JP2008297564A

JP2008297564A - Gold alloy

Info

Publication number: JP2008297564A
Application number: JP2007141193A
Authority: JP
Inventors: Masayuki Kahata; 雅之加畑
Original assignee: LEDA CO Ltd
Current assignee: LEDA CO Ltd
Priority date: 2007-05-29
Filing date: 2007-05-29
Publication date: 2008-12-11
Also published as: WO2008146540A1

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To attain a low-cost gold alloy which has a vivid pink color tone suitable for pink gold jewelry and excellent workability and also exhibits health promoting effects. <P>SOLUTION: The gold alloy is characterized in having a composition containing, by mass, 37.5 to <50% gold, 48 to 62.5% copper, <6% silver, <6% zinc, 0.02 to 3% germanium and 0.02 to 3% indium. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

この発明は、金合金に係り、特に、ピンクゴールド宝飾品に好適な鮮やかなピンク色の色調・優れた加工性を有すると共に、健康増進効果も発揮する低コストな金合金に関する。 The present invention relates to a gold alloy, and more particularly, to a low-cost gold alloy that has a vivid pink color tone and excellent processability suitable for pink gold jewelry, and also exhibits a health promotion effect.

近年、ピンク色の色調を有する金合金を用いたピンクゴールドと称される宝飾品（ネックレス、ブレスレット、指輪等）が人気となっている。
従来、この種のピンク色の色調を有する金合金として、例えば、特開２００１−３３５８６１号公報に開示されているように、金を主成分（重量比で５８．５〜７５％）とし、これに赤色成分を加えるための銅（重量比で１０〜３０％）、赤色調整用のマンガン（重量比で２〜１０％）を添加して構成したものがある。
特開２００１−３３５８６１号（表１及び表２） In recent years, jewelry (necklace, bracelet, ring, etc.) called pink gold using a gold alloy having a pink color tone has become popular.
Conventionally, as a gold alloy having this kind of pink color tone, for example, as disclosed in JP 2001-335861 A, gold is a main component (58.5 to 75% by weight). In addition, copper (10 to 30% by weight) for adding a red component and manganese for adjusting red color (2 to 10% by weight) are added.
JP 2001-335861 A (Table 1 and Table 2)

しかしながら、高価な金を重量比で５８．５（１４金）〜７５％（１８金）も使用することはコスト高を招来するものであることから、ピンクゴールド宝飾品に適した色調・優れた加工性を有しながら低コストな金合金の実現が望まれていた。 However, the use of expensive gold in a weight ratio of 58.5 (14 gold) to 75% (18 gold) leads to high costs, so the color tone suitable for pink gold jewelry is excellent. Realization of a low-cost gold alloy while having workability has been desired.

本発明は、上記要請に応えるためになされたものであり、ピンクゴールド宝飾品に好適な鮮やかなピンク色の色調・優れた加工性を有しながら低コストな金合金の実現を目的とする。また、本発明は、健康増進効果を発揮する金合金の実現も目的とするものである。 The present invention has been made to meet the above-described demands, and an object of the present invention is to realize a low-cost gold alloy having a bright pink color tone and excellent workability suitable for pink gold jewelry. Another object of the present invention is to realize a gold alloy that exhibits a health promoting effect.

上記目的を達成するため、本発明の金合金は、金が３７．５質量％以上５０質量％未満、銅が４８質量％以上６２．５質量％以下、銀が６質量％未満、亜鉛が６質量％未満、ゲルマニウムが０．０２質量％以上３質量％以下、インジウムが０．０２質量％以上３質量％以下であることを特徴とする。 In order to achieve the above object, the gold alloy of the present invention has a gold content of 37.5% to less than 50%, copper content of 48% to 62.5%, silver content of less than 6%, and zinc content of 6%. Less than mass%, germanium is 0.02 mass% or more and 3 mass% or less, and indium is 0.02 mass% or more and 3 mass% or less.

