Methods of making and treating copper-based alloy compositions and products formed therefrom

Abstract

A ternary alloy wherein copper, manganese, and a ternary element are melted together and cast into an article and the article is subjected to an age-hardening treatment. A process for producing an age-hardened copper-manganese-nickel alloy, the process including melting a composition comprising copper, manganese and nickel; pouring the molten composition comprising copper, manganese, and nickel to form a casting with a composition comprising copper, manganese, and nickel, and aging the casting so produced. An article containing copper, manganese, and a ternary element, in a cast form and the cast form has subsequently undergone age-hardening treatment. A ternary alloy comprising copper, manganese, and a ternary element melted together and solidified into a casting, wherein the microstructure of the casting produced shows substantially low microporosity attributable to dendritic solidification.

1 . A ternary alloy comprising:
 copper;   manganese; and   a ternary element,   
       wherein copper, manganese, and the ternary element are melted together and cast into an article and the article is subjected to an age-hardening treatment. 
     
     
         2 . The ternary alloy of  claim 1 , the ternary element is nickel. 
     
     
         3 . The ternary alloy of  claim 2 , weight percent of nickel is in the range of about 1 to about 25 and the weight percent of manganese is in the range of about 35 to about 55. 
     
     
         4 . The ternary alloy of  claim 3 , the age-hardening in the range of 300° C. to 600° C. for a time period. 
     
     
         5 . The ternary alloy of  claim 4 , wherein the time period is in the range of 1 hour to 100 hours. 
     
     
         6 . A process for producing an age-hardened copper-manganese-nickel alloy comprising:
 melting a composition comprising copper, manganese and nickel;   pouring the molten composition comprising copper, manganese, and nickel to form a casting with a composition comprising copper, manganese, and nickel; and   aging the casting produced at a temperature in the range of 300° C. to 600° C. for a time period.   
     
     
         7 . The process of  claim 6 , wherein the time period is in the range of 1 hour to 100 hours. 
     
     
         8 . The process of  claim 6 , weight percent of nickel is in the range of about 1 to about 25 and the weight percent of manganese is in the range of about 35 to about 55. 
     
     
         9 . The process of  claim 8 , wherein the time period is in the range of 1 and 100 hours. 
     
     
         10 . An article comprising:
 copper;   manganese; and   a ternary element,   wherein copper, manganese and the ternary element are in a cast form and the cast form has subsequently undergone age-hardening treatment and contains a precipitated phase.   
     
     
         11 . The article of  claim 10 , the ternary element is nickel. 
     
     
         12 . The article of  claim 11 , weight percent of nickel is in the range of about 1 to about 25 and the weight percent of manganese is in the range of about 35 to about 55. 
     
     
         13 . The article of  claim 12 , the age-hardening treatment includes aging in the temperature range of 300° C. to 600° C. for a time period in the range of 1 hour to 100 hours. 
     
     
         14 . The article of  claim 11 , the article is a plumbing valve or fitting. 
     
     
         15 . The article of  claim 12 , the article is a plumbing valve or fitting. 
     
     
         16 . The article of  claim 13 , the article is a plumbing valve or fitting. 
     
     
         17 . A ternary alloy comprising copper, manganese, and a ternary element melted together and solidified into a casting, wherein the microstructure of the casting produced exhibits substantially low microporosity attributable to dendritic solidification. 
     
     
         18 . The ternary alloy of  claim 17 , the ternary element is nickel. 
     
     
         19 . The ternary alloy of  claim 18 , weight percent of nickel is in the range of about 1 to about 25 and the weight percent of manganese is in the range of about 35 to about 55. 
     
     
         20 . The ternary alloy of  claim 1 , the ternary element is one of cobalt, zinc, chromium, and iron. 
     
     
         21 . The article of  claim 10 , the ternary the ternary element is one of cobalt, zinc, chromium, and iron. 
     
     
         22 . The ternary alloy of  claim 17 , the ternary element is one of cobalt, zinc, chromium, and iron. 
     
     
         23 . The ternary alloy of  claim 1 , wherein the age-hardening treatment is preceded by a solution treatment. 
     
     
         24 . The process of  claim 10 , wherein the aging of the casting is preceded by a solution treatment. 
     
     
         25 . The ternary alloy of  claim 23 , wherein the solution treatment temperature is in the range of 700° C. to 850° C. 
     
     
         26 . The process of  claim 24 , wherein the solution treatment temperature is in the range of 700° C. to 850° C.