High damping capacity alloy

Abstract

A high damping capacity alloy comprising 0.01-5% by weight of Cu and/or Mo and the remainder of Fe and, as the case may be, further comprising 0.01-40% in total, as an additional component, of at least one of Cr, Al, Ni, Mn, Sb, Nb, W, Ti, V, Ta, Si, Sn, Zn, Zr, Co, Pb, C and Y, the alloy having high damping capacity of more than 2.times.10.sup.-3 and high cold workability over wide temperature range.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

(1) Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a high damping capacity alloy having high damping capacity of more than about 2.times.10.sup.-3 over wide temperature range and more particularly to a high vibration damping capacity alloy having good cold workability and high corrosion resistance.

(2) Description of the Prior Art

Recently, elements or members made of alloys having damping capacities have been widely used in precision instruments susceptible to vibrations, and machines such as aircraft, ships, vehicles and the like causing vibrations and noises for the purpose of mitigating the public nuisance resulting from the vibrations and noises.

In the prior art, alloys of Mn-Cu, Ni-Ti, Zn-Al, etc. having values of Q.sup.-1 more than 0.005 have been commonly used. The value of Q.sup.-1 indicates the inherent damping capacity of the alloy against vibration and can be expressed by the following equation: ##EQU1## where .delta. is logarithmic decrement. In other words, Q.sup.-1 is a function of the energy decreased during one cycle. The larger value of Q.sup.-1 decreases much more energy of the vibration so that the amplitude becomes smaller in a shorter period of time to exhibit a higher damping effect.

The alloys of Mn-Cu and Ni-Ti among the damping alloys of the prior art are superior in the damping capacity characteristics at room temperature to that of other alloy. However, as the temperature becomes higher, the damping capacity decreases rapidly and becomes substantially zero at the temperature near 100.degree. C. such that the alloys cannot be distinguishable in damping capacity from normal metals at that temperature. Accordingly, such alloys do not exhibit any damping capacity at a temperature higher than 100.degree. C. On the other hand, alloys of Zn-Al of the prior art have a high damping capacity at temperatures higher than 100.degree. C. However, as the temperature becomes lower, it decreases rapidly and becomes a very small value at room temperature. These alloys of Mn-Cu, Ni-Ti and Zn-Al are poor in cold workability and corrosion resistance.

Accordingly, it has been expected to provide a damping alloy having a high damping capacity, high cold workability and high corrosion resistance over wide range of temperature.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A principle object of the invention is, therefore, to provide an improved high damping capacity alloy having high damping capacity, high cold workability and high corrosion resistance over wide temperature range.

To accomplish the above object the alloy according to the invention comprises 0.01-5% by weight of copper and/or molybdenum, and the remainder of iron and has a damping capacity of more than about 2.times.10.sup.-3 against vibration.

In another aspect of the invention the alloy further comprises 0.01-40 weight % in total of additional component of at least one element selected from the group consisting of less than 40 weight % of chromium, less than 10 weight % of aluminum, nickel, manganese, antimony, niobium, tungsten, titanium, vanadium and tantalum, less than 5 weight % of silicon, tin, zinc and zirconium, and less than 1 weight % of cobalt, lead, carbon and yttrium and has a damping capacity of more than about 2.times.10.sup.-3 against vibration.

Another objects and advantages of the invention will become more apparent as the description proceeds, when considered with the example and accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

FIGS. 1a and 1b are graphical representations of a relationship between the composition and damping capacity of the alloys of Fe-Cu and Fe-Mo according to the invention under annealed condition, respectively;

FIGS. 2a and 2b are graphical representations of a relationship between the composition and damping capacity of the alloys of Fe-1%Cu-Cr and Fe-1%Mo-Cr according to the invention under annealed condition, respectively; and

FIGS. 3a and 3b are graphical representations showing a difference between the damping capacity characteristics of the alloys of Fe-Cu, Fe-Cu-Cr, Fe-Mo and Fe-Mo-Cr according to the invention and Mn-Cu in the prior art at various temperatures, respectively.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

According to the invention, a starting material consisting of 0.01-5% by weight of Cu and/or Mo, and the remainder of Fe is melted in air or inert gas or in vacuum in a conventional blast furnace. The starting material may have 0.01-40% of at least one additional component selected from the group consisting of less than 40% of Cr, less than 10% of Al, Ni, Mn, Sb, Nb, W, Ti, V and/or Ta, less than 5% of Si, Sn, Zn and/or Zr, less than 1% of Co, Pb, C and/or Y. Then the melt is added with a small amount (less than 1%) of manganese, silicon, titanium, aluminum, calcium and the like to remove undesirable impurities and thereafter sufficiently stirred to produce a melted alloy uniform in composition. Thus, the produced alloy is subjected to forging, rolling or swaging at room temperature or a temperature lower than 1,300.degree. C. to shape a blank material suitable for its application.