上記範囲中において、金が４１．７質量％、銅が５１．５質量％以上５４質量％以下、銀が４．５質量％以下、亜鉛が２質量％以下、ゲルマニウムが２質量％、インジウムが０．３質量の金合金が好ましく（請求項２）、より具体的には、金４１．７質量％、銅５４質量％、亜鉛２質量％、ゲルマニウム２質量％、インジウム０．３質量％で構成して成る金合金（請求項３）、金４１．７質量％、銅５１．５質量％、銀４．５質量％、ゲルマニウム２質量％、インジウム０．３質量％で構成して成る金合金（請求項４）、金４１．７質量％、銅５４質量％、銀２質量％、ゲルマニウム２質量％、インジウム０．３質量％で構成して成る金合金（請求項５）が好適である。 In the above range, gold is 41.7% by mass, copper is 51.5% by mass to 54% by mass, silver is 4.5% by mass or less, zinc is 2% by mass or less, germanium is 2% by mass, indium is A 0.3 mass gold alloy is preferred (Claim 2), more specifically, 41.7 mass% gold, 54 mass% copper, 2 mass% zinc, 2 mass% germanium, and 0.3 mass% indium. A gold alloy composed of 41.7% by weight of gold, 51.5% by weight of copper, 4.5% by weight of silver, 2% by weight of germanium, and 0.3% by weight of indium. An alloy (Claim 4), gold 41.7% by mass, copper 54% by mass, silver 2% by mass, germanium 2% by mass and indium 0.3% by mass (Claim 5) are preferred. is there.

本発明に係る金合金は、鮮やかなピンク色の色調・優れた加工性を有しながら、金の含有率が３７．５質量％以上５０質量％未満と低いため、低コストである。
また、本発明に係る金合金は、遠赤外効果、イオン浸透効果等を有する元素であるゲルマニウムを含有していることから、血行促進による肩こりや筋肉痛の改善、血液浄化等のゲルマニウムの有する種々の健康増進効果を発揮することができる。 The gold alloy according to the present invention has a bright pink color tone and excellent workability, and is low in cost because the gold content is as low as 37.5% by mass or more and less than 50% by mass.
In addition, since the gold alloy according to the present invention contains germanium, which is an element having a far-infrared effect, an ion permeation effect, and the like, it has germanium for improving shoulder stiffness and muscle pain by promoting blood circulation, blood purification, and the like. Various health promotion effects can be exhibited.

本発明の金合金は、金（Ａｕ）が３７．５質量％以上５０質量％未満、銅（Ｃｕ）が４８質量％以上６２．５質量％以下、銀（Ａｇ）が６質量％未満、亜鉛（Ｚｎ）が６質量％未満、ゲルマニウム（Ｇｅ）が０．０２質量％以上３質量％以下、インジウム（Ｉｎ）が０．０２質量％以上３質量％以下となるよう鋳造するものである。 In the gold alloy of the present invention, gold (Au) is 37.5% by mass to less than 50% by mass, copper (Cu) is 48% by mass to 62.5% by mass, silver (Ag) is less than 6% by mass, zinc Casting is performed so that (Zn) is less than 6 mass%, germanium (Ge) is 0.02 mass% to 3 mass%, and indium (In) is 0.02 mass% to 3 mass%.

金の含有割合は、コストを抑制する観点からは低いほど良いが、３７．５質量％より含有割合が低いと金色の色調を十分得ることができず、一方、５０質量％以上だとコストが上がるため、３７．５質量％以上５０質量％未満するのが適当である。 The gold content is preferably as low as possible from the viewpoint of cost reduction. However, if the content is lower than 37.5% by mass, a sufficient golden color tone cannot be obtained. On the other hand, if the content is 50% by mass or more, the cost is low. Therefore, it is appropriate that the content is 37.5% by mass or more and less than 50% by mass.

銅は、金色に赤色成分を加えてピンク色の色調を得るために含有されるものである。銅の含有割合が高いほど赤色が強くなるが、ピンクゴールド宝飾品に好適な鮮やかなピンク色を得るためには、上記の通り、４８質量％以上６２．５質量％以下の範囲と成される。 Copper is contained in order to obtain a pink color tone by adding a red component to gold. The higher the copper content, the stronger the red color, but in order to obtain a bright pink color suitable for pink gold jewelery, the range is from 48% by mass to 62.5% by mass as described above. .

