Copper alloy

Abstract

A copper alloy, which contains: a precipitate X composed of Ni and Si; and a precipitate Y that comprises Ni or Si or neither Ni nor Si, wherein the precipitate X has a grain size of 0.001 to 0.1 μm, and the precipitate Y has a grain size of 0.01 to 1 μm.

1 . A copper alloy, comprising: 
 a precipitate X composed of Ni and Si; and    a precipitate Y that comprises Ni or Si or neither Ni nor Si,    wherein the precipitate X has a grain size of 0.001 to 0.1 μm, and the precipitate Y has a grain size of 0.01 to 1 μm.    
   
   
       2 . The copper alloy according to  claim 1 , wherein the precipitate Y has a melting point higher than a solution treatment temperature.  
   
   
       3 . The copper alloy according to  claim 2 , which comprises Ni 2 to 5 mass %, Si 0.3 to 1.5 mass %, and B 0.005 to 0.1 mass %, with the balance being Cu and unavoidable impurities, wherein the number of grains of the precipitate X per mm 2  is 20 to 2,000 times the number of grains of the precipitate Y per mm 2 .  
   
   
       4 . The copper alloy according to  claim 3 , wherein the number of grains of the precipitate X is 10 8  to 10 12  per mm 2 , and the number of grains of the precipitate Y is 10 4  to 10 8  per mm 2 .  
   
   
       5 . The copper alloy according to  claim 4 , which comprises at least one element selected from the group consisting of Al, As, Hf, Zr, Cr, Ti, C, Fe, P, In, Sb, Mn, Ta, and V in an amount of 0.005 to 0.5 mass %.  
   
   
       6 . The copper alloy according to  claim 5 , wherein the precipitate Y is composed of at least one of Al—As, Al—Hf, Al—Zr, Al—Cr, Ti—C, Cu—Ti, Cu—Zr, Cr—Si, Fe—P, Fe—Si, Fe—Zr, In—Ni, Mg—Sb, Mn—Si, Ni—Sb, Si—Ta, and V—Zr.  
   
   
       7 . The copper alloy according to  claim 6 , which further comprises at least one element selected from the group consisting of Sn 0.1 to 1.0 mass %, Zn 0.1 to 1.0 mass %, and Mg 0.05 to 0.5 mass %.  
   
   
       8 . The copper alloy according to  claim 7 , which is for use in an electric or electronic machinery and tool.  
   
   
       9 . The copper alloy according to  claim 2 , which comprises Ni 2 to 5 mass %, Si 0.3 to 1.5 mass %, Mn 0.01 to 0.5 mass %, and P 0.01 to 0.5 mass %, with the balance being Cu and unavoidable impurities, wherein the number of grains of the precipitate X per mm 2  is 20 to 2,000 times the number of grains of the precipitate Y per mm 2 .  
   
   
       10 . The copper alloy according to  claim 9 , wherein the number of grains of the precipitate X is 10 8  to 10 12  per mm 2 , and the number of grains of the precipitate Y is 10 4  to 10 8  per mm 2 .  
   
   
       11 . The copper alloy according to  claim 10 , which comprises at least one element selected from the group consisting of Al, As, Hf, Zr, Cr, Ti, C, Fe, P, In, Sb, Mn, Ta, and V in an amount of 0.005 to 0.5 mass %.  
   
   
       12 . The copper alloy according to  claim 11 , wherein the precipitate Y is composed of at least one of Al—As, Al—Hf, Al—Zr, Al—Cr, Ti—C, Cu—Ti, Cu—Zr, Cr—Si, Fe—P, Fe—Si, Fe—Zr, In—Ni, Mg—Sb, Mn—Si, Ni—Sb, Si—Ta, and V—Zr.  
   
   
       13 . The copper alloy according to  claim 12 , which further comprises at least one element selected from the group consisting of Sn 0.1 to 1.0 mass %, Zn 0.1 to 1.0 mass %, and Mg 0.05 to 0.5 mass %.  
   
   
       14 . The copper alloy according to  claim 13 , which is for use in an electric or electronic machinery and tool.  
   
   
       15 . The copper alloy according to  claim 2 , which comprises Ni 2 to 5 mass %, Si 0.3 to 1.5 mass %, B 0.005 to 0.1 mass %, Mn 0.01 to 0.5 mass %, and P 0.01 to 0.5 mass %, with the balance being Cu and unavoidable impurities, wherein the number of grains of the precipitate X per mm 2  is 20 to 2,000 times the number of grains of the precipitate Y per mm 2 .  
   
   
       16 . The copper alloy according to  claim 15 , wherein the number of grains of the precipitate X is 10 8  to 10 12  per mm 2 , and the number of grains of the precipitate Y is 10 4  to 10 8  per mm 2 .  
   
   
       17 . The copper alloy according to  claim 16 , which comprises at least one element selected from the group consisting of Al, As, Hf, Zr, Cr, Ti, C, Fe, P, In, Sb, Mn, Ta, and V in an amount of 0.005 to 0.5 mass %.  
   
   
       18 . The copper alloy according to  claim 17 , wherein the precipitate Y is composed of at least one of Al—As, Al—Hf, Al—Zr, Al—Cr, Ti—C, Cu—Ti, Cu—Zr, Cr—Si, Fe—P, Fe—Si, Fe—Zr, In—Ni, Mg—Sb, Mn—Si, Ni—Sb, Si—Ta, and V—Zr.  
   
   
       19 . The copper alloy according to  claim 18 , which is for use in an electric or electronic machinery and tool.