According to the invention the shaped article of the alloy is further subjected to the following treatments.

(A) After the article has been heated at a temperature of not more than its melting point and not less than 500.degree. C. for more than one minute and less than 100 hours, preferably 5 minutes to 50 hours, it is quenched by the cooling speed quicker than 1.degree. C./sec (such as 1.degree. C./sec-2,000.degree. C./sec) or annealed by slow cooling at a rate of between 1.degree. C./sec and 1.degree. C./hour for the purpose of solution treatment.

(B) The formed article is cold worked after the above heat treatment of quenching or annealing.

(C) After the above heat treatment of quenching of the step (A) or cold working of the step (B), the formed article is heated at a temperature between 100.degree. C. and lower than the temperature for the quenching (i.e. 800.degree.-1,600.degree. C.) for more than one minute to 100 hours, preferably 5 minutes to 50 hours and then cooled at a rate of slow cooling speed between 1.degree. C./sec and 1.degree. C./hour.

In the above solution treatment, the time of one minute to 100 hours for heating the blank depends upon the weight of the blank to be treated, the temperature at which it is heated and the composition thereof. In other words, a material having a high melting point such as 1,600.degree. C. may be heated approximately at 1,600.degree. C., so that the time for heating at that temperature may be short, for example, 1-5 minutes. On the other hand, when the heating is effected at a temperature near the lower limit of 800.degree. C., a long period of time such as 100 hours is necessary for the heating.

The heating time may be widely selected depending on the wide range of the material, weight or massiveness from 1 gram as in a laboratory scale to 1 ton as in a factory scale. In comparison at the same temperature, a small size of material only requires 1 minutes to 5 hours for the solution treatment, while a large size of material requires 10-100 hours for the treatment.

If the heating for the solution treatment is satisfactorily effected, the cooling speed can be selected within a very wide range from the quick cooling quicker than 1.degree. C./sec such as 1.degree. C./sec to 2,000.degree. C./sec to the slow cooling such as 1.degree. C./sec-1.degree. C./hr. Such an allowance of selection of the cooling speed depends upon whether the heating for the solution treatment is satisfactorily completed. If the solution treatment is incomplete, the tensile strength and damping capacity of the article considerably lower and also the production yield is poor.

In the cold working of the step (B), the tensile strength is improved, but the damping capacity is somewhat lowered due to the presence of residual strain. However, if the working ratio is sufficiently small, the residual strain is not greatly caused, so that the tensile strength can be increased without particularly lowering the damping capacity.

On the other hand, if the working ratio is large, the worked article is subjected to a heat treatment in the subsequent step (C), whereby the homogenized stable structure is obtained, so that the damping capacity is substantially restored to the initial value.

Moreover, by heat-treating the article after the solution treatment in the step (C), the tensile strength is improved without substantially lowering the damping capacity.

The invention will be explained with reference to an example.

A mixture of total weight of about 500 grams having the composition of Fe and Cu as shown in Table 1 was melted in an alumina crucible in a high-frequency induction furnace in an atmosphere of argon gas. After stirring the melt, it was poured into a mold to obtain an ingot having a square section of 35.times.35 mm. The ingot was then forged into a rod having a 10 mm diameter circular section. The rod was annealed at 1,000.degree. C. for one hour. Then the rod was drawn at room temperature to form a wire of 0.5 mm diameter which was then cut into a plurality of wires having suitable lengths. These wires was heated at 1,000.degree. C. for one hour and cooled at a rate of 100.degree. C. per hour to provide test pieces for measuring the damping capacity by the torsion pendulum method and the tensile strength. Table 1 illustrates the results of the test. It is understood that the alloy according to the invention has a remarkably higher damping capacity (higher by the factor of several tens) than that Q.sup.-1 =0.1(.times.10.sup.-3) of the conventional steel containing 0.1% carbon.

