Copper-nickel-tin alloy for slide bearings

Abstract

A slide bearing comprising a copper-nickel-tin alloy consisting essentially of ______________________________________ 4-8% by wt nickel, 4-8% by wt tin, 0.005-1.0 by wt zinc, 0.005-0.5 by wt iron, 0.005-1.0 by wt lead, ______________________________________ the remainder being copper and common impurities, the alloy having a multi-phase granular state with a preferred linear orientation and including: at least one of discontinuous gamma phase precipitations and continuous gamma phase precipitations, the precipitations being formed followed cold forming of the alloy by heat treatment at a temperature of 300.degree. to 450.degree. C. for 10 minutes to 50 hours so as to provide about 0.1 to about 30 volume % of the gamma phase in the alloy, up to 15 volume % of highly concentrated tin and nickel grain areas (GSnNi) characterized by the atomic formula Cu.sub.43 Ni.sub.17 Sn.sub.40, up to 15 volume % of highly concentrated tin and nickel grain areas (GSn) characterized by the atomic formula Cu.sub.80 Ni.sub.6 Sn.sub.14, a highly concentrated lead-containing phase, and the remainder a mixed copper crystal.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.