JP3713233B2 - Copper alloy for slide fasteners with excellent continuous castability - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a copper alloy for a slide fastener applied to a slide fastener constituent member such as a slide fastener element or a fastener, and more particularly to a copper alloy for a slide fastener excellent in continuous castability and casting quality.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Conventionally, as a copper alloy for slide fasteners, for example, a copper-nickel-zinc alloy such as white or white whose alloy color is white, or a copper-zinc alloy typified by red or brass has been used. However, although Yoyo contains nickel as an alloying element, it is excellent in corrosion resistance. However, when this is applied to a slide fastener, for example, the fastener often comes into contact with the skin, resulting in a problem of nickel allergy. Yes. Moreover, since the copper-zinc alloy represented by red brass and brass does not contain nickel, the problem of nickel allergy does not occur, but the color tone becomes yellow and a white alloy cannot be obtained.
[0003]
Therefore, in order to solve the above problem, the applicant of the present invention has disclosed nickel disclosed in JP-A-11-124644, JP-A-2000-303129, JP-A-2000-303130, and JP-A-2001-3125. Developed a free white copper alloy and applied for a patent. The nickel-free white copper alloy disclosed in each of the above publications is a Cu-Zn-Mn alloy containing Al, Sn, etc., and is excellent in strength, hardness, workability, corrosion resistance, and does not contain nickel. Nickel allergy problem does not occur, and it is a high decorative value alloy that maintains beautiful whiteness in appearance.
[0004]
The adherend with a constituent member such as a slide fastener is manufactured by manufacturing the above alloy as a wire by a continuous casting method, and then cutting the wire cross-sectional shape into a predetermined cross-sectional shape into each constituent member. Manufactured by mounting on.
However, the alloy described in the above publication is not good in continuous castability compared to the above-mentioned white, red or brass, so it is easy to cut in the continuous casting process, which leads to a decrease in productivity and high cost. It was. Also, the wire produced by continuous casting may have a part where the die component is attached, and the material characteristics of that part are different from the other parts, so it is good in terms of casting quality It wasn't.
[0005]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
In view of the above problems, an object of the present invention is to provide a copper alloy for a slide fastener that is excellent in whiteness, free from nickel allergy, and excellent in continuous castability and casting quality.
[0006]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
As a result of diligent research to solve the problems of the present invention, the present inventors have obtained the following knowledge.
1) The cutting of the wire in the continuous casting process occurs when the compound formed in the die becomes a resistance and the wire is easily cut.
2) The quality of the continuously cast wire is deteriorated because the compound formed in the die adheres to the wire surface.
3) The compound formed in the dice reduces cooling efficiency and causes internal defects, which also affect the properties of the alloy.
4) The compound formed in the die is formed by combining an easily oxidizable element such as Al, Sn, Ti, Si, Cr, etc., which is a component of the alloy, with the die component.
[0007]
Based on such knowledge, the present inventors use, as an alloy component, an easily oxidizable element such as Al, Sn, Ti, Si, Cr, which is a factor that adversely affects continuous castability and lowers casting quality. The inventors have found that it is possible to produce an alloy having no change in continuous castability, cast surface of cast product, and partial characteristics by not adding, and the present invention has been completed.
[0008]
That is, this invention consists of the following structures.
(1) It has a composition represented by the general formula: CuaZnbMnc (where a, b and c are% by mass, a is the remainder, 10 ≦ b ≦ 20, 8 ≦ c ≦ 15 and may contain inevitable elements) Copper alloy for slide fasteners with excellent continuous castability.
(2) The copper alloy for a slide fastener according to the above (1), wherein a * and b * indicating a color tone defined by JIS Z 8729 are 0 <a * <2 and 7 <b * <16.
(3) The copper alloy for slide fastener according to (2), wherein the above (1) is an α-phase single phase at room temperature.
(4) The copper alloy for slide fasteners according to any one of (1) to (3), wherein the alloy is formed by subjecting a surface to a plating treatment.
(5) An element, which is a component part of a slide fastener, made of the copper alloy for slide fasteners according to (1) to (4) above.
(6) A fastener that is a component part of a slide fastener made of the copper alloy for slide fasteners according to (1) to (4) above.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, the copper alloy for slide fasteners of the present invention will be described.
The copper alloy for slide fasteners of the present invention can achieve the object of the present invention by setting the alloy composition to a composition represented by the following general formula.