Table 1__________________________________________________________________________ Tensile strength Damping capacity Q.sup.-1 (.times.10.sup.-3) Kg/mm.sup.2,Composition 0.degree. C. 50.degree. C. 100.degree. C. 200.degree. C. 300.degree. C. 400.degree. C. 20.degree. C.__________________________________________________________________________ Annealed condition by cooling at a rateFe(%) Cu(%) of 100.degree. C./hr after heated at 1,000.degree. C. for one hour99.5 0.5 10.7 10.7 10.7 10.8 10.8 10.9 3799.0 1.0 11.8 11.8 11.8 11.8 11.9 12.0 38 96% cold worked condition after annealed99.5 0.5 7.3 7.3 7.3 7.3 7.4 7.7 4099.0 1.0 8.5 8.5 8.5 8.5 8.5 8.9 41 Water quenched condition after heated at 1,000.degree. C. for one hour99.5 0.5 8.4 8.4 8.4 8.5 8.5 8.5 4599.0 1.0 9.5 9.5 9.6 9.6 9.7 9.8 46__________________________________________________________________________

Tables 2-9 show the damping capacities and tensile strengths of the typical alloys according to the invention.

Table 2__________________________________________________________________________ Tensile strength Damping capacity Q.sup.-1 (.times.10.sup.-3) Kg/mm.sup.2,Composition 0.degree. C. 50.degree. C. 100.degree. C. 200.degree. C. 300.degree. C. 400.degree. C. 20.degree. C.__________________________________________________________________________ Added Annealed condition by cooling at a rateFe Cu elements of 100.degree. C./hr after heated at 1,000.degree. C. for(%) (%) (%) one hour__________________________________________________________________________84.0 1.0 Cr 15.0 19.3 19.3 19.4 19.4 19.4 19.5 5594.0 1.0 Al 5.0 15.6 15.6 15.6 15.7 15.8 15.9 4094.0 1.0 Ni 5.0 9.5 9.5 9.5 9.6 9.6 9.7 4894.0 1.0 Mn 5.0 6.5 6.5 6.5 6.5 6.5 6.8 4394.0 1.0 Sb 5.0 5.7 5.7 5.7 5.7 5.7 5.8 4094.0 1.0 Nb 5.0 4.5 4.5 4.5 4.6 4.7 4.8 5094.0 1.0 Mo 5.0 12.5 12.5 12.6 12.6 12.7 12.8 5494.0 1.0 W 5.0 10.5 10.5 10.5 10.5 10.6 10.6 5594.0 1.0 Ti 5.0 7.5 7.5 7.5 7.5 7.8 7.9 5794.0 1.0 V 5.0 8.5 8.5 8.5 8.5 8.6 8.8 6094.0 1.0 Ta 5.0 5.4 5.5 5.5 5.5 5.6 5.7 5596.5 1.0 Si 2.5 4.3 4.3 4.3 4.3 4.4 4.5 5096.5 1.0 Sn 2.5 6.6 6.6 6.6 6.7 6.7 6.8 4596.5 1.0 Zn 2.5 5.8 5.8 5.8 5.8 5.8 5.9 4096.5 1.0 Zr 2.3 4.8 4.8 4.8 4.8 4.9 4.9 4598.5 1.0 Co 0.5 6.8 6.8 6.8 6.8 6.8 6.9 4098.5 1.0 Pb 0.5 5.9 5.9 5.9 5.9 5.9 5.9 4098.5 1.0 C 0.5 4.2 4.2 4.2 4.3 4.3 4.4 5598.5 1.0 Y 0.5 6.6 6.6 6.7 6.8 6.8 6.8 53__________________________________________________________________________ Table 3__________________________________________________________________________ Tensile strength Damping capacity Q.sup.-1 (.times.10.sup.-3) Kg/mm.sup.2,Composition 0.degree. C. 50.degree. C. 100.degree. C. 200.degree. C. 300.degree. C. 400.degree. C. 20.degree. C.