Lead-free Cu-Zn alloy

Abstract

A lead-free Cu—Zn base alloy consisting of: 58-64 wt % Cu; 0.4-1.4 wt % Fe; 0.4-2.3 wt % Mn; 1.5-3.5 wt % Ni; 0.1-4.4 wt % Al; 0.5-1.8 wt % Si; as an alloy component that promotes chip breaking either 0.65-1.2 wt % Sn with up to 0.025 wt % P, or 0.03-0.1 wt % P with up to 0.25 wt % Sn; up to 0.1 wt % Pb; balance Zn together with unavoidable impurities, which are permitted up to 0.05 wt % per element, wherein the sum total of unavoidable impurities does not exceed 0.15 wt %; and wherein Cr is tolerated up to 0.035 wt %.

1 . A lead-free Cu—Zn base alloy consisting of:
 Cu: 58-64 wt %; 
 Fe: 0.4-1.4 wt %; 
 Mn: 0.4-2.3 wt %; 
 Ni: 1.5-3.5 wt %; 
 Al: 0.1-4.4 wt %; 
 Si: 0.5-1.8 wt %; 
 an alloy component that promotes chip breaking either: 
 Sn: 0.65-1.2 wt %, wherein P is involved up to 0.025 wt %, or 
 P: 0.03-0.1 wt %, wherein Sn involvement up to 0.25 wt % is tolerated; 
 Pb: up to 0.1 wt %; 
 balance Zn together with unavoidable impurities, which are permitted up to 0.05 wt % per element, wherein the sum total of unavoidable impurities does not exceed 0.15 wt %; 
 wherein Cr is tolerated up to 0.035 wt %. 
 
     
     
         2 . The Cu—Zn base alloy of  claim 1 , containing:
 Cu: 59.5-61 wt %; 
 Fe: 0.4-1.1 wt %; 
 Mn: 0.4-1.1 wt %; 
 Ni: 2.5-3.7 wt %; 
 Al: 3.3-4.2 wt %; 
 Si: 1.0-1.8 wt %. 
 
     
     
         3 . The Cu—Zn base alloy of  claim 2 , containing:
 Fe: 0.6-1.1 wt %; 
 Mn: 0.6-1.0 wt %; 
 Ni: 2.6-3.3 wt %; 
 Al: 3.5-4.1 wt %; 
 Si: 1.1-1.7 wt %. 
 
     
     
         4 . The Cu—Zn base alloy of  claim 2 , wherein the alloy contains 0.03-0.1 wt % P and Sn is tolerated up to 0.25 wt %. 
     
     
         5 . The Cu—Zn base alloy of  claim 4 , wherein the alloy contains 0.05-0.08 wt % P. 
     
     
         6 . The Cu—Zn base alloy of  claim 2 , wherein the alloy contains 0.65-1.2 wt % Sn and P is tolerated up to 0.02 wt %. 
     
     
         7 . The Cu—Zn base alloy of  claim 6 , wherein the alloy contains 0.7-1.1 wt % Sn. 
     
     
         8 . The Cu—Zn base alloy of  claim 1 , containing:
 Cu: 60-62.5 wt %; 
 Fe: 0.8-1.4 wt %; 
 Mn: 1.4-2.3 wt %; 
 Ni: 1.5-2.5 wt %; 
 Al: 0.1-0.7 wt %; 
 Si: 0.5-1.2 wt %. 
 
     
     
         9 . The Cu—Zn base alloy of  claim 8 , containing:
 Fe: 0.85-1.25 wt %; 
 Mn: 1.5-2.1 wt %; 
 Ni: 1.7-2.35 wt %; 
 Al: 0.2-0.5 wt %; 
 Si: 0.6-1.0 wt %. 
 
     
     
         10 . The Cu—Zn base alloy of  claim 8 , wherein the alloy contains 0.03-0.1 wt % P and Sn is tolerated up to 0.25 wt %. 
     
     
         11 . The Cu—Zn base alloy of  claim 10 , wherein the alloy contains 0.05-0.08 wt % P. 
     
     
         12 . The Cu—Zn base alloy of  claim 8 , wherein the alloy contains 0.65-1.2 wt % Sn and P is tolerated up to 0.02 wt %. 
     
     
         13 . The Cu—Zn base alloy of  claim 12 , wherein the alloy contains 0.7-1.1 wt % Sn.