CuaZnbMnc (1)
(However, a, b, and c are% by mass, and a is the balance, 10 ≦ b ≦ 20, 8 ≦ c ≦ 15, and may contain inevitable elements)
[0010]
The element Zn constituting the alloy of the present invention has the effect of improving the mechanical properties and work hardening properties of the alloy by solid solution strengthening, the deoxidation effect in melt casting, and the effect of reducing the price of the alloy. If the composition ratio of Zn is less than the numerical range specified above, the price of the alloy is insufficient, the alloy strengthening is insufficient, the molten metal is easily oxidized, the generation of oxides increases, and the castability deteriorates. On the other hand, if it exceeds the numerical range defined above, the crystal structure becomes α + β, and sufficient cold workability cannot be secured.
The proportion b of Zn is preferably in the range of 10 <b <20, more preferably 13 <b <17.
[0011]
The element Mn constituting the alloy of the present invention has the effect of improving the mechanical properties of the alloy by solid solution strengthening and the effect of reducing the price of the alloy. In addition, by adding Mn instead of Zn, there is an effect of improving the time-cracking resistance and an effect of suppressing the color tone of the copper alloy from becoming too yellow. Moreover, there exists an effect which lowers melting | fusing point, and there exists a function which suppresses evaporation of zinc from a molten metal while improving castability. If the composition ratio of Mn is less than the numerical range specified above, the color tone becomes yellow. Conversely, if it exceeds the numerical range, the generation of oxides increases in the melt casting, resulting in poor castability, and the crystal structure is α + β, cold workability cannot be sufficiently secured, and castability deteriorates.
The ratio c of Mn is preferably in the range of 8 <c <14, more preferably 8 <c <12.
[0012]
Further, in the present invention, it is important not to add easily oxidizable elements such as Al, Sn, Ti, Si, and Cr, which are factors that adversely affect continuous castability and lower the casting quality.
[0013]
The alloy of the present invention is in the range of 0 <a * <2, 7 <b * <16, based on the color system chromaticity diagram specified by JIS Z 8729, L * value, a * value, b * value. It is in. The color tone referred to in this specification means a lightness index L * (lightness: Elster) and a chromaticity index a * (green to redness: Aster) expressed by the object color display method specified in JIS Z 8729. ), B * (blueness to yellowness: beester).
[0014]
Further, by making the structure of the alloy of the present invention composed of an α-phase single phase, an alloy superior in cold workability can be provided. Furthermore, an alloy excellent in corrosion resistance and discoloration resistance of the alloy can be provided by plating the surface of the alloy.
[0015]
Hereinafter, the slide fastener which is the use application of the alloy of this invention is demonstrated concretely based on drawing.
FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram of a slide fastener. As shown in FIG. 1, a slide fastener has a pair of fastener tapes 1 having a core portion 2 formed on one side end and a predetermined portion on the core portion 2 of the fastener tape 1. A pair of elements facing each other, with the element 3 being caulked and fixed (attached) at intervals, the upper stopper 4 and the lower stopper 5 being caulked and fixed to the core 2 of the fastener tape 1 at the upper and lower ends of the element 3 3, and a slider 6 slidable in the vertical direction for meshing and separating the element 3. In the above description, the slide fastener chain 7 has the element 3 attached to the core portion 2 of the fastener tape 1.
[0016]
In addition, the slider 6 shown in FIG. 1 is not shown in the figure, but a long body made of a plate-like body having a rectangular cross section is subjected to press processing in multiple stages, cut at predetermined intervals, and a slider body is produced. Furthermore, a spring and a handle are mounted as necessary. Further, the puller is also punched out from the plate-like body having a rectangular cross section for each predetermined shape, and is caulked and fixed to the slider body. The bottom stop 5 may be a break-and-fit insert composed of a butterfly stick, a box stick, and a box, and the pair of slide fastener chains can be separated by a slider opening operation. .
[0017]
FIG. 2 is a view showing a manufacturing method of the element 3, the upper stopper 4 and the lower stopper 5 of the slide fastener shown in FIG. 1 and how to attach the fastener tape 1 to the core portion 2. As shown in the figure, the element 3 is formed by cutting a deformed wire 8 having a substantially Y-shaped cross section for each predetermined dimension, and press-molding this to form an engaging head 9, and then the fastener tape 1. It is attached by caulking both leg portions 10 to the core portion 2.
[0018]
The upper stopper 4 is formed by cutting a rectangular wire 11 (rectangular wire) having a rectangular cross section into a predetermined dimension, forming it into a substantially U-shaped cross section by bending, and then caulking the core portion 2 of the fastener tape 1. Is attached. The lower stopper 5 is mounted by cutting a deformed wire 12 having a substantially X-shaped cross section for each predetermined size, and then caulking the core wire 2 of the fastener tape 1.
