copper alloy in the age-hardened state has a tensile strength of at least 650 MPa, a Vickers hardness of at least 210 HV, an electrical conductivity of at least 40% IACS, a hot tensile strength at 500° C. of at least 400 MPa, and a minimum hardness of 160 HV after 500 hours of constant ageing at 500° C.   
     
     
         21 . The dam block according to  claim 20 , wherein said copper alloy further consists essentially of 0.005 to 0.2 weight % magnesium. 
     
     
         22 . The dam block according to  claim 20 , wherein said copper alloy further consists essentially of 0.005 to 0.2 weight % iron. 
     
     
         23 . The dam block according to  claim 21 , wherein said copper alloy further consists essentially of 0.005 to 0.2 weight % iron. 
     
     
         24 . The dam block according to  claim 20 , wherein said copper alloy further consists essentially of at least one element selected from the group consisting of hafnium, chromium, manganese, titanium and cerium, wherein the total amount of the at least one element selected from the group consisting of niobium, tantalum, and vanadium, in addition to the at least one element selected from the group consisting of hafnium, chromium, manganese, titanium and cerium, does not exceed 0.15 weight % of the copper alloy. 
     
     
         25 . The dam block according to  claim 21 , wherein said copper alloy further consists essentially of at least one element selected from the group consisting of hafnium, chromium, manganese, titanium and cerium, wherein the total amount of the at least one element selected from the group consisting of niobium, tantalum, and vanadium, in addition to the at least one element selected from the group consisting of hafnium, chromium, manganese, titanium and cerium, does not exceed 0.15 weight % of the copper alloy. 
     
     
         26 . The dam block according to  claim 22 , wherein said copper alloy further consists essentially of at least one element selected from the group consisting of hafnium, chromium, manganese, titanium and cerium, wherein the total amount of the at least one element selected from the group consisting of niobium, tantalum, and vanadium, in addition to the at least one element selected from the group consisting of hafnium, chromium, manganese, titanium and cerium, does not exceed 0.15 weight % of the copper alloy. 
     
     
         27 . The dam block according to  claim 23 , wherein said copper alloy further consists essentially of at least one element selected from the group consisting of hafnium, chromium, manganese, titanium and cerium, wherein the total amount of the at least one element selected from the group consisting of niobium, tantalum, and vanadium, in addition to the at least one element selected from the group consisting of hafnium, chromium, manganese, titanium and cerium, does not exceed 0.15 weight % of the copper alloy. 
     
     
         28 . The dam block according to  claim 23 , wherein the copper alloy consists of essentially of 1.8 to 2.4 weight % cobalt, 0.45 to 0.65 weight % beryllium, 0.15 to 0.3 weight % zirconium, up to 0.05 weight % magnesium, and up to 0.1 weight % iron. 
     
     
         29 . The dam block according to  claim 20 , wherein up to 80 weight % of the cobalt content of said copper alloy is replaced by nickel. 
     
     
         30 . The dam block according to  claim 21 , wherein up to 80 weight % of the cobalt content of said copper alloy replaced by nickel. 
     
     
         31 . The dam block according to  claim 20 , wherein a part of the zirconium content of said copper alloy is replaced by at least one element selected from the group consisting of cerium, hafnium, chromium, manganese, and titanium, wherein the total amount of the at least one element selected from the group consisting of niobium, tantalum, and vanadium in addition to the at least one element selected from the group consisting of cerium, hafnium, chromium, manganese, and titanium, does not exceed 0.15 weight % of said copper alloy. 
     
     
         32 . The dam block according to  claim 21 , wherein a part of the zirconium content of said copper alloy is replaced by at least one element selected from the group consisting of cerium, hafnium, chromium, manganese, and titanium, wherein the total amount of the at least one element selected from the group consisting of niobium, tantalum, and vanadium, in addition to the at least one element selected from the group consisting of cerium, hafnium, chromium, manganese, and titanium, does not exceed 0.15 weight % of said copper alloy. 
     
     
         33 . The dam block according to  claim 20 , wherein said dam block copper alloy, in the age-hardened state, has a tensile strength of 700 to 900 MPa, a Vickers hardness of 230 to 280 HV, an electrical conductivity of 45 to 60% IACS, and a hot tensile strength at 500° C. of at least 450 MPa.