Lead-free, free-cutting copper alloys

(19)

(11)

EP 1 600 517 A3

(12)	EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION

(88)	Date of publication A3:
	14.12.2005 Bulletin 2005/50

(43)	Date of publication A2:
	30.11.2005 Bulletin 2005/48

(21)	Application number: 05017191.7

(22)	Date of filing: 16.11.1998

(51)	International Patent Classification (IPC)⁷: C22C 9/04, C22F 1/08

(84)	Designated Contracting States:
	BE DE FI FR GB IT SE

(30)

Priority:

12.10.1998 JP 28859098

(62)	Application number of the earlier application in accordance with Art. 76 EPC:
	98953071.2 / 1045041

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

(72)	Inventor:
	Oishi, Keiichiro Sakai-shi Osaka 590-0906 (JP)

(74)	Representative: Brown, Fraser Gregory James et al
	fJ Cleveland 40-43 Chancery Lane London WC2A 1JQ London WC2A 1JQ (GB)

(54)	Lead-free, free-cutting copper alloys

(57) The present invention relates to lead free, free cutting copper alloys and methods of their manufacture. In particular, the present invention is directed to a lead-free, free-cutting copper alloy which comprises 69 to 79 percent, by weight, of copper; 2.0 to 4.0 percent, by weight, of silicon; and the remaining percent, by weight, of zinc and wherein the metal structure of the free cutting copper alloy has at least one phase selected from the γ (gamma) phase and the κ (kappa) phase.

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