(19)
(11) EP 1 502 964 A1

(12) EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION

(43) Date of publication:
02.02.2005 Bulletin 2005/05

(21) Application number: 04077560.3

(22) Date of filing: 16.11.1998
(51) International Patent Classification (IPC)7C22C 9/04, C22F 1/08
(84) Designated Contracting States:
BE DE FI FR GB IT SE

(30) Priority: 09.10.1998 JP 28792198

(62) Application number of the earlier application in accordance with Art. 76 EPC:
98953070.4 / 1038981

(71) Applicant: Sambo Copper Alloy Co., Ltd
Osaka 590-0906 (JP)

(72) Inventor:
  • OISHI, Keiichiro c/o Sambo copper Alloy Co, Ltd.
    Osaka 590-0906 (JP)

(74) Representative: Faulkner, Thomas John et al
fJ Cleveland, 40-43 Chancery Lane
London WC2A 1JQ
London WC2A 1JQ (GB)

 
Remarks:
This application was filed on 16 - 09 - 2004 as a divisional application to the application mentioned under INID code 62.
 


(54) Free-cutting copper alloys


(57) Free-cutting alloys with industrially satisfactory machinability comprising 69 to 79 percent, by weight, of copper, 2.0 to 4.0 percent, by weight, of silicon; 0.02 to 0.4, by weight, of lead and the remaining percent, by weight, of zinc.




Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION


1. Field of The Invention



[0001] The present invention relates to free-cutting copper alloys.

2. Prior Art



[0002] Among the copper alloys with a good machinability are bronze alloys such as the one under JIS designation H5111 BC6 and brass alloys such as the ones under JIS designations H3250-C3604 and C3771. Those alloys are so enhanced in machinability with the addition of 1.0 to 6.0 percent, by weight, of lead as to give industrially satisfactory results as easy-to-work copper alloy. Because of their excellent machinability, those lead-contained copper alloys have been an important basic material for a variety of articles such as city water faucets, water supply/drainage metal fittings and valves.

[0003] In those conventional free-cutting copper alloys, lead does not form a solid solution in the matrix but disperses in granular form, thereby improving the machinability of those alloys. To produce the desired results, lead has to be added in as much as 2.0 or more percent by weight. If the addition of lead is less than 1.0 percent by weight, chippings will be spiral in form as (D) in Fig. 1. Spiral chippings cause various troubles such as, for example, tangling with the tool. If, on the other hand, the content of lead is 1.0 or more percent by weight and not larger than 2.0 percent by weight, the cut surface will be rough, though that will produce some results such as reduction of the cutting resistance. It is usual, therefore, that lead is added in not smaller than 2.0 percent by weight. Some expanded copper alloys in which a high degree of cutting property is required are mixed with some 3.0 or more percent, by weight, of lead. Further, some bronze castings have a lead content of as much as some 5.0 percent, by weight. The alloy under the JIS H 5111 BC6, for example, contains some 5.0 percent, by weight, of lead.

[0004] However, the application of those lead-mixed alloys has been greatly limited in recent years, because lead contained therein is harmful to humans as an environment pollutant. That is, the lead-contained alloys pose a threat to human health and environmental hygiene because lead finds its way in metallic vapor that generates in the steps of processing those alloys at high temperatures such as melting and casting and there is also danger that lead contained in the water system metal fittings, valves and others made of those alloys will dissolve out into drinking water.

[0005] On that ground, the United States and other advanced nations have been moving to tighten the standards for lead-contained copper alloys to drastically limit the permissible level of lead in copper alloys in recent years. In Japan, too, the use of lead-contained alloys has been increasingly restricted, and there has been a growing call for development of free-cutting copper alloys with a low lead content.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION



[0006] It is an object of the present invention to provide a free-cutting copper alloy which contains an extremely small amount (0.02 to 0.4 percent by weight) of lead as a machinability improving element, yet is quite excellent in machinability, can be used as safe substitute for the conventional easy-to-cut copper alloy with a large content of lead, and presents no environmental hygienic problems while permitting the recycling of chippings, thus providing a timely answer to the mounting call for restriction of lead-contained products.

[0007] It is an another object of the present invention to provide a free-cutting copper alloy which has a high corrosion resistance coupled with an excellent machinability and is suitable as basic material for cutting works, forgings, castings and others, thus having a very high practical value. The cutting works, forgings, castings and others include city water faucets, water supply/drainage metal fittings, valves, stems, hot water supply pipe fittings, shaft and heat exchanger parts.

[0008] It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a free-cutting copper alloy with a high strength and wear resistance coupled with an easy-to-cut property which is suitable as basic material for the manufacture of cutting works, forgings, castings and other uses requiring a high strength and wear resistance such as, for example, bearings, bolts, nuts, bushes, gears, sewing machine parts and hydraulic system parts, hence has a very high practical value.

[0009] It is a further object of the present invention to provide a free-cutting copper alloy with an excellent high-temperature oxidation resistance combined with an easy-to-cut property which is suitable as basic material for the manufacture of cutting works, forgings, castings and other uses where a high thermal oxidation resistance is essential, e.g. nozzles for kerosene oil and gas heaters, burner heads and gas nozzles for hot-water dispensers, hence has a very high practical value.

[0010] The objects of the present inventions are achieved by provision of the following copper alloys:

1. A free-cutting copper alloy with an excellent easy-to-cut feature which is composed of 69 to 79 percent, by weight, of copper, 2.0 to 4.0 percent, by weight, of silicon, 0.02 to 0.4 percent, by weight, of lead and the remaining percent, by weight, of zinc. For purpose of simplicity, this copper alloy will be hereinafter called the "first invention alloy".



[0011] Lead forms no solid solution in the matrix but disperses in a granular form to improve the machinability. Silicon raises the easy-to-cut property by producing a gamma phase (in some cases, a kappa phase) in the structure of metal. That way, both are the same in that they are effective in improving the machinability, though they are quite different in contribution to the properties of the alloy. On the basis of that recognition, silicon is added to the first invention alloy so as to bring about a high level of machinability meeting the industrial requirements, while making it possible to reduce greatly the lead content. That is, the first invention alloy is improved in machinability through formation of a gamma phase with the addition of silicon.

[0012] The addition of less than 2.0 percent, by weight, of silicon can not form a gamma phase sufficient enough to secure an industrially satisfactory machinability. With the increase in the addition of silicon, the machinability improves. But with the addition of more than 4.0 percent, by weight, of silicon, the machinability will not go up in proportion. The problem is, however, that silicon is high in melting point and low in specific gravity and also liable to oxidize. If silicon in a single form is fed into the furnace in the melting step, silicon will float on the molten metal and is oxidized into oxides of silicon or silicon oxide, hampering the production a silicon-contained copper alloy. In producing the ingot of silicon-contained copper alloy, therefore, silicon is usually added in the form of a Cu-Si alloy, which boosts the production cost. In the light of the cost of making the alloy, too, it is not desirable to add silicon in a quantity exceeding the saturation point or plateau of machinability improvement - 4.0 percent by weight. An experiment showed that when silicon is added in the amount of 2.0 to 4.0 percent, by weight, it is desirable to hold the content of copper at 69 to 79 percent, by weight, in consideration of its relation to the content of zinc in order to maintain the intrinsic properties of the Cu-Zn alloy. For this reason, the first invention alloy is composed of 69 to 79 percent, by weight, of copper and 2.0 to 4.0 percent, by weight, of silicon respectively. The addition of silicon improves not only the machinability but also the flow of the molten metal in casting, strength, wear resistance, resistance to stress corrosion cracking, high-temperature oxidation resistance. Also, the ductility and dezincing corrosion resistance will be improved to some extent.

[0013] The addition of lead is set at 0.02 to 0.4 percent by weight on this ground. In the first invention alloy, a sufficient level of machinability is obtained by adding silicon that has the aforesaid effect even if the addition of lead is reduced. Yet, lead has to be added in the amount not smaller than 0.02 percent by weight if the alloy is to be superior to the conventional free-cutting copper alloy in machinability, while the addition of lead exceeding 0.4 percent would have adverse effects, resulting in a rough surface condition, poor hot workability such as poor forging behaviour and low cold ductility. Meanwhile, it is expected that such a small content of not higher than 0.4 percent by weight will be able to clear the lead-related regulations however strictly they are to be stipulated in the advanced nations including Japan in the future. On that ground, the addition range of lead is set at 0.02 to 0.4 percent by weight in the first and also second to eleventh invention alloys which will be described later.

2. Another embodiment of the present invention is a free-cutting copper alloy also with an excellent easy-to-cut feature which is composed of 69 to 79 percent, by weight, of copper; 2.0 to 4.0 percent, by weight, of silicon; 0.02 to 0.4 percent, by weight, of lead; one selected from among 0.02 to 0.4 percent, by weight, of bismuth, 0.02 to 0.4 percent, by weight, of tellurium, and 0.02 to 0.4 percent, by weight, of selenium; and the remaining percent, by weight, of zinc. This second copper alloy will be hereinafter called the "second invention alloy".



[0014] That is, the second invention alloy is composed of the first invention alloy and, in addition, one selected element from among 0.02 to 0.4 percent, by weighty of bismuth, 0.02 to 0.4 percent, by weighty of tellurium, and 0.02 to 0.4 percent, by weight, of selenium.

