# US 9,752,218 B2 · Zirconium-based and beryllium free bulk amorphous alloy > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,752,218 B2 - Document ID: US9752218B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 14/559,207 - Filed: 2014-12-03 - Published: 2015-06-11 - Granted: 2017-09-05 - Earliest claimed: 2013-12-06 - Assignees: The Swatch Group Research and Development Ltd - Applicants: The Swatch Group Research and Development Ltd - Inventors: Alban Dubach; Yves Winkler; Tommy Carozzani - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9752218B2 ## CPC - C22C 45/10: with molybdenum, tungsten, niobium, tantalum, titanium, or zirconium {or Hf} as the major constituent - A44C 27/001: {Materials for manufacturing jewellery} - C22C 1/11: Making amorphous alloys - C22C 16/00: Alloys based on zirconium - C22F 1/186: {of zirconium or alloys based thereon} - G04B 29/027: {Materials and manufacturing (alloys, in general C22C)} - G04B 37/22: Materials or processes of manufacturing pocket watch or wrist watch cases {(machines or tools for the manufacture of clockwork cases G04D3/0064, G04D3/0097, G04D3/029; decoration or tools therefor G04B45/0076)} - C22C 2200/02: Amorphous - C22C: ALLOYS (treatment of alloys C21D, C22F) - A44C: PERSONAL ADORNMENTS, e.g. JEWELLERY; COINS - 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) - G04B: MECHANICALLY-DRIVEN CLOCKS OR WATCHES; MECHANICAL PARTS OF CLOCKS OR WATCHES IN GENERAL; TIME PIECES USING THE POSITION OF THE SUN, MOON OR STARS (spring- or weight-driven mechanisms in general F03G; electromechanical clocks or watches G04C; electromechanical clocks with attached or built-in means operating any device at pre-selected times or after predetermined time intervals G04C23/00; clocks or watches with stop devices G04F7/08) ## Abstract The invention concerns a zirconium and/or hafnium based, beryllium free, bulk, amorphous alloy, with the addition of silver and/or gold and/or platinum to increase its critical diameter. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A beryllium-free bulk amorphous alloy, consisting of: in atomic percentage, 50%-63% of zirconium and/or hafnium as a base; 1.5%-4.5% of at least one first additional metal selected from the group consisting of titanium, niobium, and tantalum, wherein niobium is less than or equal to 2.5%; 0.5%-4.5% of at least one second additional metal selected from the group consisting of silver, gold, and platinum; 8.5%-17.5% of at least one third additional metal selected from the group consisting of nickel, cobalt, manganese, and iron; 9%-13% of aluminum; 10%-17.9% of copper; and inevitable impurities, wherein the alloy has ΔTx as calculated below of 98 K or less: ΔTx=Tx−Tg, where Tx and Tg is a crystallization point and a glass transition point of the alloy, respectively. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The alloy according to claim 1, wherein said at least one first additional metal is present in a content of 2.5%-4.5%. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The alloy according to claim 1, wherein said at least one second additional metal is present in a content of 1.0%-4.0%. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The alloy according to claim 3, wherein said at least one second additional metal is present in a content of 1.5%-3.8%. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The alloy according to claim 1, wherein gold is included in said at least one second additional metal in a content of 1.5%-2.5%. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The alloy according to claim 1, wherein platinum is included in said at least one second additional metal in a content of 1.5%-2.5%. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The alloy according to claim 1, wherein silver is included in said at least one second additional metal in a content of 1.0%-1.8%. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The alloy according to claim 1, wherein zirconium and/or hafnium are present in a total content of less than or equal to 60% in the base. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The alloy according to claim 1, wherein aluminium is present in a content of more than 10.0%. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The alloy according to claim 1, wherein zirconium is present, and a content ratio of zirconium to copper is 3.0-5.0. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The alloy according to claim 1, wherein zirconium and nickel are present, and a content ratio of zirconium to a total amount of copper and nickel is 1.5-3.0. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The alloy according to claim 1, wherein nickel is present, and a content ratio of a total amount of said base and said at least one first additional metal to a total amount of copper and nickel is 1.5-3.0. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The alloy according to claim 1, wherein titanium is not present. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The alloy according to claim 1, wherein niobium is not present. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The alloy according to claim 1, wherein neither titanium nor niobium is present. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The alloy according to claim 1, wherein said base is present in a total content of less than or equal to 53.0% and said at least one first additional metal is present in a content of 2.0%-3.0%. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The alloy according to claim 1, wherein nickel is included in said at least one third additional metal, and a content of nickel is less than 0.5%. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) A timepiece or jewelry component, comprising the alloy according to claim 1. ### Claim 19 A beryllium-free bulk amorphous alloy, consisting of: in atomic percentage, 50%-63% of zirconium and/or hafnium as a base; 1.5%-4.5% of at least one first additional metal selected from the group consisting of titanium, niobium, and tantalum, wherein niobium is less than or equal to 2.5%; 0.5%-4.5% of at least one second additional metal selected from the group consisting of silver, gold, palladium, and platinum; 8.5%-17.5% of at least one third additional metal selected from the group consisting of chromium, cobalt, manganese, and iron; 9%-13% of aluminum; 10%-17.9% of copper; and inevitable impurities, wherein the alloy has ΔTx as calculated below of 98 K or less: ΔTx=Tx−Tg, where Tx and Tg is a crystallization point and a glass transition point of the alloy, respectively. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The alloy according to claim 19, wherein said at least one first additional metal is present in a content of 2.5%-4.5%.