JP2018513266A - Copper-nickel-tin alloy with manganese - Google Patents

Abstract

The copper-nickel-tin alloy contains about 1.9 wt% to about 21 wt% manganese. The present invention relates to an article comprising a copper-nickel-tin-manganese alloy, wherein the manganese is present in the disclosed alloy in an amount from about 1.9 wt% to about 21 wt%. The present invention also provides a method for producing an article comprising casting a copper-nickel-tin-manganese alloy containing about 0.2 wt% to about 21 wt% manganese to produce the article. About.

Description

(Cross-reference to related applications)
This application claims priority to US Provisional Patent Application No. 62 / 134,731, filed March 18, 2015. The entirety of this application is incorporated herein by reference.

(background)
The present disclosure relates to copper-nickel-tin-manganese alloys.

Copper alloys used in petroleum development must exhibit high impact toughness (eg, at least 20 ft-lbs). In metallurgy, the term “toughness” refers to the ability of an alloy to absorb energy and deform plastically without breaking. Toughness therefore requires a balance between strength and ductility. Alloys can also be exposed to corrosive materials such as hydrogen sulfide (H ₂ S) and harmful conditions such as high bearing wear and friction. Hydrogen sulfide is a colorless gas and exhibits a rotting odor like the smell of rotten eggs. In addition to being highly corrosive, hydrogen sulfide is heavier than air, extremely toxic, flammable and prone to explosion. In addition, aircraft landing systems require great resistance to high-load sliding bearing forces during low-speed takeoff and landing.

  It is desirable to develop new alloys that have high impact toughness, corrosion resistance, and resistance to bearing wear and friction.

(easy explanation)
The present disclosure relates to copper-nickel-tin-manganese alloys. The alloy exhibits high impact toughness and good resistance to corrosion, wear, and friction, and is particularly strengthened by fabrication deformation (cold working).

  Disclosed in embodiments is an alloy comprising copper, nickel, tin, and about 1.9 wt% to about 20 wt% manganese.

  In some embodiments, nickel is present in an amount from about 5 wt% to about 25 wt% and / or tin is present in an amount from about 5 wt% to about 10 wt%.

  Manganese is from about 1.9 wt% to about 10 wt% (eg, from about 1.9 wt% to about 5 wt%, from about 1.9 wt% to about 2 wt%, and from about 2.0 wt% to about 10 wt%) May be present in any amount.

  In other embodiments, disclosed is an article comprising a copper-nickel-tin-manganese alloy. Manganese is present in the alloy in an amount from about 1.9 wt% to about 20 wt%.

  The article may be selected from the group consisting of bushings, instrument housings, connectors, centralizers, fasteners, drill collars, plastic molding dies, welding arms, electrodes, and certified ingots.

  In some embodiments, the article is in the form of a strip, a rod, a bar, a tube, or a plate.

  The alloy may include about 5 wt% to about 25 wt% nickel and about 5 wt% to about 10 wt% tin.

  Optionally, the article has at least one dimension that exceeds about 5 inches.

  The article can be an aircraft landing system or a component thereof.

  Disclosed in a further embodiment is a method for producing an article. The method includes providing a copper-nickel-tin alloy and adding 0.2 to 20 wt% manganese to the copper-nickel-tin alloy based on the total weight of the article.

  Optionally, the method further includes cold working of the article.

  In some embodiments, nickel is present in an amount from about 5 wt% to about 25 wt% of the article and / or tin is present in an amount from about 5 wt% to about 10 wt% of the article.

  Manganese is from about 0.2 wt% to about 10 wt% (eg, from about 0.2 wt% to about 5 wt%, from about 0.2 wt% to about 2 wt%, and from about 0.2 wt% to about 1.9 wt% Up to)).

  These and other non-limiting features of the present disclosure are disclosed in greater detail below.

(Brief description of the drawings)
The following is a brief description of the drawings, which are presented for the purpose of illustrating exemplary embodiments disclosed herein and not for the purpose of limiting it.

FIG. 1 is a flowchart illustrating an exemplary method of the present disclosure.