[0015] Bismuth, tellurium and selenium as well as lead do not form a solid solution with the matrix but disperse in granular form to enhance the machinability. That makes up for the reduction of the lead content. The addition of any one of those elements along with silicon and lead could further improve the machinability beyond the level hoped from the addition of silicon and lead. From this finding, the second invention alloy is worked out in which one element selected from among bismuth, tellurium and selenium is mixed. The addition of bismuth, tellurium or selenium as well as silicon and lead could make the copper alloy so machinable that complicated forms could be freely cut out at a high speed. But no improvement in machinability can be realized from the addition of bismuth, tellurium or selenium in the amount less than 0.02 percent, by weight. Meanwhile, those elements are expensive as compared with copper. Even if the addition exceeds 0.4 percent by weight, the proportional improvement in machinability is so small that the addition beyond that does not pay off economically. What is more, if the addition is more than 0.4 percent by weight, the alloy will deteriorate in hot workability such as forgeability and cold workability such as ductility. While it might be feared that heavy metals like bismuth would cause a problem similar to that of lead, a very small addition of less than 0.4 percent by weight is negligible and would present no particular problems. From those considerations, the second invention alloy is prepared with the addition of bismuth, tellurium or selenium kept to 0.02 to 0.4 percent by weight. In this regard, it is desired to keep the combined content of lead and bismuth, tellurium or selenium to not higher than 0.4 percent by weight. That is because if the combined content exceeds 0.4 percent by weight, if slightly, then there will begin a deterioration in hot workability and cold ductility and also there is fear that the form of chippings will change from (B) to (A) in Fig. 1. But the addition of bismuth, tellurium or selenium, which improves the machinability of the copper alloy though a mechanism different from that of silicon as mentioned above, would not affect the proper contents of copper and silicon. On this ground, the contents of copper and silicon in the second invention alloy are set at the same level as those in the first invention alloy.

3. Another embodiment of the present invention is a free-cutting copper alloy also with an excellent easy-to-cut feature which is composed of 70 to 80 percent, by weight, of copper; 1.8 to 3.5 percent, by weight, of silicon; 0.02 to 0.4 percent, by weight, of lead; at least one selected from among 0.3 to 3.5 percent, by weight, of tin, 1.0 to 3.5 percent, by weight, of aluminum, and 0.02 to 0.25 percent, by weight, of phosphorus; and the remaining percent, by weight, of zinc. 'This third copper alloy will be hereinafter called the "third invention alloy".



[0016] Tin works the same way as silicon. That is, if tin is added, a gamma phase will be formed and the machinability of the Cu-Zn alloy will be improved. For example, the addition of tin in the amount of 1.8 to 4.0 percent by weight would bring about a high machinability in the Cu-Zn alloy containing 58 to 70 percent, by weight, of copper, even if silicon is not present. Therefore, the addition of tin to the Cu-Si-Zn alloy could facilitate the formation of a gamma phase and further improve the machinability of the Cu-Si-Zn alloy. The gamma phase is formed with the addition of tin in the amount of 1.0 or more percent by weight and the formation reaches the saturation point at 3.5 percent, by weight, of tin. If tin exceeds 3.5 percent by weight, the ductility will drop instead. With the addition of tin in the amount less than 1.0 percent by weight, on the other hand, an insufficient gamma phase will be formed. If the addition is 0.3 or more percent by weight, then tin will be effective in uniformly dispersing the gamma phase formed by silicon. Through that effect of dispersing the gamma phase, too, the machinability is improved. In other words, the addition of tin in the amount not smaller than 0.3 percent by weight improves the machinability.

[0017] Aluminum is, too, effective in facilitating the formation of the gamma phase. The addition of aluminum together with or in place of tin could further improve the machinability of the Cu-Si-Zn alloy. Aluminum is also effective in improving the strength, wear resistance and high-temperature oxidation resistance as well as the machinability and also in keeping down the specific gravity. If the machinability is to be improved at all, aluminum will have to be added in the amount of at least 1.0 percent by weight. But the addition of more than 3.5 percent by weight could not produce the proportional results. Instead, that could lower the ductility as is the case with tin.

[0018] As to phosphorus, it has no property of forming the gamma phase as tin and aluminum. But phosphorus works to uniformly disperse and distribute the gamma phase formed as a result of the addition of silicon alone or with tin or aluminum or both of them. That way, the machinability improvement through the formation of gamma phase is further enhanced. In addition to dispersing the gamma phase, phosphorus helps refine the crystal grains in the alpha phase in the matrix, improving hot workability and also strength and resistance to stress corrosion cracking. Furthermore, phosphorus substantially increases the flow of molten metal in casting. To produce such results, phosphorus will have to be added in the amount not smaller than 0.02 percent by weight. But if the addition exceeds 0.25 percent by weight, no proportional effect can be obtained. Instead, there would be a fall in hot forging property and extrudability.

[0019] In consideration of those observations, the third invention alloy is improved in machinability by adding to the Cu-Si-Pb-Zn alloy (first invention alloy) at least one selected from among 0.3 to 3.5 percent, by weight, of tin, 1.0 to 3.5 percent, by weight, of aluminum, and 0.02 to 0.25 percent, by weight, of phosphorus.

[0020] Meanwhile, tin, aluminum and phosphorus are to improve the machinability by forming a gamma phase or dispersing that phase, and work closely with silicon in promoting the improvement in machinability through the gamma phase. In the third invention alloy to which silicon is added along with tin, aluminum or phosphorus, the addition of silicon is smaller than that in the second invention alloy to which is added bismuth, tellurium or selenium which replaces silicon of the first invention in improving machinability. That is, those elements bismuth, tellurium and selenium contribute to improving the machinability, not acting on the gamma phase but dispersing in the form of grains in the matrix. Even if the addition of silicon is less than 2.0 percent by weight, silicon along with tin, aluminum or phosphorus will be able to enhance the machinability to an industrially satisfactory level as long as the percentage of silicon is 1.8 or more percent by weight. But even if the addition of silicon is not larger than 4.0 percent by weight, adding of tin, aluminum or phosphorus together will silicon will saturate the effect of silicon in improving the machinability, when the silicon content exceeds 3.5 percent by weight. On this ground, the addition of silicon is set at 1.8 to 3.5 percent by weight in the third invention alloy. Also, in consideration of the addition amount of silicon and also the addition of tin, aluminum or phosphorus, the content range of copper in this third invention alloy is slightly raised from the level in the second invention alloy and copper is properly set at 70 to 80 percent by weight.

4. A free-cutting copper alloy also with an excellent easy-to-cut feature which is composed of 70 to 80 percent, by weight, of copper; 1.8 to 3.5 percent, by weight, of silicon; 0.02 to 0.4 percent, by weight, of lead; at least one element selected from among 0.3 to 3.5 percent, by weight, of tin, 1.0 to 3.5 percent, by weight, of aluminum, and 0.02 to 0.25 percent, by weight, of phosphorus; one element selected from among 0.02 to 0.4 percent, by weight, of bismuth, 0.02 to 0.4 percent, by weight, of tellurium, and 0.02 to 0.4 percent, by weight, of selenium; and the remaining percent, by weight, of zinc. This fourth copper alloy will be hereinafter called the "fourth invention alloy".



[0021] The fourth invention alloy has any one selected from among 0.02 to 0.4 percent, by weight, of bismuth, 0.02 to 0.4 percent, by weight, of tellurium, and 0.02 to 0.4 percent, by weight, of selenium in addition to the components in the third invention alloy. The grounds for mixing those additional elements and setting those amounts to be added are the same as given for the second invention alloy.

5. A free-cutting copper alloy with an excellent easy-to-cut feature and with a high corrosion resistance which is composed of 69 to 79 percent, by weight, of copper; 2.0 to 4.0 percent, by weight, of silicon; 0.02 to 0.4 percent, by weight, of lead; at least one element selected from among 0.3 to 3.5 percent, by weight, of tin, 0.02 to 0.25 percent, by weight, of phosphorus, 0.02 to 0.15 percent, by weight, of antimony, and 0.02 to 0.15 percent, by weight, of arsenic, and the remaining percent, by weight, of zinc. This fifth copper alloy will be hereinafter called the "fifth invention alloy".



[0022] The fifth invention alloy has, in addition to the first invention alloy, at least one element selected from among 0.3 to 3.5 percent, by weight, of tin, 0.02 to 0.25 percent, by weight, of phosphorus, 0.02 to 0.15 percent, by weight, of antimony, and 0.02 to 0.15 percent, by weight, of arsenic.

[0023] Tin is effective in improving not only the machinability but also corrosion resistance properties (dezincification corrosion resistance) and forgeability. In other words, tin improves the corrosion resistance in the alpha phase matrix and, by dispersing the gamma phase, the corrosion resistance, forgeability and stress . corrosion cracking resistance. The fifth invention alloy is thus improved in corrosion resistance by the property of tin and in machinability mainly by adding silicon. Therefore, the contents of silicon and copper in this alloy are set at the same as those in the first invention alloy. To raise the corrosion resistance and forgeability, on the other hand, tin would have to be added in the amount of at least 0.3 percent by weight. But even if the addition of tin exceeds 3.5 percent by weight, the corrosion resistance and forgeability will not improve in proportion to the amount added of tin. It is no good economy.

[0024] As described above, phosphorus disperses the gamma phase uniformly and at the same time refines the crystal grains in the alpha phase in the matrix, thereby improving the machinability and also the corrosion resistance properties (dezincification corrosion), forgeability, stress corrosion cracking resistance and mechanical strength. The fifth invention alloy is thus improved in corrosion resistance and others through the action of phosphorus and in machinability mainly by adding silicon. The addition of phosphorus in a very small quantity, that is, 0.02 or more percent by weight could produce results. But the addition in more than 0.25 percent by weight would not be so effective as hoped from the quantity added. Rather, that would reduce the hot forgeability and extrudability.

[0025] Just as phosphorus, antimony and arsenic in a very small quantity - 0.02 or more percent by weight - are effective in improving the dezincification corrosion resistance and other properties. But the addition exceeding 0.15 percent by weight would not produce results in proportion to the quantity added. Rather, it would affect the hot forgeability and extrudability as phosphorus applied in excessive amounts.

