CH717467A2 - Alloy, in particular noble metal alloy, semifinished product made from such an alloy, piece of jewelry with at least one such semifinished product, and method for producing such a semifinished product. - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to an alloy consisting of at least 33 wt% to at most 75.5 wt% gold, at least 1.5 wt% to at most 45 wt% silver, at least 8 wt% to at most 45 wt% copper, the remainder being zinc. The invention also relates to a semi-finished product made from such an alloy, a piece of jewelry with at least one such semi-finished product, and a method for producing such a semi-finished product.

Description

The invention relates to an alloy, in particular a noble metal alloy, a semi-finished product made from such an alloy, a piece of jewelry with at least one such semi-finished product, and a method for producing such a semi-finished product.

Alloys, in particular noble metal alloys, with a gold content of at least 33 m% (mass percent), in particular gold alloys, typically have a high ductility. In particular, they typically react to shear stress with plastic deformation, whereby they typically break when subjected to increased stress. This limits the use of such alloys, in particular for certain pieces of jewelry that require elastic properties or makes it seem impossible to manufacture elastic pieces of jewelry from alloys, in particular precious metal alloys with a gold content of at least 33%, in particular from gold alloys.

The invention is based on the object of creating an alloy, a semifinished product made of such an alloy, a piece of jewelry with at least one such semifinished product, and a method for producing such a semifinished product, the disadvantages mentioned not occurring.

The object is achieved in that the present technical teaching is provided, in particular the teaching of the independent claims and the embodiments disclosed in the dependent claims and the description.

The object is achieved in particular by creating an alloy consisting of at least 33 wt% to at most 75.5 wt% gold, at least 1.5 wt% to at most 45 wt% silver, at least 8 wt% to at most 45 wt w% copper, remainder zinc. It has surprisingly been found that such an alloy makes it possible to manufacture semi-finished products and in particular pieces of jewelry with elastic properties. It is thus possible to form semi-finished products and pieces of jewelry with elastic properties from gold-containing alloys and, conversely, to use a gold-containing alloy in order to produce elastic, in particular, semi-finished products and pieces of jewelry that are at least elastically deformable to a certain extent. On the one hand, this expands the area of application of gold-containing alloys; on the other hand, it becomes possible to manufacture certain pieces of jewelry with elastic properties from gold or using gold.

In particular, the mass fractions of the individual specified components, including the remainder of zinc, add up to 100 m% in the alloy.

In the context of the technical teaching proposed here, the phrase “remainder zinc” means in particular that the components of the alloy that are 100% missing with respect to the constituents of the alloy specified with certain mass percentage ranges or specific mass fractions are formed by a zinc component. According to one embodiment, the zinc component is pure zinc; according to another embodiment, the zinc component comprises zinc with - in particular unavoidable - impurities, in particular traces of impurities.

According to a development of the invention it is provided that the alloy has a copper content of at least 9 m% to at most 42 m%, preferably from at least 17 m% to at most 27 m%.

The copper content is preferably at most 40 wt%, preferably at most 35 wt%, preferably at most 30 wt%, preferably at most 25 wt%, preferably at most 20 wt%; preferably at least 10 wt%, preferably at least 15 wt%, preferably at least 18 wt%; preferably from at least 16 wt% to at most 21.5 wt%, preferably from at least 19 wt% to at most 21 wt%, preferably from at least 19.6 wt% to at most 20.6 wt%.

According to a further development of the invention it is provided that the alloy has a silver content of at least 2.5 m% to at most 39 m%, preferably from at least 3.5 m% to at most 27.5 m%.

Preferably, the silver content is at most 40 wt%, preferably at most 35 wt%, preferably at most 30 wt%, preferably at most 25 wt%, preferably at most 20 wt%, preferably at most 15 wt%, preferably at most 10 wt%, preferably at most 5 wt%, preferably at most 4 wt%; preferably at least 2 wt%, preferably at least 3 wt%, preferably at least 5 wt%, preferably at least 10 wt%, preferably at least 15 wt%; preferably from at least 3.8 wt% to at most 4.2 wt%, preferably from at least 3.9 wt% to at most 4.1 wt%.

The gold content of the alloy is preferably at least 33.3% by weight to at most 75.5% by weight, preferably at least 40% by weight, preferably at least 45% by weight, preferably at least 50% by weight, preferably at least 55% by weight, preferably at least 60 wt%, preferably at least 65 wt%; preferably from at least 70 wt% to at most 75.3 wt%, preferably from at least 75 wt% to at most 75.1 wt%.