(Detailed explanation)
A more complete understanding of the components, processes, and devices disclosed herein can be obtained by reference to the accompanying drawings. These figures are only schematic representations based on convenience and ease of demonstrating the present disclosure, and therefore these figures show the relative sizes and dimensions of the devices or components for them. And / or is not intended to define or limit the scope of the exemplary embodiments.

  Certain terms are used in the following description for the sake of clarity, but these terms are only intended to refer to the particular structures of the embodiments selected for illustration in the drawings and are within the scope of this disclosure. It is not intended to be defined or limited. In the drawings and the following description, it should be understood that like numeric designations refer to components of like function.

  The singular forms “a”, “an”, and “the” include plural referents unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.

  The numerical values in the specification and claims of this application are the same when the same number of significant digits are used, and less than the experimental error of the conventional measurement technique of the type described in this application for determining the value. It should only be understood to include numerical values that differ from the stated values.

  All ranges disclosed herein include the recited endpoints and can be combined independently (eg, the ranges “from 2 grams to 10 grams” are endpoints of 2 grams and 10 grams and Including all its intermediate values). Range endpoints and arbitrary values disclosed herein are not limited to precise ranges or values. They are sufficiently inaccurate and include values that approximate these ranges and / or values.

  Values modified by one or more terms such as “about” and “substantially” may not be limited to the exact values specified. The approximate language may correspond to the accuracy of the instrument for measuring the value. Also, the modifier “about” should be considered as disclosing the range defined by the absolute values of the two endpoints. For example, the expression “from about 2 to about 4” also discloses the range “from 2 to 4.”

  As used herein, the term “spinodal alloy” refers to an alloy that, due to its chemical composition, can undergo spinodal decomposition. The term “spinodal alloy” refers to alloy chemistry rather than to the physical state of the alloy. Accordingly, the “spinodal alloy” may or may not have undergone spinodal decomposition, and may or may not be in the process of spinodal decomposition.

  FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary method (100) in generating an article. The method (100) comprises melting a copper-nickel-tin alloy (110); adding 0.2-20 wt% manganese to the copper-nickel-tin alloy based on the total weight of the article (120). Casting the alloy (125); solution annealing as needed (130); cold working the article as needed (140); and heat treating the article as needed ( 150).

  The copper-nickel-tin alloy can be a spinodal alloy.

  After preparation of a batch of appropriately proportioned copper, nickel, and tin, the combination is melted (110). Melting (110) may be performed in a gas-fired furnace, electric induction furnace, or arc furnace of a size adapted to the shape of the desired solidified product. Generally, the melting temperature is at least about 2057 ° F., with overheating in the range of 150-400 ° F. depending on the casting process.

  Manganese addition (120) may be accomplished by dissolving manganese in the melt at a temperature of at least about 2100 ° F, and preferably in the range of about 2200 ° F to about 2350 ° F.

  The alloy is then cast (125). The alloy can be cast after melting temperature stabilization with appropriate superheating into a continuous cast billet or shape. In addition, casting can also be performed to produce ingots, semi-finished parts, near net parts, shots, pre-alloyed powders, or other individual shapes.

  In some embodiments, some magnesium during melting (110), adding (120), and / or solution annealing (130) to reduce the oxygen content of the alloy. Is added. Magnesium oxide is formed and can be removed from the alloy mass.

  Also, the strength can be improved through work hardening (eg, cold work (140)) and / or spinodal ripening. These features achieve improvements in other properties such as a combination of strength and impact toughness, corrosion resistance, and bearing quality while improving the overall strength and ductility combination.

  Cold working is the strengthening of the metal by plastic deformation. This is typically achieved by pressing, bending, drawing or shearing the metal at a temperature below its recrystallization temperature. For example, the alloy can be beaten, drawn, and otherwise formed. This cold working can increase the hardness, yield strength, and / or tensile strength of articles formed from the alloy.

  Spinodal ripening / spinodal degradation is a mechanism by which multiple components can be separated into distinct sites or microstructures with different chemical compositions and physical properties. In particular, crystals having a bulk composition dissolve in the central region of the phase diagram. Spinodal decomposition at the surface of the alloys of the present disclosure results in surface hardening.

