Process for treating copper-aluminum-silicon alloys to improve fatigue strength
AssigneeOlin Corporation
InventorEugene Shapiro
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A process for improving the fatigue strength and fatigue life of a substantially single phase copper-aluminum-silicon alloy is described. The process comprises cold working the copper alloy from about 75% to about 98% and heating the alloy at a temperature of about 200.degree. C. to about 350.degree. C. for a time period of at least about 5 minutes.
Claims8
A process for providing a substantially single phase copper alloy having a fatigue strength in a longitudinal direction substantially in excess of about 31 ksi and in a transverse direction substantially in excess of about 46 ksi and having a fatigue life of at least about 10 million cycles, said process comprising:
- providing a copper alloy consisting essentially of from about 1% to about 5% silicon, from about 2% to about 12% aluminum and the balance essentially copper;
- cold working said alloy from about 80% to about 90%;
- and
- heating said alloy at a temperature of about 250.degree. C. to about 300.degree. C. for a time period of about 30 minutes to about 24 hours.
A flexible contact member for an ink jet printer, said contact member comprising:
- a member formed from a copper alloy, said copper alloy consisting essentially of from about 1% to about 5% silicon, from about 2% to about 12% aluminum and the balance essentially copper and having a fatigue strength in a longitudinal direction substantially in excess of about 31 ksi and in a transverse direction substantially in excess of about 46 ksi and a fatigue life of at least about 10 million cycles from being cold worked from about 80% to about 90% and being subjected to a final heat treatment at a temperature of about 250.degree. C. to about 300.degree. C. for a time period of about 30 minutes to about 24 hours.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.