Method of producing a continuously processed copper rod

Abstract

In a continuous casting system where molten copper is cast into a bar and then rolled into a rod, the copper rod is immediately hot-coiled before being subjected to any quenching or cooling operation. The hot-coiling of the rod is carried out at a temperature of from 700.degree. F. to 1200.degree. F. and preferably within a range of from 950.degree. F. to 1150.degree. F., so that the rod is hot-coiled at a high enough temperature to permit sufficient thermal vacancy diffusion to occur within the rod material, and thereafter gradually cooled to room temperature to thereby impart certain improved mechanical properties to the resultant rod product. A copper or copper alloy rod which is processed in this fashion has a lower yield tensile strength, lower ultimate tensile strength, lower recrystallization temperature, lower hardness and is much more ductile and hence easier to draw into wire than a corresponding rod which is quenched or cooled prior to coiling.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.