The alloy preferably consists of at least 70 wt% to at most 75.5 wt% gold, at least 2.7 wt% to at most 4.2 wt% silver, at least 16 wt% to at most 21.5 wt% copper, the rest Zinc.

The alloy preferably consists of at least 75 m% to at most 75.1 m% gold, at least 3.7 m% to at most 4.0 m% silver, at least 19 m% to at most 21 m% copper, the remainder zinc.

The alloy preferably consists of at least 75 wt% to at most 75.1 wt% gold, preferably at least 3.1 wt% to at most 4.0 wt% silver, preferably at least 19.6 wt% to 21.6 wt% Copper, the remainder zinc.

The alloy preferably consists of 75 m% gold, 4.3 m% silver, 20 m% copper, the remainder zinc.

The alloy preferably consists of 75.1 m% gold, 4.0 m% silver, 20.6 m% copper, the remainder zinc.

The alloy preferably consists of 75.5 m% gold, 2.1 m% silver, 22 m% copper, the remainder zinc.

The alloy preferably consists of 75 m% gold, 1.7 m% silver, 23 m% copper, the remainder zinc.

The object is also achieved in that a semifinished product is created which has an alloy according to the invention or an alloy according to one of the exemplary embodiments described above. The semifinished product preferably consists of such an alloy. The semi-finished product has the shape of a slotted tube. Such a semifinished product advantageously has elastic properties, in particular when loaded perpendicular to a longitudinal extension of the slotted tube. Such a semi-finished product in the form of a slotted tube is also referred to as a hinge.

According to a development of the invention it is provided that the semifinished product is formed from a sheet elongated in a first direction. This first direction corresponds to a direction of the longest extension of the semifinished product, in particular the slotted tube, and consequently the longitudinal direction of the slotted tube. The sheet metal is in a second direction that is perpendicular to the first direction - with the second direction preferably extending in a plane spanned by a surface of the sheet metal - reshaped, preferably bent, in the shape of a circular ring, in particular a segment of a circular ring. In particular, the slotted tube is formed in this way. The slot is formed in that the opposite ends of the sheet metal along an imaginary circular line are provided at a finite distance from one another, so that the tube does not have a closed circular cross-section, but rather a circular segment-shaped cross-section that is partially open in the form of the slot. A cross-sectional plane of the semifinished product is a plane on which the longitudinal direction is perpendicular.

Preferably, the sheet metal is formed into the shape of a circular ring segment by being drawn, in particular by being drawn through a round drawing die.

The semifinished product formed in this way preferably has an outer diameter of at least 0.3 mm to at most 5.0 mm, preferably from at least 0.5 mm to at most 1.5 mm, preferably from 0.9 mm to at most 1.3 mm, preferably from at least 0.99 mm to at most 1.2 mm.

The semi-finished product in the form of the slotted tube preferably has an inner diameter of at least 0.03 mm to at most 4.5 mm, preferably from 0.4 mm to 3 mm, preferably from at least 0.55 mm to at most 0.76 mm on.

A smallest distance between the ends of the sheet metal bent towards one another in the region of the slot is preferably from at least 0.02 mm to at most 1.0 mm, preferably from at least 0.04 mm to at most 0.08 mm, preferably 0, 06 mm.

A preferred embodiment of the semifinished product has an outside diameter of 1.2 mm, an inside diameter of 0.76 mm, and a smallest distance in the region of the slot of 0.06 mm.

Another preferred embodiment of the semifinished product has an outside diameter of 0.99 mm, an inside diameter of 0.55 mm, and a smallest distance in the region of the slot of 0.06 mm.