[0026] Those observations indicate that the fifth invention alloy is improved in machinability and also corrosion resistance and other properties by adding at least one element selected from among tin, phosphorus, antimony and arsenic (which improve corrosion resistance) in quantities within the aforesaid limits in addition to the same quantities of copper and silicon as in the first invention copper alloy. In the fifth invention alloy, the additions of copper and silicon are set at 69 to 79 percent by weight and 2.0 to 4.0 percent by weight respectively - the same level as in the first invention alloy in which any other machinability improver than silicon and a small amount of lead is not added - because tin and phosphorus work mainly as corrosion resistance improver like antimony and arsenic.

6. A free-cutting copper alloy also with an excellent easy-to-cut feature and with a high corrosion resistance which is composed of 69 to 79 percent, by weight, of copper; 2.0 to 4.0 percent, by weight, of silicon; 0.02 to 0.4 percent, by weight, of lead; at least one element selected from among 0.3 to 3.5 percent, by weight, of tin, 0.02 to 0.25 percent, by weight, of phosphorus, 0.02 to 0.15 percent, by weight, of antimony, and 0.02 to 0.15 percent, by weight, of arsenic; one element selected from among 0.02 to 0.4 percent, by weight, of bismuth, 0.02 to 0.4 percent, by weight, of tellurium, and 0.02 to 0.4 percent, by weight, of selenium; and the remaining percent, by weight, of zinc. This sixth copper alloy will be hereinafter called the "sixth invention alloy".



[0027] The sixth invention alloy has any one element selected from among 0.02 to 0.4 percent, by weight, of bismuth, 0.02 to 0.4 percent, by weight, of tellurium, and 0.02 to 0.4 percent, by weight, of selenium in addition to the components in the fifth invention alloy. The machinability is improved by adding, in addition to silicon and lead, any one element selected from among bismuth, tellurium and selenium as in the second invention alloy and the corrosion resistance and other properties are raised by adding at least one selected from among tin, phosphorus, antimony and arsenic as in the fifth invention alloy. Therefore, the additions of copper, silicon, bismuth, tellurium and selenium are set at the same levels as those in the second invention alloy, while the additions of tin, phosphorus, antimony and arsenic are adjusted to those in the fifth invention alloy.

7. A free-cutting copper alloy also with an excellent easy-to-cut feature and with an excellent high strength feature and high corrosion resistance which is composed of 62 to 78 percent, by weight, of copper; 2.5 to 4.5 percent, by weight, of silicon; 0.02 to 0.4 percent, by weight, of lead; at least one element selected from among 0.3 to 3.0 percent, by weight, of tin, 0.2 to 2.5 percent, by weight, of aluminum, and 0.02 to 0.25 percent, by weight, of phosphorus; and at least one element selected from among 0.7 to 3.5 percent, by weight, of manganese and 0.7 to 3.5 percent, by weight, of nickel; and the remaining percent, by weight, of zinc. The seventh copper alloy will be hereinafter called the "seventh invention alloy".



[0028] Manganese and nickel combine with silicon to form intermetallic compounds represented by MnxSiy or NixSiy which are evenly precipitated in the matrix, thereby raising the wear resistance and strength. Therefore, the addition of manganese and nickel or either of the two would improve the high strength feature and wear resistance. Such effects will be exhibited if manganese and nickel are added in the amount of not less than 0.7 percent by weight respectively. But the saturation state is reached at 3.5 percent by weight, and even if the addition is increased beyond that, no proportional results will be obtained. The addition of silicon is set at 2.5 to 4.5 percent by weight to match the addition of manganese or nickel, taking into consideration the consumption to form intermetallic compounds with those elements.

[0029] It is also noted that tin, aluminum and phosphorus help to reinforce the alpha phase in the matrix, thereby improving the machinability. Tin and phosphorus disperse the alpha and gamma phases, by which the strength, wear resistance and also machinability are improved. Tin in the amount of 0.3 or more percent by weight is effective in improving the strength and machinability. But if the addition exceeds 3.0 percent by weight, the ductility will fall. For this reason, the addition of tin is set at 0.3 to 3.0 percent by weight to raise the high strength feature and wear resistance in the seventh invention alloy and also to enhance the machinability. Aluminum also contributes to improving the wear resistance and exhibits its effect of reinforcing the matrix when added in the amount of 0.2 or more percent by weight. But if the addition exceeds 2.5 percent by weight, there will be a fall in ductility. Therefore, the addition of aluminum is set at 0.2 to 2.5 in consideration of improvement of machinability. Also, the addition of phosphorus disperses the gamma phase and at the same time pulverizes the crystal grains in the alpha phase in the matrix, thereby improving the hot workability and also the strength and wear resistance. Furthermore, it is very effective in improving the flow of molten metal in casting. Such results will be produced when phosphorus is added in the amount of 0.02 to 0.25 percent by weight. The content of copper is set at 62 to 78 percent by weight in the light of the addition of silicon and the property of manganese and nickel of combining with silicon.

8. A free-cutting copper alloy also with an excellent easy-to-cut feature and with an excellent high-temperature oxidation resistance which comprises 69 to 79 percent, by weight, of copper, 2.0 to 4.0 percent, by weight, of silicon, 0.02 to 0.4 percent, by weight, of lead, 0.1 to 1.5 percent, by weight, of aluminum, and 0.02 to 0.25 percent, by weight, of phosphorus, and the remaining percent, by weight, of zinc. The eighth copper alloy will be hereinafter called the "eighth invention alloy".



[0030] Aluminum is an element which improves the strength, machinability, wear resistance and also high-temperature oxidation resistance. Silicon, too, has a property of enhancing the machinability, strength, wear resistance, resistance to stress corrosion cracking and also high-temperature oxidation resistance. Aluminum works to raise the high-temperature oxidation resistance when it is used together with silicon and that in not smaller than 0.1 percent by weight. But even if the addition of aluminum increases beyond 1.5 percent by weight, no proportional results can be expected. For this reason, the addition of aluminum is set at 0.1 to 1.5 percent by weight.

[0031] Phosphorus is added to enhance the flow of molten metal in casting. Phosphorus also works for improvement of the aforesaid machinability, dezincification corrosion resistance and also high-temperature oxidation resistance in addition to the flow of molten metal. Those effects are exhibited when phosphorus is added in the amount not smaller than 0.02 percent by weight. But even if phosphorus is used in more than 0.25 percent by weight, it will not result in a proportional increase in effect rather weakening the alloy. For this consideration, the addition of phosphorus settles down on 0.02 to 0.25 percent by weight.

[0032] While silicon is added to improve the machinability as mentioned above, it is also capable of improving the flow of molten metal like phosphorus. The effect of silicon in improving the flow of molten metal is exhibited when it is added in the amount of not smaller than 2.0 percent by weight. The range of the addition for the flow improvement overlaps that for improvement of the machinability. These taken into consideration, the addition of silicon is set to 2.0 to 4.0 percent by weight.

9. A free-cutting copper alloy also with excellent easy-to-cut feature coupled with a good high-temperature oxidation resistance which is composed of 69 to 79 percent, by weight, of copper; 2.0 to 4.0 percent, by weight, of silicon; 0.02 to 0.4 percent, by weight, of lead; 0.1 to 1.5 percent, by weight, of aluminum; 0.02 to 0.25 percent, by weight, of phosphorus; one element selected from among 0.02 to 0.4 percent, by weight, of bismuth, 0.02 to 0.4 percent, by weight, of tellurium, and 0.02 to 0.4 percent, by weight, of selenium; and the remaining percent, by weight, of zinc. The ninth copper alloy will be hereinafter called the "ninth invention alloy".



[0033] The ninth invention alloy contains one element selected from among 0.02 to 0.4 percent, by weight, of bismuth, 0.02 to 0.4 percent, by weight, of tellurium and 0.02 to 0.4 percent, by weight, of selenium in addition to the components of the eighth invention alloy. While a high-temperature oxidation resistance as good as in the eighth invention alloy is secured, the machinability is further improved by adding one element selected from among bismuth and other elements which are as effective as lead in raising the machinability.

10. A free-cutting copper alloy also with excellent easy-to-cut feature and a good high-temperature oxidation resistance which is composed of 69 to 79 percent, by weight, of copper; 2.0 to 4.0 percent, by weight, of silicon; 0.02 to 0.4 percent, by weight, of lead; 0.1 to 1.5 percent, by weight, of aluminum; 0.02 to 0.25 percent, by weight, of phosphorus; at least one selected from among 0.02 to 0.4 percent, by weight, of chromium and 0.02 to 0.4 percent, by weight, of titanium; and the remaining percent, by weight, of zinc. The tenth copper alloy will be hereinafter called the "tenth invention alloy".



[0034] Chromium and titanium are intended for improving the high-temperature oxidation resistance. Good results can be expected especially when they are added together with aluminum to produce a synergistic effect. Those effects are exhibited when the addition is no less than 0.02 percent by weight, whether they are added alone or in combination. The saturation point is 0.4 percent by weight. For consideration of such observations, the tenth invention alloy has at least one element selected from among 0.02 to 0.4 percent by weight of chromium and 0.02 to 0.4 percent by weight of titanium in addition to the components of the eighth invention alloy and thus further improved over the eighth invention alloy with regard to the high-temperature oxidation resistance.

