Process for the manufacture of shaped parts from multi-component silver-copper alloys

A method for producing cold formed parts from billets of an alloy consisting essentially of about 10% to 45% copper, 0 to 35% zinc, an effective amount of at least one metal selected from the group consisting of tin and indium and about 35% to 55% of silver making up substantially the balance, the effective amount of said tin and/or indium being sufficient to provide an .alpha. + .delta. region at an elevated heat treating temperature which comprises:

• hot working said billet to reduce its cross section at least 50%;
• subjecting said hot worked billet to a heat treatment to equilibrate the sample at an equilibrating temperature, T.sub.E, in the .alpha. + .delta. transformation range,
• said equilibrating temperature being defined as follows:
• T.sub.E = BT.sub.s
• where T.sub.s = the lowest temperature in degrees absolute at which both a solid and a liquid phase of an alloy can exist in equilibrium (i.e., the solidus temperature)
• and
• B = the base temperature factor for the alloy ranging from 0.5 to 0.7 (which stated another way corresponds to 50% to 70%);
• the time of said heat treatment being sufficient to assure substantial formation of said .alpha. + .delta. phases;
• and
• cold working said billet to the desired dimensions to produce a cold worked article.