Copper-zinc alloy

US5658401A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• Diehl GmbH & Co. · DE

Inventors

• Norbert Gaag · Achern, DE
• Peter Ruchel · Achern, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Dec 29, 1995
• Grant date: Aug 19, 1997
• Expiry date: Dec 29, 2015

Classification

• Technology area (CPC F): Mechanical Engineering; Lighting; Heating
• CPC primary: F16D23/025
• WIPO field: Materials, metallurgy
• WIPO sector: Chemistry

Abstract

A copper-zinc alloy for semi-finished products and articles which are highly loaded and subjected to extreme wear especially synchronizing rings. The alloy possesses a composition of 40 to 65% Cu, 8 to 25% Ni, 2.5 to 5% Si, 0 to 3% Al, 0 to 3% Fe, 0 to 2% Mn and 0 to 2% Pb, with the balance being zinc and unavoidable impurities. The Ni:Si ratio is about 3 to 5:1, and the structure consists of at least 75% .beta.-phase, with the balance .alpha.-phase, in the absence of a .gamma.-phase. Nickel silicides occur predominantly as a round intermetallic phase. The alloy provides quite substantially higher levels of resistance to wear.