Antimony-modified low-lead copper alloy

Abstract

Alloys and methods for forming alloys of copper, including red brass, and yellow brass, having sulfur and antimony.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A composition of matter comprising:
 a copper content of about 82% to about 89%;   a sulfur content of about 0.01% to about 0.65%;   an antimony content of about 0.1 to about 1.5%   a tin content of about 2.0% to about 4.0%;   a lead content of less than about 0.09%;   a zinc content of about 5.0% to about 14.0%; and   a nickel content of about 0.5% to about 2.0%   
     
     
         2 . The composition of matter of  claim 1 , further comprising an antimony content of 0.1 to 1.0%. 
     
     
         3 . The composition of matter of  claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the sulfur and antimony are derived from stibnite. 
     
     
         4 . The composition of matter of  claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the sulfur and antimony are derived from 1% stibnite. 
     
     
         5 . The composition of  claim 1 , further comprising about 0.3% titanium 
     
     
         6 . The composition of  claim 1  further comprising about 0.1% carbon. 
     
     
         7 . A composition of matter comprising about 58% to about 62% copper, about 0.01% to about 0.65% sulfur, greater than 0 to about 1.5% antimony, about 1.5% tin, less than about 0.09% lead, about 31.0% to about 41.0% zinc, and about 1.5% % nickel. 
     
     
         8 . The composition of matter of  claim 7 , further comprising an antimony content of 0.1 to 1.0%. 
     
     
         9 . The composition of matter of  claim 7 , wherein at least a portion of the sulfur and antimony are derived from stibnite. 
     
     
         10 . The composition of matter of  claim 7 , wherein at least a portion of the sulfur and antimony are derived from 1% stibnite. 
     
     
         11 . The composition of  claim 7 , further comprising about 0.1% titanium 
     
     
         12 . The composition of  claim 7  further comprising about 0.1% carbon. 
     
     
         13 . A composition of matter comprising about 58% to about 62% copper, about 0.01% to about 0.65% sulfur, greater than 0.1 to about 1.5% antimony, less than about 0.09% lead, and about 31.0% to about 41.0% zinc. 
     
     
         14 . The composition of matter of  claim 1 , further comprising an antimony content of 0.1 to 1.5%. 
     
     
         15 . The composition of matter of  claim 13 , wherein at least a portion of the sulfur and antimony are derived from stibnite. 
     
     
         16 . The composition of matter of  claim 13 , wherein at least a portion of the sulfur and antimony are derived from 1% stibnite. 
     
     
         17 . The composition of  claim 13 , further comprising about 0.3% titanium 
     
     
         18 . The composition of  claim 13  further comprising about 0.1% carbon. 
     
     
         19 . A composition of matter comprising about 86% to about 89% copper, about 0.01% to about 0.65% sulfur, greater than 0 to about 1.5% antimony, about 7.5% to about 8.5% tin, less than about 0.09% lead, about 1.0% to about 5.0% zinc, and about 1.0% % nickel. 
     
     
         20 . A method for adding sulfur to a brass alloy, comprising:
 heating a base ingot to a temperature of about 2,100 degrees Fahrenheit to form a melt;   adding stibnite wrapped in copper foil and maintaining the temperature at about 2000 F.;   ceasing heating of the melt and adding additives into the melt;   skimming at least a partial amount of slag from the melt;   heating the melt to a temperature of about 2,140 Fahrenheit;   ceasing heating of the melt and plunging stibnite into the melt;   heating the melt to a temperature of about 2,150 degrees Fahrenheit; and   removing slag from the melt;   wherein the additives include tin, zinc, nickel, and carbon.