11. A free-cutting copper alloy also with excellent easy-to-cut feature and a good high-temperature oxidation resistance which is composed of 69 to 79 percent, by weight, of copper; 2.0 to 4.0 percent, by weight, of silicon; 0.02 to 0.4 percent, by weight, of lead; 0.1 to 1.5 percent, by weight, of aluminum; 0.02 to 0.25 percent, by weight, of phosphorus; at least one element selected from among 0.02 to 0.4 percent, by weight, of chromium and 0.02 to 0.4 percent, by weight, of titanium; one element selected from among 0.02 to 0.4 percent, by weight, of bismuth, 0.02 to 0.4 percent, by weight, of tellurium and 0.02 to 0.4 percent, by weight, of selenium; and the remaining percent, by weight, of zinc. The eleventh copper alloy will be hereinafter called the "eleventh invention alloy".



[0035] The eleventh invention alloy contains any one selected from among 0.02 to 0.4 percent, by weight, of bismuth, 0.02 to 0.4 percent, by weight, of tellurium and 0.02 to 0.4 percent, by weight, of selenium in addition to the components of the tenth invention alloy. While as high a high-temperature oxidation resistance as in the tenth invention alloy is secured, the eleventh invention alloy is further improved in machinability by adding one element selected from among bismuth and other elements which are as effective as lead in raising the machinability.

12. A free-cutting copper alloy also with further improved easy-to-cut feature obtained by subjecting any one of the preceding respective invention alloys to a heat treatment for 30 minutes to 5 hours at 400 to 600°C. The twelfth copper alloy will be hereinafter called the "twelfth invention alloy".



[0036] The first to eleventh invention alloys contain machinability improving elements such as silicon and have an excellent machinability because of the addition of such elements. The effect of those machinability improving elements could be further enhanced by heat treatment. For example, the first to eleventh invention alloys which are high in copper content with gamma phase in small quantities and kappa phase in large quantities undergo a change in phase from the kappa phase to the gamma phase in a heat treatment. As a result, the gamma phase is finely dispersed and precipitated, and the machinability is improved. In the manufacturing process of castings, expanded metals and hot forgings in practice, the materials are often force-air-cooled or water cooled depending on the forging conditions, productivity after hot working (hot extrusion, hot forging etc.), working environment and other factors. In such cases, with the first to eleventh invention alloys, the alloys with a low content of copper in particular are rather low in the content of the gamma phase and contain beta phase. In a heat treatment, the beta phase changes into gamma phase, and the gamma phase is finely dispersed and precipitated, whereby the machinability is improved.

[0037] But a heat treatment temperature at less than 400°C is not economical and practical in any case, because the aforesaid phase change will proceed slowly and much time will be needed. At temperatures over 600°C, on the other hand, the kappa phase will grow or the beta phase will appear, bringing about no improvement in machinability. From the practical viewpoint, therefore, it is desired to perform the heat treatment for 30 minutes to 5 hours at 400 to 600°C.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING



[0038] 

Fig. 1 shows perspective views of cuttings formed in cutting a round bar of copper alloy by lathe.


DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS


Example 1



[0039] As the first series of examples of the present invention, cylindrical ingots with compositions given in Tables 1 to 15, each 100 mm in outside diameter and 150 mm in length, were hot extruded into a round bar 15 mm in outside diameter at 750 C to produce the following test pieces: first invention alloys Nos. 1001 to 1007, second invention alloys Nos. 2001 to 2006, third invention alloys Nos. 3001 to 3010, fourth invention alloys Nos. 4001 to 4021, fifth invention alloys Nos. 5001 to 5020, sixth invention alloys Nos. 6001 to 6045, seventh invention alloys Nos. 7001 to 7029, eighth invention alloys Nos. 8001 to 8008, ninth invention alloys Nos. 9001 to 9006, tenth invention alloys Nos. 10001 to 10008, and eleventh invention alloys Nos. 11001 to 11011. Also, cylindrical ingots with the compositions given in Table 16, each 100 mm in outside diameter and 150 mm in length, were hot extruded into a round bar 15 mm in outside diameter at 750°C to produce the following test pieces: twelfth invention alloys Nos. 12001 to 12004. That is, No. 12001 is an alloy test piece obtained by heat-treating an extruded test piece with the same composition as first invention alloy No. 1006 for 30 minutes at 580°C. No. 12002 is an alloy test piece obtained by heat-treating an extruded test piece with the same composition as No. 1006 for two hours at 450°C. No. 12003 is an alloy test piece obtained by heat-treating an extruded test piece with the same composition as first invention alloy No. 1007 under the same conditions as for No. 12001 - for 30 minutes at 580°C. No. 12004 is an alloy test piece obtained by heat-treating an extruded test piece with the same composition as No. 1007 under the same conditions as for No. 12002 - for two hours at 450°C.

[0040] As comparative examples, cylindrical ingots with the compositions as shown in Table 17, each 100 mm in outside diameter and 150 mm in length, were hot extruded into a round bar 15 mm in outside diameter at 750°C to obtain the following round extruded test pieces: Nos. 13001 to 13006 (hereinafter referred to as the "conventional alloys"). No. 13001 corresponds to the alloy "JIS C 3604", No. 13002 to the alloy "CDA C 36000", No. 13003 to the alloy "JIS C 3771" and No. 13004 to the alloy "CDA C 69800". No. 13005 corresponds to the alloy "JIS C 6191". This aluminum bronze is the most excellent of the expanded copper alloys under the JIS designations with regard to strength and wear resistance. No. 13006 corresponds to the naval brass alloy "JIS C 4622" and is the most excellent of the expanded copper alloys under the JIS designations with regard to corrosion resistance.

[0041] To study the machinability of the first to twelfth invention alloys in comparison with the conventional alloys, cutting tests were carried out. In the tests, evaluations were made on the basis of cutting force, condition of chippings, and cut surface condition. The tests were conducted this way: The extruded test pieces thus obtained were cut on the circumferential surface by a lathe provided with a point noise straight tool at a rake angle of - 8 degrees and at a cutting rate of 50 meters/minute, a cutting depth of 1.5 mm, a feed of 0.11 mm/rev. Signals from a three-component dynamometer mounted on the tool were converted into electric voltage signals and recorded on a recorder. The signals were then converted into the cutting resistance. It is noted that while, to be perfectly exact, the amount of the cutting resistance should be judged by three component forces - cutting force, feed force and thrust force, the judgement was made on the basis of the cutting force (N) of the three component forces in the present example. The results are shown in Table 18 to Table 33.

[0042] Furthermore, the chips from the cutting work were examined and classified into four forms (A) to (D) as shown in Fig. 1. The results are enumerated in Table 18 to Table 33. In this regard, the chippings in the form of a spiral with three or more windings as (D) in Fig. 1 are difficult to process, that is, recover or recycle, and could cause trouble in cutting work as, for example, getting tangled with the tool and damaging the cut metal surface. Chippings in the form of a spiral arc from one with a half winding to one with two windings as shown in (C), Fig. 1 do not cause such serous trouble as the chippings in the form of a spiral with three or more windings yet are not easy to remove and could get tangled with the tool or damage the cut metal surface. In contrast, chippings in the form of a fine needle as (A) in Fig. 1 or in the form of arc shaped pieces as (B) will not present such problems as mentioned above and are not bulky as the chippings in (C) and (D) and easy to process. But fine chippings as (A) still could creep in on the slide table of a machine tool such as a lathe and cause mechanical trouble, or could be dangerous because they could stick into the worker's finger, eye or other body parts. Those taken into account, when judging machinability, the alloy with the chippings in (B) is the best, and the second best is the one with the chippings in (A). Those with the chippings in (C) and (D) are not good. In Table 18 to Table 33, the alloys with the chippings shown in (B), (A), (C) and (D) are indicated by the symbols "", "o", "Δ" and "x" respectively.

[0043] In addition, the surface condition of the cut metal surface was checked after cutting work. The results are shown in Table 18 to Table 33. In this regard, the commonly used basis for indication of the surface roughness is the maximum roughness (Rmax). While requirements are different depending on the application field of brass articles, the alloys with Rmax < 10 microns are generally considered excellent in machinability. The alloys with 10 microns ≤ Rmax < 15 microns are judged as industrially acceptable while those with Rmax ≥ 15 microns are taken as poor in machinability. In Table 18 to Table 33, the alloys with Rmax < 10 microns are marked "o"; those with 10 microns Rmax < 15 microns are indicated in "Δ" and those with Rmax ≥ 15 microns are represented by a symbol "x".

[0044] As is evident from the results of the cutting tests shown in Table 18 to Table 33, the following invention alloys are all equal to the conventional lead-contained alloys Nos. 13001 to 13003 in machinability: first invention alloys Nos. 1001 to 1007, second invention alloys Nos. 2001 to 2006, third invention alloys Nos. 3001 to 3010, fourth invention alloys Nos. 4001 to 4021, fifth invention alloys Nos. 5001 to 5020, sixth invention alloys Nos. 6001 to 6045, seventh invention alloys Nos. 7001 to 7029, eighth invention alloys Nos. 8001 to 8008, ninth invention alloys Nos. 9001 to 9006, tenth invention alloys Nos. 10001 to 10008, eleventh invention alloys Nos. 11001 to 11011, twelfth invention alloys Nos. 12001 to 12004. Especially with regard to the form of chippings, those invention alloys are favorably compared not only with the conventional alloys Nos. 13004 to 13006 with a lead content of not higher than 0.1 percent by weight but also Nos. 13001 to 13003 which contain large quantities of lead. Also to be noted is that the twelfth invention alloys Nos. 12001 to 12004, which are obtained by heat-treating the first invention alloys Nos. 1006 and 1007, are improved over the first invention alloys in machinability. It is understood that a proper heat treatment could further enhance the machinability of the first to eleventh invention alloys, depending upon the alloy compositions and other conditions.