  The heat-treated spinodal structure maintains the same shape as the original, and as a result of the similar size of the atoms, the article does not distort during the heat treatment.

  The copper-nickel-tin alloy can be a spinodal alloy. Spinodal alloys in most cases exhibit an anomaly called a solubility gap in the phase diagram. Within a relatively narrow temperature range of the solubility gap, atomic ordering occurs in the existing crystal lattice structure. The resulting two-phase structure is stable at temperatures significantly lower than the difference.

  Copper-nickel-tin spinodal alloys exhibit a combination of beneficial properties such as high strength, excellent tribological properties, and high corrosion resistance in seawater and acidic environments. The increase in base metal yield strength may be the result of spinodal decomposition in a copper-nickel-tin alloy.

  Compared to conventional high performance ferrous, nickel, and titanium alloys, copper alloys have very high electrical and thermal conductivity. Conventional copper alloys are rarely used in demanding applications that require a high degree of hardness. However, copper-nickel-tin spinodal alloys combine high hardness and conductivity under both hardened casting and forging conditions.

  The use of an inert atmosphere (eg, containing argon and / or carbon dioxide / carbon monoxide) and / or a protective cover (eg, vermiculite, alumina and / or graphite) is neutral to protect oxidizable elements It can be used to maintain conditions or reducing conditions.

  Reactive metals such as magnesium, calcium, beryllium, and / or tungsten can be added after the initial meltdown to ensure a low concentration of dissolved oxygen.

  Casting into continuous cast billets, parts or shots can be done after stabilization of the melting temperature using appropriate superheat.

  Optionally, solution annealing (130) is performed at a temperature of about 1350 ° F. to about 1625 ° F. for about 1 hour to about 12 hours.

  Cold work (140) refers to mechanical deformation of the metal at a temperature below the recrystallization temperature. As the deformation increases, the metal becomes more difficult to deform. In other words, the material is work hardened or strain hardened. This step is optional.

  If necessary, the metal can be further strengthened by heat treatment (150). In some embodiments, the heat treatment includes reheating at a temperature range of about 600 ° F. to about 950 ° F. for about 1 hour to about 8 hours to effect cure.

  Nickel may be present in an amount from about 5 wt% to about 25 wt% (eg, from about 10 wt% to about 20 wt%, and about 15 wt%). In more specific embodiments, nickel is in an amount from about 8 wt% to about 16 wt%, from about 14 wt% to about 16 wt%, from about 8 wt% to about 10 wt%, or from about 10 wt% to about 12 wt%. Exists.

  Tin may be present in an amount from about 5 wt% to about 10 wt% (eg, from about 6 wt% to about 9 wt%, and from about 7 wt% to about 8 wt%). In more specific embodiments, tin is present in an amount from about 5 wt% to about 9 wt%, or from about 7 wt% to about 9 wt%, or from about 5 wt% to about 7 wt%.

  Manganese can be added in an amount of at least about 0.2 wt% (eg, at least about 0.5 wt%, at least about 1 wt%, and at least about 1.5 wt%). In more specific embodiments, the manganese is at least 4 wt%, at least 5 wt%, about 4 wt% to about 12 wt%, about 5 wt% to about 21 wt%, about 16 wt% to about 21 wt%, or about 19 wt% to about 21 wt%. % Present. In some embodiments, the maximum amount of manganese is at most 10 wt% (eg, at most 5 wt%, at most 3 wt%, at most 2 wt%, at most 1.9 wt%). Up to 1.8 wt%, up to 1.7 wt%, up to 1.6 wt%, and up to 1.5 wt%).

  In some specific embodiments, the copper-nickel-tin-manganese alloy comprises from about 7 wt% to about 9 wt% nickel, and from about 5 wt% to about 7 wt% tin. These embodiments also include about 0.2 wt% to about 21 wt% manganese, and the remaining proportion of copper. Specifically, it is contemplated that these embodiments can include about 5 wt% to about 21 wt%, about 16 wt% to about 21 wt%, or about 19 wt% to about 21 wt%, and the remaining proportion of copper.

