Method for fabrication of a gold alloy wire

A method for fabrication of a cast 8 to 11 carat gold alloy wire with an initial diameter less than or equal to 20 mm in order to obtain a wire having a final diameter comprised between the initial cast diameter and 0.1 mm, the method comprising:

• preparing an alloy composition comprising, in mass percent:
• Au:
• between 33.33% and 45.84%,
• Zn:
• between 3.64% and 12.44%,
• Cu:
• between 18.46% and 45.02%,
• Ni between 9.88% and 33.78%,
• and from 0.0 to 5.0% of at least one element selected from the group consisting of Ir, In, Ti, Si, Ga, and Re,
• and the total content of the elements of said alloy being limited to 100% by adjusting the Cu content;
• producing a cast bar by continuous casting, whose cross-section is inscribed in a diameter of between 8.0 to 20.0 mm;
• wire rolling said cast bar in a substantially rectangular cross-section, by turning the intermediate product obtained through a quarter-turn before each wire rolling pass, and cross-section deformation is limited to a value less than or equal to 20% per pass;
• measuring the cumulative deformation of the intermediate product compared to the initial cross-section of said as-cast bar;
• stopping the wire rolling when the cumulative cross-section deformation is comprised between 60% and 75%, in order to anneal an intermediate product of intermediate cross-section at between 600° C. and 650° C. for 20 to 30 minutes, under a reducing gas atmosphere consisting of N2 and H2, said anneal being followed by gas or water cooling;
• starting the wire rolling again with the same parameters, the cumulative deformation of the intermediate product compared to said intermediate cross-section is measured, and rolling is stopped when the cumulative cross-section deformation, between the cross-section of the intermediate product and said intermediate cross-section, is comprised between 60% and 75%, to perform an anneal, and the wire rolling, measurement and annealing process is repeated until the desired intermediate product cross-section is reached;
• and
• drawing the intermediate product to return the cross-section to a substantially circular profile and to obtain a section wire.