Antitarnish, antimicrobial copper alloys and surfaces made from such alloys

Abstract

An antimicrobial, tarnish resistant copper alloy with a golden visual appearance comprising between about 1% and about 4% Ni, up to 3% Al, and optionally Zn and/or Mn up to a total of about 15%.

1 . An antimicrobial, tarnish resistant copper alloy comprising at least about 1% Ni and up to 3% Al. 
     
     
         2 . The antimicrobial, tarnish resistant copper alloy according to  claim 1  wherein the Ni content is at least about 1.5%. 
     
     
         3 . The antimicrobial, tarnish resistant copper alloy according to  claim 1  wherein the Ni content is between about 1.5% and about 6.5%. 
     
     
         4 . The antimicrobial, tarnish resistant copper alloy according to  claim 1  wherein the Ni content is at least about 2.9% and the Al content is at least about 1.8%. 
     
     
         5 . The antimicrobial, tarnish resistant copper alloy according to  claim 1  wherein the alloy has a golden visual appearance, and further comprises at least one of Zn and Mn in amounts such that Zn+Mn<15%. 
     
     
         6 . The antimicrobial, tarnish resistant copper alloy according to  claim 5  wherein the Mn content is 0. 
     
     
         7 . The antimicrobial, tarnish resistant copper alloy according to  claim 5  wherein the Zn content is 0. 
     
     
         8 . The antimicrobial, tarnish resistant copper alloy according to  claim 5  wherein the Zn content is between about 6% and about 12%, and the Mn content is between about 4% and about 7%. 
     
     
         9 . The antimicrobial, tarnish resistant copper alloy according to  claim 8  wherein the Zn content is between about 6.8% and about 10.8%, and the Mn content is between about 4.8% and about 6.9%. 
     
     
         10 . The antimicrobial, tarnish resistant copper alloy according to  claim 1  wherein the Ni content is between about 1.5% and about 3.1%, and the Al content is between about 0.5% and about 1.5%. 
     
     
         11 . The antimicrobial, tarnish resistant copper alloy according to  claim 10  wherein the Zn content is between about 7.5% and about 10.5%, and the Mn content is between about 5% and about 6.5%. 
     
     
         12 . An antimicrobial, tarnish resistant copper alloy with a golden visual appearance comprising between about 1.5% and about 6.5% Ni, between about 0.6% and about 3.2% Al, and at least one of Zn and Mn in amounts such that Zn+Mn<15%. 
     
     
         13 . The antimicrobial, tarnish resistant copper alloy with a golden visual appearance of  claim 12  comprising both Zn and Mn. 
     
     
         14 . The antimicrobial, tarnish resistant copper alloy with a golden visual appearance of  claim 13 , further comprising between about 6.8% and about 10.8% Zn and between about 4.8% and about 6.9% Mn. 
     
     
         15 . An antimicrobial, tarnish resistant copper alloy with a golden visual appearance comprising between about 7.8% and about 10.8% Zn, between about 5% and about 6.5% Mn, between about 2.1% and about 3.1% Ni, and up to about 1.4% Al. 
     
     
         16 . An antimicrobial, tarnish resistant copper alloy with a golden visual appearance comprising between about 2% and about 3% Ni, between about 1% and about 2% Al, between about 7.5% and about 8.5% Zn, and between about 5% and about 6% Mn.