# US 9,518,315 B2 · Processes for improving formability of wrought copper-nickel-tin alloys > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,518,315 B2 - Document ID: US9518315B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 14/204,489 - Filed: 2014-03-11 - Published: 2014-09-18 - Granted: 2016-12-13 - Earliest claimed: 2013-03-14 - Assignees: Materion Corporation - Applicants: Materion Corporation - Inventors: John F. Wetzel; Ted Skoraszewski - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9518315B2 ## CPC - C22F 1/08: of copper or alloys based thereon - C22C 9/06: with nickel or cobalt as the next major constituent - C22F 1/10: of nickel or cobalt or alloys based thereon - C22F: CHANGING THE PHYSICAL STRUCTURE OF NON-FERROUS METALS AND NON-FERROUS ALLOYS (surface treatment of metallic material involving at least one process provided for in class C23 and at least one process covered by this subclass, C23F17/00) - C22C: ALLOYS (treatment of alloys C21D, C22F) ## Abstract Disclosed are processes for improving the formability of a copper-nickel-tin alloy having a 0.2% offset yield strength that is above 115 ksi. The alloy includes about 14.5 to about 15.5 wt % nickel, about 7.5 to about 8.5 wt % tin, and the remaining balance is copper. The copper-nickel-tin alloy is mechanically cold worked to undergo between 5% and 15% plastic deformation. The alloy is then heat treated at elevated temperatures of about 450° F. to about 550° F. for a period of about 3 hours to about 5 hours. The alloy is then subsequently mechanically cold worked again to undergo between 4% and 12% plastic deformation. The alloy is then further heated to an elevated temperature of about 700° F. to about 850° F. for a period between about 3 minutes and about 12 minutes to relieve stress. The resulting alloy has a combination of good formability ratio and good yield strength. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A process for improving the formability of a wrought copper-nickel-tin alloy having a 0.2% offset yield strength that is at least 115 ksi, comprising: performing a first mechanical cold working step on a copper-nickel-tin alloy to a percentage of cold working (% CW) of about 5% to about 15%; and relieving stress in the alloy through a heat treatment step. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The process of claim 1, wherein the heat treatment for relieving stress in the alloy is performed at a temperature in the range of 700° F. to 950° F. for a period of about 3 minutes to about 12 minutes. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The process of claim 1, wherein the heat treatment for relieving stress in the alloy is performed at a temperature in the range of 775° F. to 950° F. for a period of about 3 minutes to about 12 minutes. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The process of claim 1, wherein after the heat treatment for relieving stress, the alloy has a yield strength of at least 130 ksi. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The process of claim 1, wherein after the heat treatment for relieving stress, the alloy has a formability ratio that is below 2 in the transverse direction. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The process of claim 1, wherein after the heat treatment for relieving stress, the alloy has a formability ratio that is below 2.5 in the longitudinal direction. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The process of claim 1, wherein after the heat treatment for relieving stress, the alloy has a yield strength of at least 130 ksi, a formability ratio that is below 2 in the transverse direction, and a formability ratio that is below 2.5 in the longitudinal direction. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The process of claim 1, wherein after the heat treatment for relieving stress, the alloy has a formability ratio that is below 1.5 in the transverse direction. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The process of claim 1, wherein after the heat treatment for relieving stress, the alloy has a formability ratio that is below 2 in the longitudinal direction. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The process of claim 1, wherein after heat treatment, the alloy has a formability ratio that is below 1.5 in the transverse direction, and a formability ratio that is below 2 in the longitudinal direction. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The process of claim 1, wherein after heat treatment, the alloy has a yield strength of at least 135 ksi. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The process of claim 1, further comprising: heat treating the copper-nickel-tin alloy after the first cold working step; and performing a second cold working step on the copper-nickel-tin alloy to a % CW of about 4% to about 12% prior to relieving stress in the alloy through heat treatment. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The process of claim 12, wherein the heat treating after the first cold working is performed by exposing the alloy to a temperature from about 450° F. to about 550° F. for a period of from about 3 hours to about 5 hours. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The process of claim 12, wherein the heat treatment for relieving stress in the alloy is performed at a temperature in the range of 700° F. to 850° F. for a period of about 3 minutes to about 12 minutes. ### Claim 15 (depends on 12) The process of claim 12, wherein after the heat treatment for relieving stress, the alloy has a formability ratio that is below 1 in the transverse direction. ### Claim 16 (depends on 12) The process of claim 12, wherein after the heat treatment for relieving stress, the alloy has a formability ratio that is below 1 in the longitudinal direction. ### Claim 17 (depends on 12) The process of claim 12, wherein after the heat treatment for relieving stress, the alloy has a yield strength of at least 115 ksi, a formability ratio that is below 1 in the transverse direction, and a formability ratio that is below 1 in the longitudinal direction. ### Claim 18 (depends on 12) The process of claim 12, wherein the copper-nickel-tin alloy includes from about 14.5 wt % to about 15.5 wt % nickel, and from about 7.5 wt % to about 8.5 wt % tin, with the remaining balance being copper. ### Claim 19 (depends on 12) The process of claim 12, wherein the alloy is a spinodally-hardened material. ### Claim 20 A process for improving the formability of a wrought copper-nickel-tin alloy having a 0.2% offset yield strength that is at least 115 ksi, comprising: performing a first mechanical cold working step on a copper-nickel-tin alloy to a % CW of about 5% to about 15%; heat treating the copper-nickel-tin alloy after the first cold working by exposing the alloy to a temperature from about 450° F. to about 550° F.; performing a second mechanical cold working step on the copper-nickel-tin alloy to a % CW of about 4% to about 12%; and relieving stress in the alloy through heat treatment by exposing the alloy to a temperature from about 700° F. to about 850° F.