Copper alloy and method for its manufacture

Abstract

The invention relates to a copper alloy having high recrystallization temperature and good conductivity used in brazed heat exchangers which alloy consists of 0.1 to 0.3% in weight chromium. The invention also relates to a method for the manufacturing of the alloy which method consists of the following steps: casting, cold working, annealing and another cold working before brazing.

1 - 15 . (canceled) 
     
     
         16 . A copper alloy consisting of copper, 0.1 to 0.3% by weight chromium and incidental impurities and having a recrystallization temperature of at least 625° C., wherein the alloy is made by a process that includes a continuous strip casting step, a first cold working step, a strand annealing step that is carried out for a time up to 30 seconds and at a temperature in the range from 700 to 900° C., and a second cold working step. 
     
     
         17 . An alloy according to  claim 16 , wherein the alloy contains 0.15 to 0.25% by weight chromium. 
     
     
         18 . An alloy according to  claim 16 , wherein the annealing is carried out for a time in the range from 1 to 10 seconds. 
     
     
         19 . An alloy according to  claim 16 , wherein the first cold working step is a cold rolling step. 
     
     
         20 . An alloy according to  claim 16 , wherein the second cold working step is a cold rolling step. 
     
     
         21 . An alloy according to  claim 16 , wherein each of the first and second cold working steps is a cold rolling step.