Copper-based alloy having shape memory properties and superelasticity, members made thereof and method for producing same
US6406566B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignees
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jul 10, 2000 |
| Grant date | Jun 18, 2002 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jul 10, 2020 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC C)Chemistry; Metallurgy
- CPC primaryC22F1/006
- WIPO fieldMaterials, metallurgy
- WIPO sectorChemistry
Abstract
The present invention provides a copper-based alloy having high shape memory properties and superelasticity while maintaining an excellent workability, members such as a wire, plate, pipe, etc. made of the copper-based alloy, and methods for producing them. The copper-based alloy has a recrystallization structure substantially composed of &bgr;-single phase, and can be produced by a method comprising the steps of: forming an alloy by cold-working with a particular maximum cold-working ratio; and subjecting the cold-worked alloy to at least one solution treatment for improving a crystal orientation of the &bgr;-single phase, a quenching and an aging treatment. The maximum cold-working ratio is set so that the crystal orientation density of the &bgr;-single phase measured by an electron back scattering pattern method is 2.0 or more in a cold-working direction.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.