Variable karat gold alloys

Abstract

A gold alloy that is usable for jewelry and other applications. The gold alloy is made by combining Y % gold with Z % of a master alloy, wherein Y+Z=100. The master alloy includes 16% silver, 71.771% copper, 12% zinc and 0.229% X, wherein X being selected from the group consisting of silicon, germanium, or mixtures thereof. The gold alloy may be made by first forming the master alloy and then mixing the gold with the master alloy. The gold alloy may also be made by mixing gold with the elements of the master alloy without first forming the master alloy.

1 . A variable karat gold alloy comprising:
 Y % gold;   Z % of a master alloy, wherein Y+Z=100, the master alloy comprising:   from about 6 to about 26% silver;   from about 61.77 to about 81.77% copper;   from about 2 to about 22% zinc;   from about 0 to 1.5% grain refiners; and   about 0.001 to about 2% X, wherein X being selected from the group consisting of silicon, germanium, or mixtures thereof.   
   
   
       2 . A variable karat gold alloy as in  claim 1  wherein the master alloy comprises:
 from about 66.77 to about 76.77% copper;   from about 7 to about 17% zinc;   from about 11 to about 21% silver;   from about 0 to 1.0% grain refiners; and   from about 0.01 to about 1.00% X, wherein X being selected from the group consisting of silicon, germanium, or mixtures thereof.   
   
   
       3 . A variable karat gold alloy as in  claim 1 , the master alloy comprising:
 16% silver;   71.771% copper;   12% zinc;   from about 0 to 1.0% grain refiners; and   0.229% X, wherein X being selected from the group consisting of silicon, germanium, or mixtures thereof.   
   
   
       4 . A variable karat gold alloy of  claim 3  wherein the gold alloy is a 6 karat gold alloy such that Y is 25% and Z is 75%. 
   
   
       5 . A variable karat gold alloy as in  claim 3  wherein the alloy is a 0 karat gold alloy such that Y is 0% and Z is 100%. 
   
   
       6 . A variable karat gold alloy as in  claim 3  wherein the gold alloy is less than or equal to 20 karat gold, such that Y is less than or equal to about 83.33%. 
   
   
       7 . A variable karat gold alloy as in  claim 3  wherein the gold alloy is less than or equal to 10 karat gold, such that Y is less than or equal to about 41.67%. 
   
   
       8 . A variable karat gold alloy as in  claim 3  wherein the gold alloy is made by first forming the master alloy and then mixing the gold with the master alloy. 
   
   
       9 . A variable karat gold alloy as in  claim 3  wherein the gold alloy is made by mixing gold with the elements of the master alloy without first forming the master alloy. 
   
   
       10 . A master alloy for combining with gold to make a variable karat gold alloy, the master alloy comprising:
 from about 6 to about 26% silver;   from about 61.77 to about 81.77% copper;   from about 2 to about 22% zinc;   from about 0 to about 1.5% grain refiners; and   about 0.001 to about 2% X, wherein X being selected from the group consisting of silicon, germanium, or mixtures thereof.   
   
   
       11 . A master alloy as in  claim 10  further comprising less than 1.5% grain refiners. 
   
   
       12 . A master alloy as in  claim 10  wherein the master alloy comprises:
 from about 66.77 to about 76.77% copper;   from about 7 to about 17% zinc;   from about 11 to about 21% silver;   up to 1.0% grain refiners; and   from about 0.01 to about 1.00% X, wherein X being selected from the group consisting of silicon, germanium, or mixtures thereof.   
   
   
       13 . A master alloy as in  claim 10  wherein the master alloy comprises:
 16% silver;   71.771% copper;   12% zinc;   up to about 1% grain refiners; and   0.229% X, wherein X being selected from the group consisting of silicon, germanium, or mixtures thereof.   
   
   
       14 . A method of forming a gold alloy comprising the steps of:
 adding Y % gold;   adding Z Ag % silver, wherein Z Ag =(1600−16*Y)/100;   adding Z Zn % zinc, wherein Z Zn =(1200−12*Y)/100;   adding Z Cu % copper, wherein Z Cu =(7177.066667−71.77066667*Y)/100;   adding Z X % X, wherein X being selected from the group consisting of silicon, germanium, or mixtures thereof, wherein Zx=(22.93333−0.2293333*Y)/100.   
   
   
       15 . A method as in  claim 14  wherein the non-gold elements are first mixed together to form a master alloy, wherein the master alloy is mixed with gold to form the gold alloy. 
   
   
       16 . A master alloy as in  claim 10  further comprising grain refiners in an amount of up to 1.5%. 
   
   
       17 . An alloy as in  claim 1  wherein the alloy may be used in jewelry application, dental applications, aerospace applications, metallurgy applications, electronic devices, powder coatings, plating solutions, clad materials, wires and rods, and/or may be electro-deposited.