[0019]
In the figure, the element 3 and the upper and lower stoppers 4 and 5 are attached to the fastener tape 1 at the same time. However, in actuality, the element 3 is continuously attached to the fastener tape 1, and the fastener chain is first attached. The element 3 in the fastener attaching region of the fastener chain is removed, and a predetermined stopper 4 or 5 is mounted in the vicinity of the element 3 in this region.
Since manufacture and attachment are performed as described above, the elements and fasteners that are constituent members of the slide fastener need to be made of an alloy having excellent cold workability.
[0020]
【Example】
EXAMPLES Hereinafter, although this invention is demonstrated concretely based on an Example, this invention is not limited to the following Example at all.
[0021]
[Example]
Pure Cu (99.99%), pure Zn (99.9%), and pure Mn (99.9%) are used as raw materials so that the component composition is Cu75Zn15Mn10 (mass%), and this is continuously performed. It melt | dissolved in the casting apparatus and produced the continuous wire through the carbon die of (phi) 8mm.
[0022]
[Comparative example]
A continuous wire was produced in the same manner as in the example except that the component composition was Cu83Zn4Mn12Al1 (mass%).
[0023]
About the continuous wire obtained by the said Example and comparative example, continuous castability, a surface state, etc. were evaluated.
[0024]
The continuous castability was evaluated by actually performing continuous casting several times with the above continuous casting apparatus. The wire of the comparative example alloy was cut when the wire weight was 100 to 150 kg, and the wire of the example alloy was cut between 300 and 500 kg. It turned out that the alloy of the Example of this invention is 2 to 5 times continuous castability superior to the comparative example.
[0025]
In addition, when the surface of the prepared wire was observed, in the continuous wire of the comparative example, some of the wires had a blackened portion before being cut, but the wire of the example In, there was no blackened portion seen in the comparative example. When the blackened portion was analyzed, it was found to be a compound of carbon and Al in the die. When the blackened portion of the wire was cut at that portion and the surface of the cross section was observed, internal defects such as nests were found. Moreover, as a result of observing a structure | tissue about the continuous wire of this invention, it turned out that a structure | tissue structure is an alpha phase single phase.
[0026]
The continuous wire of the example was subjected to a drawing process and a rolling process to produce a continuous deformed line and a rectangular line having a substantially Y-shaped section, a substantially X-shaped section, and a substantially Y-shaped section shown in FIG. Next, various cold working was performed on the obtained continuous deformed line and rectangular line to obtain various constituent members, which were attached to a fastener tape to produce a slide fastener. Since the manufactured slide fastener does not contain nickel, there is no nickel allergy and the appearance is excellent in whiteness as in the case of slide fasteners made on the basis of white and white, a * value defined by JIS Z 8729, b * It was within the range of values. Further, in the manufacture of the slide fastener, it is easy to perform cold working, and there is no problem in the processing surface.
[0027]
Further, in the manufacture of the slide fastener, after producing a continuous deformed wire and a rectangular wire, Cu-Sn alloy plating is applied by electrolytic plating, Sn plating is applied by electroless plating after the fastener tape is mounted, and sliding is performed in the same manner as described above. A fastener was manufactured.
The obtained slide fastener was as good as above for nickel allergy, whiteness and processability, and when examined for corrosion resistance and discoloration resistance, it was determined by plating treatment compared to the above slide fastener not subjected to plating treatment. The effect appeared more remarkably.
[0028]
【The invention's effect】
According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a copper alloy for a slide fastener that is excellent in whiteness, does not contain nickel, has no nickel allergy problem, and is excellent in continuous castability and casting quality.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram of a slide fastener.
FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining how to attach a lower stopper, an upper stopper, and an element to a fastener tape.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Fastener tape 2 Core part 3 Element 4 Upper stopper 5 Lower stopper 6 Slider 7 Slide fastener chain 8 Deformation line 9 Engagement head 10 Both legs 11 Rectangular line 12 Deformation line

Claims (6)

It is characterized by having a composition represented by the general formula: CuaZnbMnc (where a, b, and c are% by mass, and a is the balance, 10 ≦ b ≦ 20, 8 ≦ c ≦ 15, and may contain inevitable elements) A copper alloy for slide fasteners with excellent continuous castability. The copper alloy for a slide fastener according to claim 1, wherein a * and b * indicating a color tone defined by JIS Z 8729 are 0 <a * <2, 7 <b * <16. . The copper alloy for a slide fastener according to claim 1, wherein the copper alloy is a single α-phase at room temperature. The copper alloy for a slide fastener according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the surface is plated. An element which is a component part of a slide fastener, comprising the copper alloy for slide fasteners according to any one of claims 1 to 4. A fastener, which is a component part of a slide fastener, made of the copper alloy for slide fasteners according to any one of claims 1 to 4.

Images