[0045] In another series of tests, the first to twelfth invention alloys were examined in comparison with the conventional alloys in hot workability and mechanical properties. For the purpose, hot compression and tensile tests were conducted the following way.

[0046] First, two test pieces, first and second test pieces, in the same shape 15 mm in outside diameter and 25 mm in length were cut out of each extruded test piece obtained as described above. In the hot compression tests, the first test piece was held for 30 minutes at 7000C, and then compressed at the compression rate of 70 percent in the direction of axis to reduce the length from 25 mm to 7.5 mm. The surface condition after the compression (700°C deformability) was visually evaluated. The results were given in Table 18 to Table 33. The evaluation of deformability was made by visually checking for cracks on the side of the test piece. In Table 18 to Table 33, the test pieces with no cracks found are marked "o"; those with small cracks are indicated by "Δ" and those with large cracks are represented by a symbol "x".

[0047] The second test pieces were put to a tensile test by the commonly practised test method to determine the tensile strength, N/mm2 and elongation, %.

[0048] As the test results of the hot compression and tensile tests in Table 18 to Table 33 indicate, it was confirmed that the first to twelfth invention alloys are equal to or superior to the conventional alloys Nos. 13001 to 13004 and No. 13006 in hot workability and mechanical properties and are suitable for industrial use. The seventh invention alloys in particular have the same level of mechanical properties as the conventional alloy No. 13005, i.e. the aluminum bronze which is the most excellent in strength of the expanded copper alloys under the JIS designations, and thus have understandably a prominent high strength feature.

[0049] Furthermore, the first to six and eighth to twelfth invention alloys were put to dezincification corrosion and stress corrosion cracking tests in accordance with the test methods specified under "ISO 6509" and "JIS H 3250" respectively to examine the corrosion resistance and resistance to stress corrosion cracking in comparison with the conventional alloys.

[0050] In the dezincing corrosion test by the "ISO 6509" method, the test piece taken from each extruded test piece was imbedded laid in a phenolic resin material in such a way that the exposed test piece surface is perpendicular to the extrusion direction of the extruded test piece. The surface of the test piece was polished with emery paper No. 1200, and then ultrasonic-washed in pure water and dried. The test piece thus prepared was dipped in a 12.7 g/l aqueous solution of cupric chloride dihydrate (CuCl2.2H2O) 1.0% and left standing for 24 hours at 75°C. The test piece was taken out of the aqueous solution and the maximum depth of dezincing corrosion was determined. The measurements of the maximum dezincification corrosion depth are given in Table 18 to Table 25 and Table 28 to Table 33.

[0051] As is clear from the results of dezincification corrosion tests shown in Table 18 to Table 25 and Table 28 to Table 33, the first to fourth invention alloys and the eighth to twelfth invention alloys are excellent in corrosion resistance in comparison with the conventional alloys Nos. 13001 to 13003 which contain great amount of lead. And it was confirmed that especially the fifth and sixth invention alloys whose improvement in both machinability and corrosion resistance has been intended are very high in corrosion resistance in comparison with the conventional alloy No. 13006, a naval brass which is the most resistant to corrosion of all the expanded alloys under the JIS designations.

[0052] In the stress corrosion cracking tests in accordance with the test method described in "JIS H 3250", a 150-mm-long test piece was cut out from each extruded material. The test piece was bent with the center placed on an arc-shaped tester with a radius of 40 mm in such a way that one end forms an angle of 45 degrees with respect the other end. The test piece thus subjected to a tensile residual stress was degreased and dried, and then placed in an ammonia environment in the desiccator with a 12.5% aqueous ammonia (ammonia diluted in the equivalent of pure water). To be exact, the test piece was held some 80 mm above the surface of aqueous ammonia in the desiccator. After the test piece was left standing in the ammonia environment for 2 hours, 8 hours and 24 hours, the test piece was taken out from the desiccator, washed in sulfuric acid solution 10% and examined for cracks under a magnifier of 10 magnifications. The results are given in Table 18 to Table 25 and Table 28 to Table 33. In those tables, the alloys which developed clear cracks when held in the ammonia environment for two hours are marked "xx." The test pieces which had no cracks at two hours but were found clearly cracked in 8 hours are indicated in "x." The test pieces which had no cracks in 8 hours, but were found clearly to have cracks in 28 hours are identified by the symbol "Δ". The test pieces which were found to have no cracks at all in 24 hours are given a symbol "o".

[0053] As is indicated by the results of the stress corrosion cracking test given in Table 18 to Table 25 and Table 28 to Table 33, it was confirmed that not only the fifth and sixth invention alloys whose improvement in both machinability and corrosion resistance has been intended but also the first to fourth invention alloys and the eighth to twelfth alloys in which nothing particular was done to improve corrosion resistance were both equal to the conventional alloy No. 13005, an aluminum bronze containing no zinc, in stress corrosion cracking resistance. Those invention alloys were superior in stress corrosion cracking resistance to the conventional naval brass alloy No. 13006, the best in corrosion resistance of all the expanded copper alloys under the JIS designations.

[0054] In addition, oxidation tests were carried out to study the high-temperature oxidation resistance of the eighth to eleventh invention alloys in comparison with the conventional alloys.

[0055] Test pieces in the shape of a round bar with the surface cut to a outside diameter of 14 mm and the length cut to 30 mm were prepared from each of the following extruded materials: No. 8001 to No. 8008, No. 9001 to No. 9006, No. 10001 to No. 10008, No. 11001 to No. 11011 and No. 13001 to No. 13006. Each test piece was then weighed to measure the weight before oxidation. After that, the test piece was placed in a porcelain crucible and held in an electric furnace maintained at 500°C. At the passage of 100 hours, the test piece was taken out of the electric furnace and was weighed to measure' the weight after oxidation. From the measurements before and after oxidation was calculated the increase in weight by oxidation. It is understood that the increase by oxidation is the amount, mg, of increase in weight by oxidation per 10 cm2 of the surface area of the test piece and is calculated by the equation: increase in weight by oxidation, mg/10 cm2 = (weight, mg, after oxidation - weight, mg, before oxidation) x (10 cm2 / surface area, cm2, of test piece). The weight of each test piece increased after oxidation. The increase was brought about by high-temperature oxidation. Subjected to a high temperature, oxygen combines with copper, zinc and silicon to form Cu2O, ZnO, SiO2. That is, oxygen adds to the weight. It can be said, therefore, that the alloys which are smaller in weight increase by oxidation are more excellent in high-temperature oxidation resistance. The results obtained are shown in Table 28 to Table 31 and Table 33.

[0056] As is evident from the test results shown in Table 23 to Table 31 and Table 33, the eighth to eleventh invention alloys are equal, in regard to weight increase by oxidation to the conventional alloy No. 13005, an aluminum bronze ranking high in resistance to high-temperature oxidation among the expanded copper alloys under the JIS designations and are far smaller than any other conventional copper alloy. Thus, it was confirmed that the eighth to eleventh invention alloys are very excellent in machinability and resistance to high-temperature oxidation as well.

Example 2



[0057] As the second series of examples of the present invention, circular cylindrical ingots with compositions given in Tables 9 to 11, each 100 mm in outside diameter and 200 mm in length, were hot extruded into a round bar 35 mm in outside diameter at 700°C to produce seventh invention alloys Nos. 7001a to 7029a. In parallel, circular cylindrical ingots with compositions given in Table 17, each 100 mm in outside diameter and 200 mm in length, were hot extruded into a round bar 35 mm in outside diameter at 700°C to produce the following alloy test pieces: Nos. 13001a to 13006a as second comparative examples (hereinafter referred to as the "conventional alloys"). It is noted that the alloys Nos. 7001a to 7029a and Nos. 13001a to 13006a are identical in composition with the aforesaid copper alloys Nos. 7001 to 7029 and Nos. 13001 to No. 13006 respectively.

[0058] Those seventh invention alloys Nos. 7001a to 7029a were put to wear resistance tests in comparison with the conventional alloys Nos. 13001a to 13006a.

[0059] The tests were carried out in this procedure. Each extruded test piece thus obtained was cut on the circumferential surface, holed and cut down into a ring-shaped test piece 32 mm in outside diameter and 10 mm in thickness (that is, the length in the axial direction). The test piece was then fitted and clamped on a rotatable shaft, and a roll 48 mm in diameter placed in parallel with the axis of the shaft was thrusted against the test piece under a load of 50 kg. The roll was made of stainless steel under the JIS designation SUS 304. Then, the SUS 304 roll and the test piece put against the roll were rotated at the same number of revolutions/minute - 209 r.p.m., with multipurpose gear oil being dropping on the circumferential surface of the test piece. When the number of revolutions reached 100,000, the SUS 304 roll and the test piece were stopped, and the weight difference between before and after the end of rotation, that is, the loss of weight by wear, mg, was determined. It can be said that the alloys which are smaller in the loss of weight by wear are higher in wear resistance. The results are given in Tables 34 to 36.