According to a development of the invention it is provided that the semi-finished product has a spring constant, in particular measured at a distance of 15 mm from a clamping, in particular when force is applied by means of a pressure piece at a speed of 0.1 mm / s, of at least 1500 N / m to a maximum of 2200 N / m, preferably from at least 1600 N / m to a maximum of 2100 N / m, preferably from at least 1700 N / m to a maximum of 2050 N / m, in particular 1964 N / m with a clamping with an arrangement of the slot to the acting Indicating force, in particular 2025 N / m in a clamping with an arrangement of the slot against the acting force pointing the way, in particular 1720 N / m in a clamping with an arrangement of the slot aligned perpendicular to the acting force. Corresponding values for the spring constant could in particular be measured in such a semifinished product, whereby it could be demonstrated that the semifinished product formed in this way, in particular a semifinished product produced in the context of the method defined below, has elastic properties. In particular, it was possible to measure the values specified specifically for certain restraints for a semi-finished product with an alloy consisting of 75.1 m% gold, 4.0 m% silver, 20.6 m% copper, the remainder zinc. For a correspondingly clamped sample made of a conventional gold alloy with a gold content of 75 m%, a spring constant of 1106 N / m was obtained before hardening, and 1008 N / m after hardening. A spring constant of 3958 N / m was obtained for a correspondingly clamped spring steel sample. It is thus shown that the semi-finished product proposed here made from the alloy proposed here has a spring constant that is significantly increased in the direction of spring steel compared to a conventional gold alloy.

The object is also achieved in that a piece of jewelry is created which has at least one semi-finished product according to the invention or semi-finished product according to one of the previously described embodiments that is wound at least in some areas along a longitudinal direction, that is, along the first direction. In this way, in particular, an elastic piece of jewelry made of an alloy or gold alloy containing gold can advantageously be provided.

The semifinished product is thus wound up in particular along the longitudinal direction of the slotted tube.

The semifinished product is preferably wound up helically along the first direction. It can thus in particular have a helical spring-like appearance.

According to a further development of the invention it is provided that the piece of jewelry has at least two semifinished products wound parallel to one another along the respective longitudinal direction, that is to say the first direction. In particular, the semifinished products are arranged adjacent to one another along their entire extent, that is to say in particular run parallel to one another along the helical winding. The piece of jewelery thus preferably has a helical multiple strand, in particular a double strand, formed from the at least two semi-finished products. The semi-finished products are mechanically - preferably non-detachably - connected to one another at at least one end, preferably via an end piece. In particular, it is possible that they are welded or glued to the end piece. The piece of jewelery particularly preferably has such an end piece at both ends of the semi-finished products.

It is preferably possible that the piece of jewelry has exactly one semi-finished product wound along the first direction. According to an alternative embodiment, the piece of jewelery has exactly two semi-finished products wound parallel to one another along the first direction. According to other preferred configurations, however, the piece of jewelery can also have a plurality of more than two semifinished products wound parallel to one another along the first direction. In particular, the piece of jewelry can have three such semifinished products, four such semifinished products, five such semifinished products, or even more than five such semifinished products.

According to a further development of the invention it is provided that the at least one semi-finished product of the piece of jewelry is wrapped around its circumference, that is, circumferentially, with a noble metal wire, in particular a gold wire, a platinum wire or another noble metal wire, in particular a yellow gold wire or a white gold wire . The semifinished product is preferably completely wrapped with the noble metal wire along its entire length, in particular wrapped in a helical shape. In particular, the noble metal wire is preferably wound tightly helically around the semifinished product, so that the semifinished product is completely hidden by the noble metal wire, that is to say in particular completely encased. In this way, a particularly noble impression can be achieved for the piece of jewelry.

Preferably, the at least two semi-finished products of the piece of jewelry are each wrapped around the circumference with a noble metal wire.

The piece of jewelery preferably has a socket for at least one gemstone at at least one end. In particular, the at least one end piece is preferably designed as such a setting for a gemstone or a plurality of gemstones. The piece of jewelery preferably has such a setting for at least one jewel stone, in particular as an end piece, at both ends of the at least one semi-finished product.

According to a development of the invention it is provided that the piece of jewelry is designed as a bracelet. Due to its elastic design, the piece of jewelery can be placed around an arm, in particular a forearm, in particular in the vicinity of the wrist, in a particularly simple and elegant manner.

The object is also achieved in that a method for producing a semifinished product according to the invention or a semifinished product according to one of the exemplary embodiments described above is created. The method comprises the following steps: A sheet metal, elongated in a first direction, made of an alloy according to the invention or an alloy according to one of the exemplary embodiments described above is provided. The sheet metal is formed into a slotted tube. The slotted tube is cured at a certain curing temperature for a certain curing time. The specific curing temperature is from at least 100 ° C. to at most 400 ° C., preferably from at least 250 ° C. to at most 300 ° C., preferably from at least 270 ° C. to at most 290 ° C., preferably 270 ° C., preferably 275 ° C., preferably 280 ° C, preferably 285 ° C, preferably 290 ° C. The specific curing time is from a minimum of 2 hours to a maximum of 8 hours, preferably from a minimum of 3 hours to a maximum of 7 hours, preferably from a minimum of 4 hours to a maximum of 6 hours, preferably 2 hours, preferably 2.5 hours, preferably 3 hours, preferably 3, 5 hours, preferably 4 hours, preferably 4.5 hours, preferably 5 hours, preferably 5.5 hours, preferably 6 hours.

