Copper alloy for sliding members, sliding member, and method for producing copper alloy for sliding members

A method of producing a copper alloy for sliding members, comprising the steps of:

• preparing mixed powder by mixing Cu powder, Cu alloy powder containing not less than 10 mass % and not more than 40 mass % Sn, at least one of FeS powder and CuS powder, and at least one selected from the group consisting of Cu alloy powder containing not less than 5 mass % Mn, Fe—Mn alloy powder containing not less than 60 mass % Mn, and Mn powder, so as to achieve a component composition containing not less than 0.4 mass % and not more than 6 mass % Mn, not less than 0.3 mass % and not more than 5 mass % Fe, not less than 0.3 mass % and not more than 3.5 mass % S, and not less than 1 mass % and not more than 15 mass % Sn, with the balance being Cu and unavoidable impurities;
• fabricating a formed body by compacting the mixed powder;
• and
• forming, by heating the formed body, a structure including a matrix made of bronze and a complex sulfide phase dispersed in the matrix, the complex sulfide phase containing not less than 40 atom % and not more than 75 atom % Mn, not less than 3 atom % and not more than 30 atom % Fe, and not less than 1 atom % and not more than 55 atom % S.