[0060] As is clear from the wear resistance test results shown in Tables 34 to 36, the tests showed that those seventh invention alloys Nos. 7001a to 7029a were excellent in wear resistance as compared with not only the conventional alloys Nos. 13001a to 13004a and 13006a but also No. 13005a, which is an aluminium bronze most excellent in wear resistance among expanded copper designated in JIS. From comprehensive considerations of the test results including the tensile test results, it may safely be said that the seventh invention alloys are excellent in machinability and also possess a high strength feature and wear resistance equal to or superior to the aluminum bronze which is the highest in wear resistance of all the expanded copper alloys under the JIS designations.
[Table 1]
No. alloy composition (wt%)
  Cu Si Pb Zn
1001 74.8 2.9 0.03 remainder
1002 74.1 2.7 0.21 remainder
1003 78.1 3.6 0.10 remainder
1004 70.6 2.1 0.36 remainder
1005 74.9 3.1 0.11 remainder
1006 69.3 2.3 0.05 remainder
1007 78.5 2.9 0.05 remainder
[Table 2]
No. alloy composition (wt%)
  Cu Si Pb Bi Te Se Zn
2001 73.8 2.7 0.05 0.03     remainder
2002 69.9 2.0 0.33 0.27     remainder
2003 74.5 2.8 0.03   0.31   remainder
2004 78.0 3.6 0.12   0.05   remainder
2005 76.2 3.2 0.05     0.33 remainder
2006 72.9 2.6 0.24     0.06 remainder
[Table 3]
No. alloy composition (wt%)
  Cu Si Pb Sn Al P Zn
3001 70.8 1.9 0.23 3.2     remainder
3002 74.5 3.0 0.05 0.4     remainder
3003 78.8 2.5 0.15   3.4   remainder
3004 74.9 2.7 0.09   1.2   remainder
3005 74.6 2.3 0.26 1.2 1.9   remainder
3006 74.8 2.8 0.18     0.03 remainder
3007 76.5 3.3 0.04     0.21 remainder
3008 73.5 2.5 0.05 1.6   0.05 remainder
3009 74.9 2.0 0.35   2.7 0.13 remainder
3010 75.2 2.9 0.23 0.8 1.4 0.04 remainder
[Table 4]
No. alloy composition (w%)
  Cu Si Pb Sn Al P Bi Te Se Zn
4001 73.8 2.8 0.04 0.5     0.10     remainder
4002 7.45 2.6 0.11   1.5   0.04     remainder
4003 73.7 2.1 0.21 1.2 2.2   0.03     remainder
4004 76.8 3.2 0.05     0.03 0.31     remainder
4005 74.1 2.6 0.07 1.4   0.04 0.09     remainder
4006 75.5 1.9 0.32   3.2 0.15 0.16     remainder
4007 74.8 2.8 0.10 0.7 1.2 0.05 0.05     remainder
4008 70.5 1.9 0.22 3.4       0.03   remainder
4009 79.1 2.7 0.15   3.4     0.05   remainder
4010 74.5 2.8 0.10     0.05   0.05   remainder
4011 77.3 3.3 0.07 0.4   0.21   0.31   remainder
4012 76.8 2.8 0.05   2.0 0.03   0.13   remainder
4013 74.5 2.6 0.18 1.4 2.1     0.21   remainder
4014 74.0 2.5 0.20 2.1 1.1 0.10   0.07   remainder
4015 72.5 2.4 0.11 1.0         0.05 remainder
4016 76.1 2.5 0.07   2.3       0.10 remainder
4017 76.4 2.7 0.05 0.6 3.1       0.22 remainder
4018 74.0 2.5 0.23     0.22     0.03 remainder
4019 71.2 2.2 0.11 2.8   0.05     0.30 remainder
4020 75.3 2.7 0.22   1.4 0.03     0.05 remainder
4021 74.1 2.5 0.05 2.4 1.2 0.07     0.07 remainder
[Table 5]
No. alloy composition (wt%)
  Cu Si Pb Sn P Sb As Zn
5001 74.3 2.9 0.05 0.4       remainder
5002 69.8 2.1 0.31 3.1       remainder
5003 74.8 2.8 0.03   0.08     remainder
5004 78.2 3.4 0.16   0.21     remainder
5005 74.9 3.1 0.09     0.07   remainder
5006 72.2 2.4 0.25       0.13 remainder
5007 73.5 2.5 0.18 2.2 0.04     remainder
5008 77.0 3.3 0.06 0.7 0.15     remainder
5009 76.4 3.6 0.12 1.2       remainder
5010 71.4 2.3 0.26 2.6   0.03   remainder
5011 77.3 3.4 0.17 0.5   0.14   remainder
5012 74.8 2.8 0.07 1.4     0.03 remainder
5013 74.5 2.7 0.05   0.03 0.12   remainder
5014 76.1 3.1 0.14   0.18 0.03   remainder
5015 73.9 2.5 0.08   0.07   0.05 remainder
5016 74.5 2.8 0.07     0.08 0.04 remainder
5017 77.3 3.1 0.12 1.5 0.13 0.05   remainder
5018 72.8 2.4 0.18 0.7   0.03 0.09 remainder
5019 74.2 2.7 0.07 0.5 0.11   0.10 remainder
5020 74.6 2.8 0.05 0.9 0.07 0.05 0.03 remainder
[Table 6]
N o. alloy composition (wt%)
  Cu Si Pb Bi Te Se Sn P Sb As Zn
6001 70.7 2.3 0.17 0.05     2.8       remainder
6002 74.6 2.5 0.08 0.03     0.7 0.06     remainder
6003 78.0 3.7 0.05 0.34     0.4   0.05   remainder
6004 69.5 2.1 0.32 0.02     3.3     0.03 remainder
6005 76.8 2.8 0.03 0.07     0.8 0.21 0.02   remainder
6006 74.2 2.7 0.18 0.10     0.5 0.03   0.13 remainder
6007 76.1 3.2 0.12 0.05     1.7   0.12 0.02 remainder
6008 75.3 2.8 0.20 0.16     1.3 0.10 0.03 0.05 remainder
6009 77.0 3.1 0.14 0.06       0.21     remainder
6010 72.5 2.5 0.07 0.09       0.05 0.03   remainder
6011 74.7 2.9 0.10 0.32       0.14   0.10 remainder
6012 71.4 2.3 0.25 0.14       0.07 0.03 0.02 remainder
6013 74.7 3.0 0.13 0.05         0.12   remainder
6014 77.2 3.2 0.27 0.23         0.07 0.04 remainder
6015 74.0 2.8 0.07 0.03           0.03 remainder
6016 69.8 2.1 0.22   0.17   3.2       remainder
6017 73.8 2.9 0.15   0.03   1.6 0.07     remainder
6018 75.8 2.8 0.08   0.06   0.4   0.03   remainder
6019 71.2 2.3 0.15   0.07   2.5     0.07 remainder
6020 72.0 2.6 0.12   0.04   0.9 0.03 0.05   remainder
[Table 7]
No. alloy composition (wt%)
  Cu Si Pb Bi Te Se Sn P Sb As Zn
6021 76.8 2.9 0.20   0.30   0.8 0.17   0.03 remainder
6022 78.3 3.2 0.15   0.36   0.4   0.06 0.14 remainder
6023 73.4 2.3 0.12   0.06   2.7 0.02 0.11 0.03 remainder
6024 74.6 2.8 0.05   0.08     0.19     remainder
6025 78.5 3.7 0.22   0.25     0.23 0.03   remainder
6026 74.9 2.9 0.16   0.05     0.05   0.10 remainder
6027 73.8 2.5 0.07   0.03     0.06 0.02 0.04 remainder
6028 74.8 2.6 0.12   0.02       0.12   remainder
6029 74.2 2.8 0.37   0.10       0.11 0.02 remainder
6030 76.3 3.2 0.08   0.05         0.07 remainder
6031 70.8 2.4 0.11     0.05 2.6       remainder
6032 74.6 3.0 0.25     0.32 0.6 0.06     remainder
6033 75.0 2.8 0.03     0.12 0.3   0.13   remainder
6034 73.5 2.8 0.12     0.07 1.0     0.11 remainder
6035 78.0 3.3 0.07     0.03 0.5 0.16 0.02   remainder
6036 72.4 2.5 0.13     0.05 3.1 0.03   0.05 remainder
6037 78.0 2.8 0.18     0.20 1.7   0.08 0.02 remainder
6038 76.5 3.1 0.10     0.11 1.7 0.03 0.03 0.04 remainder
6039 71.9 2.4 0.12     0.17   0.04     remainder
6040 77.0 3.5 0.03     0.35   0.23 0.03   remainder
[Table 8]
No. alloy composition (wt%)
  Cu Si Pb Bi Te Se Sn P Sb As Zn
6041 74.77 2.9 0.07     0.12   0.06   0.03 remainder
6042 72.8 2.5 0.20     0.06     0.03   remainder
6043 78.0 3.7 0.33     0.15     0.02 0.10 remainder
6044 74.0 2.8 0.12     0.05       0.08 remainder
6045 76.1 3.1 0.05     0.07   0.03 0.09 0.03 remainder
[Table 9]
No. alloy composition (wt%)
  Cu Si Pb Sn Al P Mn Ni Zn
7001 67.0 3.8 0.04 1.6     3.2   remainder
7001a
7002 69.3 4.2 0.15 0.4       2.2 remainder
7002a
7003 63.8 2.6 0.33 2.8     0.9   remainder
7003a
7004 66.5 3.4 0.07 1.5     2.0   remainder
7004a
7005 67.2 3.6 0.10 0.9     1.8 0.9 remainder
7005a
7006 63.0 2.7 0.27 2.7 1.2   2.1   remainder
7006a
7007 68.7 3.4 0.05 1.4 1.3   0.9   remainder
7007a
7008 70.6 4.1 0.03 0.5 1.6   3.9   remainder
7008a
7009 67.8 3.6 0.12 2.6 2.1     3.3 remainder
7009a
7010 68.4 3.5 0.06 0.4 0.3     1.8 remainder
7010a
[Table 10]
No. alloy composition (w%)
  Cu Si Pb Sn Al P Mn Ni Zn
7011 73.9 4.4 0.17 1.2 1.7   0.8 1.5 remainder
7011a
7012 65.5 2.9 0.20 1.5 1.0 0.12 2.3   remainder
7012a
7013 66.1 3.3 0.08 1.8 1.1 0.03   2.6 remainder
7013a
7014 70.3 3.9 0.15 1.0 1.4 0.21 1.8 1.2 remainder
7014a
7015 66.8 3.7 0.20 2.6   0.14 2.7   remainder
7015a
7016 69.0 4.0 0.07 0.5   0.20   3.2 remainder
7016a
7017 64.5 2.9 0.19 1.8   0.05 1.5 0.8 remainder
7017a
7018 72.4 3.5 0.08   1.5   1.1   remainder
7018a
7019 69.2 3.9 0.03   0.4   3.1   remainder
7019a
7020 76.6 4.3 0.14   2.3   1.9   remainder
7020a
[Table 11]
No. alloy composition (wt%)
  Cu Si Pb Sn Al P Mn Ni Zn
7021 75.0 4.2 0.19   1.7     2.1 remainder
7021a
7022 72.3 3.7 0.05   1.4   1.1 0.8 remainder
7022a
7023 64.5 3.8 0.35   0.3   2.0 2.3 remainder
7023a
7024 75.8 3.9 0.05   2.7 0.04 1.0   remainder
7024a
7025 70.1 3.5 0.06   1.2 0.23   3.0 remainder
7025a
7026 67.2 2.8 0.22   1.8 0.14 2.2 0.9 remainder
7026a
7027 70.2 3.8 0.11     0.03 3.2   remainder
7027a
7028 75.9 4.4 0.03     0.20   1.1 remainder