  In other specific embodiments, the copper-nickel-tin-manganese alloy includes from about 14 wt% to about 16 wt% nickel, and from about 7 wt% to about 9 wt% tin. These embodiments also include about 0.21 wt% to about 21 wt% manganese and the remaining proportion of copper. Specifically, it is contemplated that these embodiments can include about 5 wt% to about 21 wt%, about 16 wt% to about 21 wt%, or about 19 wt% to about 21 wt%, and the remaining proportion of copper.

  In addition, the alloy includes one or more types of other metals (eg, beryllium, chromium, silicon, molybdenum, iron, and zinc).

  In some embodiments, the copper alloy includes from about 1 wt% to about 5 wt% beryllium.

  The copper alloy can include from about 0.7 wt% to about 6 wt% cobalt.

  In a specific embodiment, the alloy includes about 2 wt% beryllium and about 0.3 wt% cobalt.

  In other embodiments, the alloy can include beryllium in an amount from about 5 wt% to about 7 wt%.

  Chromium may be present in an amount less than about 5 wt% of the alloy (eg, including from about 0.5 wt% to about 2.0 wt%, and from about 0.6 wt% to about 1.2 wt%).

  The article can be in the form of a strip, rod, bar, tube, or plate.

  In some embodiments, the article is a bushing, instrument housing, connector, centralizer, fastener, drill collar, mold for plastic molding, welding arm, electrode, casting component, or certified ingot. The article can be an aircraft landing system or a component thereof.

It will be understood that variations of the above-disclosed and other features and functions, or alternatives, may be combined in many other different systems or applications. Various alternatives, modifications, variations, or improvements that are not currently foreseen or anticipated can be made later by those skilled in the art and are intended to be encompassed by the following claims.

Claims (20)

  An alloy comprising copper, nickel, tin, and about 1.9 wt% to about 21 wt% manganese.   The alloy of claim 1, wherein the nickel is present in an amount from about 5 wt% to about 25 wt%.   The alloy of claim 1, wherein the tin is present in an amount from about 5 wt% to about 10 wt%.   The alloy of claim 1, wherein the manganese is present in an amount from about 1.9 wt% to about 10 wt%.   The alloy of claim 1, wherein the manganese is present in an amount from about 1.9 wt% to about 5 wt%.   The alloy of claim 1, wherein the manganese is present in an amount from about 1.9 wt% to about 2 wt%.   The alloy of claim 1, wherein the manganese is present in an amount from about 2 wt% to about 10 wt%.   An article comprising a copper-nickel-tin-manganese alloy, wherein the manganese is present in the alloy in an amount from about 1.9 wt% to about 21 wt%.   9. The article of claim 8, wherein the article comprises a bushing, an instrument housing, a connector, a centralizer, a fastener, a drill collar, a mold for plastic molding, a welding arm, an electrode, a cast component, and An article selected from the group consisting of certified ingots.   The article of claim 8, wherein the article is a strip, rod, bar, tube, or plate.   9. The article of claim 8, wherein the alloy comprises about 5 wt% to about 25 wt% nickel and about 5 wt% to about 10 wt% tin.   9. The article of claim 8, wherein the article has at least one dimension that exceeds about 5 inches.   A method for producing an article, comprising casting a copper-nickel-tin alloy that also includes about 0.2 wt% to about 21 wt% manganese to produce the article.   The method of claim 13, further comprising cold working the article.   14. The method of claim 13, further comprising precipitation hardening the article by heat treatment with or without cold working.   14. The method of claim 13, wherein the nickel is present in an amount from about 5 wt% to about 25 wt% of the article, and wherein the tin is from about 5 wt% to about 25 wt% of the article. A method that is present in an amount up to 10 wt%.   14. The method of claim 13, wherein the manganese is present in an amount from about 0.2 wt% to about 10 wt% of the article.   14. The method of claim 13, wherein the manganese is present in an amount from about 0.2 wt% to about 5 wt% of the article.   14. The method of claim 13, wherein the manganese is present in an amount from about 0.2 wt% to about 2 wt% of the article. 14. The method of claim 13, wherein the manganese is present in an amount from about 0.2 wt% to about 1.9 wt% of the article.

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