銀は、銅の赤色成分を緩和する（薄める）ため、及び、合金強度を高めるために配合するものであるが、６質量％以上だと銅の赤色成分が薄まりすぎて白っぽくなり、ピンク色の色調が得られなくなるため、６質量％未満と成される。尚、銀は必須成分ではないので、使用しなくても良い。
亜鉛は、銅の赤色成分を緩和する（薄める）ため、及び、加工性を向上させるために配合するものであるが、６質量％以上だと銅の赤色成分が薄まりすぎて白っぽくなり、ピンク色の色調が得られなくなると共に、融点が下がってロウ付け加工性が悪化するため、６質量％未満と成される。尚、銀と同様に、亜鉛も必須成分ではないので、使用しなくても良い。 Silver is added to relieve (reduce) the red component of copper and to increase the alloy strength. However, if the amount is 6% by mass or more, the red component of copper becomes too thin and whitish. Since the color tone cannot be obtained, it is less than 6% by mass. In addition, since silver is not an essential component, it may not be used.
Zinc is added to relieve (reduce) the red component of copper and to improve processability. However, if it is 6% by mass or more, the red component of copper becomes too thin and whitish. Is not obtained, and the melting point is lowered to deteriorate the brazing processability. In addition, like silver, zinc is not an essential component and may not be used.

ゲルマニウムは、銅、銀、亜鉛のガス（特に酸素）吸蔵による溶湯の流動性低下を防止し、鋳造体中の巣の低減に効果があり、また、結晶を微細化し硬さの向上にも効果がある。添加量を０．０２質量％以上３質量％以下としたのは、０．０２質量％未満では上記効果が得られず、３質量％を超えると靱性が失われ、加工性の低下をきたすためである。 Germanium is effective in reducing the fluidity of the molten metal due to occlusion of copper, silver and zinc gases (especially oxygen), reducing nests in the casting, and improving the hardness by making crystals finer. There is. The addition amount is set to 0.02% by mass or more and 3% by mass or less because the above effect cannot be obtained if the amount is less than 0.02% by mass, and if it exceeds 3% by mass, the toughness is lost and the workability is deteriorated. It is.

また、ゲルマニウムは、遠赤外効果、イオン浸透効果等を有する元素であり、血行促進による肩こりや筋肉痛の改善、血液浄化等、種々の健康増進効果を発揮することが知られている。
すなわち、ゲルマニウムから放射される遠赤外線は、人の体温を上昇させて血行を促進し、肩こりや筋肉痛を改善する効果をもたらす。
また、ゲルマニウムが人の皮膚に接触すると、イオン浸透効果によりゲルマニウムイオンが皮膚組織中の血管に浸透し、血液が酸性（プラスイオン）状態の場合にゲルマニウムのマイナスイオン（アルカリ性）により血液ＰＨを正常な弱アルカリ性（ＰＨ７．４）に改善する血液浄化効果を発揮するものである。
而して、本発明の金合金中にはゲルマニウムが含有されているので、血行促進による肩こりや筋肉痛の改善、血液浄化等のゲルマニウムの有する種々の健康増進効果を発揮することができる。 Germanium is an element having a far-infrared effect, an ion permeation effect, and the like, and is known to exert various health promotion effects such as improvement of stiff shoulders and muscle pain by promoting blood circulation, blood purification, and the like.
That is, far-infrared rays emitted from germanium increase human body temperature, promote blood circulation, and have the effect of improving shoulder stiffness and muscle pain.
In addition, when germanium comes into contact with human skin, germanium ions penetrate into blood vessels in the skin tissue due to the ion permeation effect. When blood is in an acidic (positive ion) state, blood PH is normal due to germanium negative ions (alkaline). It exhibits a blood purification effect that is improved to be weakly alkaline (PH 7.4).
Thus, since germanium is contained in the gold alloy of the present invention, various health promoting effects of germanium such as improvement of stiff shoulder and muscle pain by promoting blood circulation, blood purification and the like can be exhibited.