7028a
7029 66.0 3.0 0.18     0.12 1.0 2.1 remainder
7029a
[Table 12]
No. alloy composition (wt%)
  Cu Si Pb Al P Zn
8001 74.5 2.9 0.16 0.2 0.05 remainder
8002 76.0 2.7 0.03 1.2 0.21 remainder
8003 76.3 3.0 0.35 0.6 0.12 remainder
8004 69.9 2.1 0.27 0.3 0.03 remainder
8005 71.5 2.3 0.12 0.8 0.10 remainder
8006 78.1 3.6 0.05 0.2 0.13 remainder
8007 77.7 3.4 0.18 1.4 0.06 remainder
8008 77.5 3.55 0.03 0.9 0.15 remainder
[Table 13]
No. alloy composition (wt%) (Wt%)
  Cu Si Pb Al P Bi Te Se Zn
9001 74.8 2.8 0.05 0.6 0.07 0.03     remainder
9002 76.6 2.9 0.12 0.9 0.03 0.32     remainder
9003 72.3 2.2 0.32 0.5 0.12   0.25   remainder
9004 77.2 3.0 0.07 1.4 0.21   0.05   remainder
9005 78.1 3.6 0.16 0.3 0.15     0.29 remainder
9006 74.5 2.6 0.05 0.6 0.08     0.07 remainder
[Table 14]
No. alloy composition (wt%)
  Cu Si Pb Al P Cr Ti Zn
10001 76.0 2.8 0.12 0.7 0.13   0.21 remainder
10002 75.0 3.0 0.03 0.2 0.05   0.03 remainder
10003 78.3 3.4 0.06 1.3 0.20   0.34 remainder
10004 69.6 2.1 0.25 0.8 0.03   0.17 remainder
10005 77.5 3.6 0.12 0.7 0.15 0.23   remainder
10006 71.8 2.2 0.32 1.2 0.08 0.32   remainder
10007 74.7 2.7 0.1 0.6 0.10 0.03   remainder
10008 75.4 2.9 0.03 0.3 0.06 0.12 0.08 remainder
[Table 15]
No. alloy composition (wt%)
  Cu Si Pb Al Bi Te Se P Cr Ti Zn
11001 76.5 2.9 0.08 0.9 0.03     0.12 0.03   remainder
11002 70.4 2.2 0.32 0.5 0.21     0.03 0.18   remainder
11003 78.2 3.5 0.16 1.3 0.35     0.20   0.34 remainder
11004 73.9 2.7 0.03 0.3 0.11     0.06   0.22 remainder
11005 75.8 3.0 0.06 0.6 0.08     0.11 0.10 0.07 remainder
11006 71.6 2.1 0.24 1.0   0.21   0.04 0.32   remainder
11007 73.8 2.4 0.10 1.1   0.04   0.07   0.03 remainder
11008 75.5 3.0 0.13 0.2   0.36   0.12 0.06 0.14 remainder
11009 77.7 3.2 0.03 1.4     0.17 0.23 0.23   remainder
11010 75.0 2.7 0.15 0.7     0.03 0.03   0.12 remainder
11011 72.9 2.4 0.20 0.8     0.31 0.06 0.09 0.05 remainder
[Table 16]
No. alloy composition (wt%) heat treatment
  Cu Si Pb Zn temperature time
12001 69.3 2.3 0.05 remainder 580°C 30min.
12002 69.3 2.3 0.05 remainder 450°C 2hr.
12003 78.5 2.9 0.05 remainder 580°C 30min.
12004 78.5 2.9 0.05 remainder 450°C 2hr.
[Table 17]
No. alloy composition (wt%)
  Cu Si Pb Sn Al Mn Ni Fe Zn
13001 58.8   3.1 0.2       0.2 remainder
13001a
13002 61.4   3.0 0.2       0.2 remainder
13002a
13003 59.1   2.0 0.2       0.2 remainder
13003a
13004 69.2 1.2 0.1           remainder
13009a
13005 remainder       9.8 1.1 1.2 3.9  
13005a  
13006 61.8   0.1 1.0         remainder
13006a
[Table 18]
No. machinability corrosion resistance hot workability mechanical properties stress resistance corrosion cracking resistance
  form of chippings condition of cut surface cutting force (N) maximum depth of corrosion (µm) 700°C deformability tensile strength (N/mm2) elongation (%)  
1001 117 160 533 35
1002 114 170 520 32
1003 119 140 Δ 575 36
1004 118 220 Δ 490 30 Δ
1005 114 170 546 34
1006 Δ 126 230 504 32 Δ
1007 Δ 127 170 Δ 515 44
[Table 19]
No. machinability corrosion resistance hot Workability mechanical properties stress resistance corrosion cracking resistance
  form of chippings condition of cut surface cutting force (N) maximum depth of corrosion (µm) 700°C deformability tensile strength (N/mm2) elongation (%)  
2001 116 180 510 33
2002 115 230 Δ 475 28 Δ
2003 115 160 Δ 540 32
2004 117 150 Δ 576 35
2005 116 140 Δ 543 37
2006 114 180 Δ 502 32
[Table 20]
No. machinability corrosion resistance hot workability mechanical properties stress resistance corrosion cracking resistance
  form of chippings condition of cut surface cutting force (N) maximum depth of corrosion (µm) 700°C deformability tensile strength (N/mm2) elongation (%)  
3001 120 30 542 23
3002 117 70 550 30
3003 119 110 Δ 565 34
3004 118 140 532 35
3005 119 50 Δ 547 27
3006 115 30 538 34
3007 117 <5 Δ 562 36
3008 119 <5 529 26
3009 118 <5 Δ 518 30
3010 116 <5 555 28
[Table 21]
No. machinability corrosion resistance hot workability ability mechanical properties properties stress resistance corrosion cracking resistance
  form of chippings condition of cut surface cutting force (N) maximum depth of corrosion (µm) 700°C deformability tensile strength (N/mm2) elongation (%)  
4001 119 70 535 30
4002 116 120 547 33
4003 118 60 Δ 539 26
4004 113 30 Δ 550 31
4005 117 <5 534 27
4006 118 <5 Δ 542 30
4007 116 <5 563 32
4008 120 40 Δ 507 25
4009 117 110 Δ 572 36
4010 115 10 524 33
4011 116 <5 Δ 580 31
4012 114 20 575 34
4013 115 50 Δ 588 28
4014 117 <5 543 26
4015 117 60 501 27
4016 116 130 Δ 539 32
4017 118 50 574 34
4018 115 <5 506 30
4019 118 <5 523 28
4020 115 20 Δ 548 32
4021 118 <5 553 27
[Table 22]
No. machinability corrosion resistance hot workability mechanical properties stress resistance corrosion cracking resistance
  form of chippings condition of cut surface cutting force (N) maximum depth of corrosion (µm) 700°C deformability tensile strength (N/mm2) elongation (%)  
5001 116 70 525 34
5002 120 40 Δ 501 25
5003 117 <5 510 33
5004 117 <5 Δ 547 42
5005 115 <5 533 34
5006 116 <5 470 30 Δ
5007 118 <5 512 28
5008 119 <5 Δ 558 36
5009 120 50 Δ 595 31
5010 121 <5 516 27
5011 118 <5 Δ 569 34
5012 117 <5 523 30
5013 116 <5 504 33
5014 114 <5 536 35
5015 117 <5 488 31
5016 116 <5 510 37
5017 118 <5 Δ 557 32
5018 117 <5 480 30
5019 117 <5 511 31
5020 115 <5 528 30
[Table 23]
No. machinability corrosion resistance hot workability mechanical properties stress resistance corrosion cracking resistance
  form of chippings condition of cut surface cutting force (N) maximum depth of corrosion (µm) 700°C deformability tensile strength (N/mm2) elongation (%)  
6001 119 40 515 25
6002 117 <5 496 35
6003 119 <5 Δ 570 34
6004 118 <5 Δ 503 26
6005 115 <5 536 37
6006 113 <5 512 33
6007 117 <5 Δ 559 29
6008 115 <5 Δ 527 31
6009 115 <5 Δ 546 40
6010 116 <5 507 30
6011 113 <5 Δ 520 30
6012 115 <5 Δ 488 29 Δ
6013 114 <5 531 32
6014 114 <5 Δ 564 31
6015 115 20 525 34
6016 121 30 514 25
6017 119 <5 510 27
6018 116 <5 528 32
6019 119 <5 526 28
6020 116 <5 509 30
[Table 24]
No. machinability corrosion resistance hot workability mechanical properties stress resistance corrosion cracking resistance
  form of chippings condition of cut surface cutting force (N) maximum depth of corrosion (µm) 700°C deformability tensile strength (N/mm2) elongation (%)  
6021 113 <5 534 30
6022 117 <5 562 34
6023 120 <5 527 27
6024 116 <5 515 33
6025 117 <5 Δ 575 35
6026 114 <5 524 32
6027 119 <5 503 34
6028 117 <5 510 33
6029 114 <5 Δ 522 30
6030 118 40 546 37
6031 119 <5 529 27
6032 115 <5 Δ 545 30
6033 116 <5 521 34
6034 116 <5 513 31
6035 118 <5 Δ 568 35
6036 118 <5 536 26
6037 116 <5 530 29
6038 117 <5 Δ 555 30
6039 117 20 497 31
6040 118 <5 Δ 574 35
[Table 25]
No. machinability corrosion resistance hot workability mechanical properties stress resistance corrosion cracking resistance
  form of chippings condition of cut surface cutting force (N) maximm depth of corrosion (µm) 700°C deformability tensile strength (N/mm2) elongation (%)  
6041 115 <5 520 34
6042 117 20 Δ 501 31
6043 118 <5 Δ 585 32
6044 116 <5 516 32
6045 116 <5 538 35
[Table 26]
No. machinability hot workability mechanical properties
  form of chippings condition of cut surface cutting force (N) 700°C deformability tensile strength (N/mm2) elongation (%)
7001 132 755 17
7002 127 776 19
7003 Δ 135 620 15
7004 130 714 18
7005 128 708 19
7006 130 685 16
7007 132 717 18
7008 130 811 18
7009 130 790 15
7010 131 708 18
7011 128 810 17
7012 128 694 17
7013 132 742 16
7014 128 809 17
7015 129 725 15
7016 128 765 18
7017 130 684 16
7018 128 710 21
7019 128 746 20
7020 126 802 19
[Table 27]
No. machinability hot workability mechanical properties
  form of chippings condition of cut surface cutting force (N) 700°C deformability tensile strength (N/mm2) elongation (%)
7021 126 792 19
7022 128 762 20
7023 129 725 17
7024 128 744 21
7025 130 750 20
7026 Δ 132 671 23
7027 128 740 23
7028 133 763 22
7029 Δ 129 647 24