The curing temperature is preferably 270 ° C. and the curing time is 6 hours. The curing temperature is preferably 280 ° C. and the curing time is 4 hours. The curing temperature is preferably 285 ° C. and the curing time is 3.5 hours. The curing temperature is preferably 290 ° C. and the curing time is 3 hours. The curing temperature is preferably 300 ° C. and the curing time is 2.5 hours.

By providing the elongated sheet metal, reshaping the sheet metal to form the slotted tube and finally curing the slotted tube, the semifinished product is ultimately obtained.

The sheet is provided in particular by casting the molten alloy and then rolling.

The sheet metal is in particular formed into the slotted tube by being drawn through a round drawing die.

In the context of the method, a semifinished product made of a gold-containing alloy or gold alloy with elastic properties can advantageously be obtained.

According to a development of the invention it is provided that the semifinished product is wound up helically along the first direction. In this way, a piece of jewelry in particular is obtained. Preferably at least two, preferably exactly two or even more than two, semi-finished products wound helically along the first direction are arranged next to one another, in particular running parallel to one another, and the piece of jewelery is obtained in this way.

According to a development of the invention it is provided that the semifinished product is wrapped around its circumference, that is, circumferentially, with a noble metal wire, in particular gold wire or platinum wire, or another noble metal wire, in particular money gold wire or white gold wire.

Preferably, at least two semifinished products running parallel to one another are wrapped with a noble metal wire. Alternatively, the semifinished products are preferably circumferentially wrapped separately from one another with the noble metal wire. The semi-finished products are then wound up in a helical manner parallel to one another.

The at least two semifinished products wound parallel to one another are preferably mechanically connected to one another at at least one end, in particular via an end piece, preferably via a socket for at least one gemstone. The semi-finished products are preferably connected to one another at their two ends with an end piece, in particular a setting for at least one gemstone.

In particular in this way a piece of jewelry, preferably a bracelet, is obtained.

The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to the drawing. The figures show: FIG. 1 a schematic cross-sectional view of an exemplary embodiment of a semifinished product, and FIG. 2 an exemplary embodiment of a piece of jewelry.

1 shows a schematic cross-sectional illustration of an exemplary embodiment of a semifinished product 1. The semifinished product has the shape of a slotted tube 2 which extends along a longitudinal direction which is perpendicular to the image plane of FIG. The longitudinal direction is also referred to as the first direction. The semifinished product 1 is formed from a sheet 3 elongated in the first direction or longitudinal direction, which is formed circular, in particular circular segment-shaped, in a second direction, which is perpendicular to the first direction, preferably by pulling the sheet 3 through a round drawing die .

The semi-finished product consists of an alloy. The alloy consists in particular of at least 33 m% to at most 75.5 m% gold, 1.5 m% to at most 45 m% silver, from at least 8 m% to at most 45 m% copper, the remainder zinc.

The copper content of the alloy is preferably from at least 9 wt% to at most 42 wt%, preferably from at least 17 wt% to at most 27 wt%.

The silver content of the alloy is preferably from at least 2.5 m% to at most 39 m%, preferably from at least 3.5 m% to at most 27.5 m%.

The semifinished product 1 preferably has an outside diameter D1 which is at least 0.3 mm to at most 5.0 mm. An inside diameter D2 of the semifinished product 1 is preferably from at least 0.03 mm to at most 4.5 mm. A smallest distance A in the region of the slot of the semifinished product 1 is preferably from at least 0.02 mm to at most 1.0 mm.

The semifinished product 1 preferably has a spring constant of at least 1500 N / m to at most 2200 N / m, preferably of at least 1600 N / m to at most 2100, perpendicular to the longitudinal extent, especially measured at a distance of 15 mm from a restraint N / m, preferably from at least 1700 N / m to at most 2050 N / m.