インジウムは、上記したゲルマニウムと同様に、ガス吸蔵を低減する効果、硬さの調整に効果がある。インジウムの添加量を０．０２質量％以上３質量％以下としたのは、０．０２質量％未満では上記効果が得られず、３質量％を超えると融点が下がり、加工性の低下をきたすためである。
尚、上記ゲルマニウム及びインジウムは、色調を変える効果も有る。 Indium has the effect of reducing gas occlusion and the adjustment of hardness, like the above-described germanium. The reason why the amount of indium added is 0.02 mass% or more and 3 mass% or less is that the above effect cannot be obtained if it is less than 0.02 mass%, and if it exceeds 3 mass%, the melting point is lowered and the workability is lowered. Because.
In addition, the said germanium and indium also have the effect of changing a color tone.

以下に本発明の金合金を、実施例を挙て説明するが、これらは本発明の範囲を限定するものではない。
本発明に係る金合金の実施例１〜３及び比較例１〜８の組成、硬度、加工性、色調を表１に示す。 Examples The gold alloy of the present invention will be described below with reference to examples, but these do not limit the scope of the present invention.
Table 1 shows the composition, hardness, workability, and color tone of Examples 1 to 3 and Comparative Examples 1 to 8 of the gold alloy according to the present invention.

尚、表１において、色調を示す略字「Ｖ．Ｐ．」は、「鮮やかなピンク色（vivid pink）」を示すものであり、ピンクゴールド宝飾品に適した色調であることを示す。
一方、略字「Ｒ．」は「赤色（red）」、略字「Ｒ．Ｙ．」は「赤みがかった黄色（reddish yellow）」、略字「Ｗ．Ｙ．」は「白みがかった黄色（whitish yellow）」、略字「Ｗ．Ｒ．」は「白みがかった赤色（whitish red）」を示すものであり、ピンクゴールド宝飾品には不適格な色調である。 In Table 1, the abbreviation “VP” indicating the color tone indicates “vivid pink” and indicates a color tone suitable for pink gold jewelry.
On the other hand, the abbreviation “R.” is “red”, the abbreviation “R.Y.” is “reddish yellow”, and the abbreviation “W.Y.” is “whitish yellow”. ) "And the abbreviation" WR "indicate" whitish red ", and are unsuitable for pink gold jewelry.

実施例１〜３、比較例１〜８は、表１に示す組成の材料をアルゴン雰囲気下で高周波溶解にて合金化し、直径１０mmの鋳型に鋳込んで試料とした。
硬度Ｈｖは、焼鈍材と５０％加工材についてマイクロビッカーズ硬度計を用いて測定した。また、加工性は直径１０mmの試料を圧延率１０％で圧延加工を加え続け、端面のクラックの発生状況から判断した。さらに、色調は目視により判断した。 In Examples 1 to 3 and Comparative Examples 1 to 8, materials having the compositions shown in Table 1 were alloyed by high-frequency melting under an argon atmosphere, and cast into a 10 mm diameter mold as samples.
The hardness Hv was measured for the annealed material and 50% processed material using a micro Vickers hardness meter. The workability was judged from the occurrence of cracks on the end face by continuously rolling a sample having a diameter of 10 mm at a rolling rate of 10%. Furthermore, the color tone was judged visually.