[Table 32]
No. machinability corrosion resistance hot workability mechanical properties stress resistance corrosion cracking resistance
  form of chippings condition of cut surface cutting force (N) maximum depth of corrosion (µm) 700°C deformability tensile strength (N/mm2) elongation (%)  
12001 122 210 486 36
12002 119 200 490 35
12003 120 160 Δ 501 40
12004 119 160 Δ 505 41


[Table 34]
No. wear resistance
  weight loss by wear (mg/100000rot.)
7001a 0.7
7002a 1.4
7003a 2.0
7004a 1.4
7005a 1.2
7006a 1.8
7007a 2.3
7008a 0.7
7009a 0.6
7010a 1.3
7011a 0.8
7012a 1.7
7013a 1.1
7014a 0.8
7015a 1.1
7016a 1.0
7017a 1.6
7018a 1.9
7019a 1.1
7020a 1.4
[Table 35]
No. wear resistance
  weight loss by wear (mg/100000rot.)
7021a 1.5
7022a 1.4
7023a 0.9
7024a 2.0
7025a 1.2
7026a 1.2
7027a 1.1
7028a 2.1
7029a 1.5
[Table 36]
No. wear resistance
  weight loss by wear (mg/100000rot.)
13001a 500
13002a 620
13003a 520
13004a 450
13005a 25
13006a 600



Claims

1. A free-cutting copper alloy which comprises 62 to 78 percent, by weight, of copper; 2.5 to 4.5 percent, by weight, of silicon; 0.02 to 0.4 percent, by weight, of lead; at least one element selected from among 0.3 to 3.0 percent, by weight, of tin, 0.2 to 2.5 percent, by weight, of aluminum, and 0.02 to 0.25 percent, by weight, of phosphorus; and at least one element selected from among 0.7 to 3.5 percent, by weight, of manganese and 0.7 to 3.5 percent, by weight, of nickel; and the remaining percent, by weight, of zinc.
 
2. A free-cutting copper alloy which comprises 69 to 79 percent, by weight, of copper; 2.0 to 4.0 percent, by weight, of silicon; 0.02 to 0.4 percent, by weight, of lead; and the remaining percent, by weight, of zinc.
 
3. A free-cutting copper alloy which comprises 69 to 79 percent, by weight, of copper; 2.0 to 4.0 percent, by weight, of silicon; 0.02 to 0.4 percent, by weight, of lead; one element selected from among 0.02 to 0.4 percent, by weight, of bismuth, 0.02 to 0.4 percent, by weight, of tellurium, and 0.02 to 0.4 percent, by weight, of selenium; and the remaining percent, by weight, of zinc.
 
4. A free-cutting copper alloy which comprises 70 to 80 percent, by weight, of copper; 1.8 to 3.5 percent, by weight, of silicon; 0.02 to 0.4 percent, by weight, of lead; at least one element selected from among 0.3 to 3.5 percent, by weight, of tin, 1.0 to 3.5 percent, by weight, of aluminum, and 0.02 to 0.25 percent, by weight, of phosphorus; and the remaining percent, by weight, of zinc.
 
5. A free-cutting copper alloy which comprises 70 to 80 percent, by weight, of copper; 1.8 to 3.5 percent, by weight, of silicon; 0.02 to 0.4 percent, by weight, of lead; at least one element selected from among 0.3 to 3.5 percent, by weight, of tin, 1.0 to 3.5 percent, by weight, of aluminum, and 0.02 to 0.25 percent, by weight, of phosphorus; one element selected from among 0.02 to 0.4 percent, by weight, of bismuth, 0.02 to 0.4 percent, by weight, of tellurium, and 0.02 to 0.4 percent, by weight, of selenium; and the remaining percent, by weight, of zinc.
 
6. A free-cutting copper alloy which comprises 69 to 79 percent, by weight, of copper; 2.0 to 4.0 percent, by weight, of silicon; 0.02 to 0.4 percent, by weight, of lead; at least one element selected from among 0.3 to 3.5 percent, by weight, of tin, 0.02 to 0.25 percent, by weight, of phosphorus, 0.02 to 0.15 percent, by weight, of antimony, and 0.02 to 0.15 percent, by weight, of arsenic, and the remaining percent, by weight, of zinc.
 
7. A free-cutting copper alloy which comprises 69 to 79 percent, by weight, of copper; 2.0 to 4.0 percent, by weight, of silicon; 0.02 to 0.4 percent, by weight, of lead; at least one element selected from among 0.3 to 3.5 percent, by weight, of tin, 0.02 to 0.25 percent, by weight, of phosphorus, 0.02 to 0.15 percent, by weight, of antimony, and 0.02 to 0.15 percent, by weight, of arsenic; one element selected from among 0.02 to 0.4 percent, by weight, of bismuth, 0.02 to 0.4 percent, by weight, of tellurium, and 0.02 to 0.4 percent, by weight, of selenium; and the remaining percent, by weight, of zinc.
 
8. A free-cutting copper alloy which comprises 69 to 79 percent, by weight, of copper; 2.0 to 4.0 percent, by weight, of silicon; 0.02 to 0.4 percent, by weight, of lead; 0.1 to 1.5 percent, by weight, of aluminum; and 0.02 to 0.25 percent, by weight, of phosphorus; and the remaining percent, by weight, of zinc.
 
9. A free-cutting copper alloy which comprises 69 to 79 percent, by weight, of copper; 2.0 to 4.0 percent, by weight, of silicon; 0.02 to 0.4 percent, by weight, of lead; 0.1 to 1.5 percent, by weight, of aluminum; 0.02 to 0.25 percent, by weight, of phosphorus; one element selected from among 0.02 to 0.4 percent, by weight, of bismuth, 0.02 to 0.4 percent, by weight, of tellurium, and 0.02 to 0.4 percent, by weight, of selenium; and the remaining percent, by weight, of zinc.
 
10. A free-cutting copper alloy which comprises 69 to 79 percent, by weight, of copper; 2.0 to 4.0 percent, by weight, of silicon; 0.02 to 0.4 percent, by weight, of lead; 0.1 to 1.5 percent, by weight, of aluminum; 0.02 to 0.25 percent, by weight, of phosphorus; at least one element selected from among 0.02 to 0.4 percent, by weight, of chromium and 0.02 to 0.4 percent, by weight, of titanium; and the remaining percent, by weight, of zinc.
 
11. A free-cutting copper alloy which comprises 69 to 79 percent, by weight, of copper; 2.0 to 4.0 percent, by weight, of silicon; 0.02 to 0.4 percent, by weight, of lead; 0.1 to 1.5 percent, by weight, of aluminum; 0.02 to 0.25 percent, by weight, of phosphorus; at least one element selected from among 0.02 to 0.4 percent, by weight, of chromium and 0.02 to 0.4 percent by weight of titanium; one element selected from among 0.02 to 0.4 percent, by weight, of bismuth, 0.02 to 0.4 percent, by weight, of tellurium and 0.02 to 0.4 percent, by weight, of selenium; and the remaining percent, by weight, of zinc.
 
12. A free-cutting copper alloy as defined in claim 1, claim 2, claim 3, claim 4, claim 5, claim 6, claim 7, claim 8, claim 9, claim 10 or claim 11, which is subjected to a heat treatment for 30 minutes to 5 hours at 400 to 600°C.
 




Drawing







Search report