The semifinished product 1 is preferably produced by providing the elongated sheet 3 made of the alloy, in particular by casting and rolling. The sheet metal is then formed into the slotted tube 2, in particular by pulling it through a round drawing die. The slotted tube 2 is then preferably cured at a curing temperature of at least 100 ° C. to at most 400 ° C. for a curing time of at least 2 hours to at most 8 hours. In this way, the semifinished product 1 is finally obtained.

The semi-finished product 1 is preferably wound up in a helical manner, in particular in order to obtain a piece of jewelry. The semifinished product 1 is preferably wrapped in the circumferential direction, in the direction of an arrow P in FIG. 1 or in the opposite direction, with a noble metal wire, in particular gold wire or platinum wire, or another noble metal wire, in particular yellow gold wire or white gold wire.

FIG. 2 shows an illustration of an exemplary embodiment of a piece of jewelry 5, the piece of jewelry 5 having at least one semifinished product 1 according to FIG. 1 wound at least in regions along the first direction. In particular, the piece of jewelry 5 here has two such semi-finished products 1, which are wound up parallel to one another along the respective longitudinal direction. In particular, the semifinished products 1 are wound up helically to form a double strand. In other exemplary embodiments, however, the piece of jewelery 5 can also have precisely one semi-finished product 1 wound along the first direction, or more than two semi-finished products 1 wound parallel next to one another along the respective longitudinal direction.

In FIG. 2 it can also be seen that the semifinished products 1 are each wrapped around the circumference with a noble metal wire 7, so that the actual semifinished products 1 are no longer visible to the observer.

At at least one end of the semi-finished products 1, an end piece 9 is arranged, preferably in a manner not shown in the form of a mount for at least one gemstone. In particular, the two semi-finished products 1 are mechanically connected to the end piece 9, preferably welded or glued.

In a preferred embodiment, the semi-finished products 1 each have such an end piece 9 at both ends.

The piece of jewelry 5 is designed in particular as a bracelet 11.

Claims (13)

1. Alloy consisting of - at least 33 m% to a maximum of 75.5 m% gold, - at least 1.5 m% to a maximum of 45 m% silver, - at least 8% to a maximum of 45% copper, - remainder zinc. 2. Alloy according to claim 1, wherein the alloy has a copper content of at least 9 wt% to at most 42 wt%, preferably at least 17 wt% to at most 27 wt%. 3. Alloy according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the alloy has a silver content of at least 2.5 m% to at most 39 m%, preferably from at least 3.5 m% to at most 27.5 m%. 4. Semi-finished product (1) in the form of a slotted tube (2), comprising an alloy according to one of the preceding claims. 5. Semi-finished product (1) according to claim 4, wherein the semi-finished product (1) is formed from a sheet metal (3) elongated in a first direction, which is shaped in a circular ring shape, in particular circular ring segment shape, in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction. 6. Semi-finished product (1) according to one of claims 4 or 5, wherein the semi-finished product (1) has a spring constant, in particular measured at a distance of 15 mm from a clamping, of at least 1500 N / m to at most 2200 N / m, preferably of at least 1600 N / m to at most 2100 N / m, preferably from at least 1700 N / m to at most 2050 N / m. 7. piece of jewelery (5), with at least one semi-finished product (1) according to one of claims 4 to 6 wound at least in places along a longitudinal direction. 8. piece of jewelry (5) according to claim 7, wherein the piece of jewelry (5) has at least two semifinished products (1) wound parallel to one another along the respective longitudinal direction. 9. piece of jewelry (5) according to any one of claims 7 or 8, wherein the at least one semi-finished product (1) of the piece of jewelry (5) is wrapped on its periphery with a noble metal wire (7). 10. piece of jewelry (5) according to any one of claims 7 to 9, wherein the piece of jewelry (5) is designed as a bracelet (11). 11. A method for producing a semi-finished product (1) according to one of claims 4 to 6, with the following steps: - providing a sheet (3) elongated in a first direction and made from an alloy according to one of claims 1 to 3; - Forming the sheet metal (3) into a slotted tube (2); - curing of the slotted tube (2) at a certain curing temperature of at least 100 ° C to a maximum of 400 ° C for a certain curing time of at least 2 hours to a maximum of 8 hours, and - Receiving the semi-finished product (1). 12. The method according to claim 11, wherein the semifinished product (1) is wound helically along the first direction. 13. The method according to any one of claims 11 or 12, wherein the semifinished product (1) is wrapped around its circumference with a noble metal wire (7).