実施例１〜３の金合金は、金が４１．７質量％、銅が５１．５質量％以上５４質量％以下、銀が４．５質量％以下、亜鉛が２質量％以下、ゲルマニウムが２質量％、インジウムが０．３質量の範囲の金合金であり、実施例１は、金４１．７質量％（１０金）、銅５４質量％、亜鉛２質量％、ゲルマニウム２質量％、インジウム０．３質量％で構成した金合金である。
また、実施例２は、金４１．７質量％（１０金）、銅５１．５質量％、銀４．５質量％、ゲルマニウム２質量％、インジウム０．３質量％で構成した金合金である。
さらに、実施例３は、金４１．７質量％（１０金）、銅５４質量％、銀２質量％、ゲルマニウム２質量％、インジウム０．３質量％で構成した金合金である。
表１に示す通り、実施例１〜実施例３の本発明に係る金合金は、ピンクゴールド宝飾品に適した鮮やかなピンク色の色調を有すると共に、加工性も極めて良好であった。 In the gold alloys of Examples 1 to 3, gold is 41.7% by mass, copper is 51.5% by mass to 54% by mass, silver is 4.5% by mass or less, zinc is 2% by mass or less, and germanium is 2%. Example 1 is a gold alloy in which 0.3% by mass of indium and 0.3% by mass of gold. In Example 1, 41.7% by mass of gold (10 gold), 54% by mass of copper, 2% by mass of zinc, 2% by mass of germanium, and 0% of indium A gold alloy composed of 3% by mass.
Example 2 is a gold alloy composed of 41.7% by mass (10 gold) of gold, 51.5% by mass of copper, 4.5% by mass of silver, 2% by mass of germanium, and 0.3% by mass of indium. .
Further, Example 3 is a gold alloy composed of 41.7% by mass (10 gold) of gold, 54% by mass of copper, 2% by mass of silver, 2% by mass of germanium, and 0.3% by mass of indium.
As shown in Table 1, the gold alloys according to the first to third embodiments of the present invention had a vivid pink color tone suitable for pink gold jewelery, and had extremely good workability.

比較例１〜比較例３は、金と銅の二元合金であり、金と銅の割合を変えたものである。金と銅の二元合金である比較例１〜比較例３では、銅による赤色の色調を得ることはできるが、艶のあるピンク色は得られなかった。
比較例４は、一般的な１０金の組成であるが、単純な１０金の組成では、ピンクゴールド宝飾品に適した鮮やかなピンク色の色調を得ることはできない。 Comparative Examples 1 to 3 are binary alloys of gold and copper, in which the ratio of gold and copper is changed. In Comparative Examples 1 to 3 which are binary alloys of gold and copper, a red color tone can be obtained by copper, but a glossy pink color was not obtained.
Although the comparative example 4 is a general 10 gold composition, the simple 10 gold composition cannot obtain a vivid pink color tone suitable for pink gold jewelry.

比較例５及び比較例６は、銅の割合を４８質量％未満としたものであるが、この割合では色調が黄色みを帯びてしまう。
比較例７はゲルマニウムを３．１質量％添加したもの、比較例８はインジウムを３．１質量％添加したものであるが、ゲルマニウム、インジウムの割合が３質量％を越えると色調が白っぽくなってしまうことが判る。 In Comparative Examples 5 and 6, the proportion of copper is less than 48% by mass, but the color tone becomes yellowish at this proportion.
Comparative Example 7 was obtained by adding 3.1% by mass of germanium, and Comparative Example 8 was obtained by adding 3.1% by mass of indium. However, when the ratio of germanium and indium exceeds 3% by mass, the color tone becomes whitish. You can see that.

Claims

Gold is 37.5 mass% or more and less than 50 mass%, Copper is 48 mass% or more and 62.5 mass% or less, Silver is less than 6 mass%, Zinc is less than 6 mass%, Germanium is 0.02 mass% or more and 3 mass%. %, And indium is 0.02 mass% or more and 3 mass% or less.

Gold is 41.7% by mass, copper is 51.5% by mass to 54% by mass, silver is 4.5% by mass or less, zinc is 2% by mass or less, germanium is 2% by mass, and indium is 0.3% by mass. The gold alloy according to claim 1, wherein:

The gold alloy according to claim 2, wherein gold is 41.7% by mass, copper is 54% by mass, zinc is 2% by mass, germanium is 2% by mass, and indium is 0.3% by mass.

The gold is 41.7% by mass, copper is 51.5% by mass, silver is 4.5% by mass, germanium is 2% by mass, and indium is 0.3% by mass. Gold alloy.

The gold alloy according to claim 2, wherein gold is 41.7% by mass, copper is 54% by mass, silver is 2% by mass, germanium is 2% by mass, and indium is 0.3% by mass.