__________________________________________________________________________Fe Cu Added ele-(%) (%) ments (%) 96% cold worked condition after annealed__________________________________________________________________________84.0 1.0 Cr 15.0 7.5 7.5 7.5 7.5 7.6 7.7 6594.0 1.0 Al 5.0 6.6 6.6 6.6 6.7 6.7 6.8 5194.0 1.0 Ni 5.0 5.4 5.4 5.4 5.4 5.4 5.5 5894.0 1.0 Mn 5.0 3.7 3.7 3.7 3.7 3.7 3.8 5594.0 1.0 Sb 5.0 4.1 4.1 4.1 4.1 4.2 4.3 5094.0 1.0 Nb 5.0 3.1 3.1 3.1 3.1 3.1 3.1 6294.0 1.0 Mo 5.0 7.5 7.5 7.5 7.5 7.5 7.6 6394.0 1.0 W 5.0 4.4 4.4 4.4 4.5 4.5 4.6 6694.0 1.0 Ti 5.0 5.5 5.5 5.5 5.6 5.6 5.6 6894.0 1.0 V 5.0 4.2 4.2 4.2 4.2 4.3 4.3 7094.0 1.0 Ta 5.0 3.8 3.8 3.8 3.8 3.8 3.9 6696.5 1.0 Si 2.5 3.0 3.0 3.0 3.0 3.0 3.2 6296.5 1.0 Sn 2.5 4.7 4.7 4.7 4.7 4.7 4.7 5496.5 1.0 Zn 2.5 4.4 4.4 4.4 4.5 4.5 4.6 5396.5 1.0 Zr 2.5 3.5 3.5 3.5 3.5 3.5 3.6 5698.5 1.0 Co 0.5 6.0 6.0 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 5298.5 1.0 Pb 0.5 4.5 4.5 4.5 4.5 4.6 4.7 5098.5 1.0 C 0.5 3.6 3.6 3.6 3.6 3.7 3.7 6498.5 1.0 Y 0.5 5.0 5.0 5.0 5.0 5.0 5.0 60__________________________________________________________________________ Table 4__________________________________________________________________________ Tensile strength Damping capacity Q.sup.-1 (.times.10.sup.-3) Kg/mm.sup.2,Composition 0.degree. C. 50.degree. C. 100.degree. C. 200.degree. C. 300.degree. C. 400.degree. C. 20.degree. C.__________________________________________________________________________Fe Cu Added ele- Water quenched condition after heated(%) (%) ments (%) at 1,000.degree. C. for one hour__________________________________________________________________________84.0 1.0 Cr 15.0 12.1 12.1 12.1 12.3 12.4 12.5 6194.0 1.0 Al 5.0 7.9 7.9 7.9 7.9 8.0 8.0 4494.0 1.0 Ni 5.0 6.5 6.5 6.5 6.5 6.5 6.6 5394.0 1.0 Mn 5.0 4.3 4.3 4.3 4.4 4.4 4.5 4894.0 1.0 Sb 5.0 4.2 4.2 4.2 4.2 4.2 4.3 4694.0 1.0 Nb 5.0 3.6 3.6 3.6 3.7 3.7 3.8 5394.0 1.0 Mo 5.0 8.5 8.5 8.5 8.5 8.6 8.6 5994.0 1.0 W 5.0 5.5 5.5 5.6 5.6 5.6 5.7 6094.0 1.0 Ti 5.0 6.6 6.6 6.6 6.6 6.7 6.8 6194.0 1.0 V 5.0 5.5 5.5 5.5 5.6 5.7 5.8 6494.0 1.0 Ta 5.0 4.4 4.4 4.4 4.5 4.6 4.7 6096.5 1.0 Si 2.5 3.3 3.3 3.3 3.4 3.5 3.6 5496.5 1.0 Sn 2.5 5.8 5.8 5.8 5.9 5.9 6.0 5096.5 1.0 Zn 2.5 5.0 5.0 5.0 5.0 5.1 5.2 4596.5 1.0 Zr 2.5 3.7 3.7 3.7 3.8 3.8 3.9 4998.5 1.0 Co 0.5 6.1 6.1 6.1 6.1 6.2 6.3 4898.5 1.0 Pb 0.5 4.8 4.8 4.8 4.8 4.9 4.9 4498.5 1.0 C 0.5 3.7 3.7 3.7 3.7 3.8 3.9 5798.5 1.0 Y 0.5 5.5 5.6 5.6 5.6 5.6 5.7 58__________________________________________________________________________ Table 5__________________________________________________________________________ Tensile strength Damping capacity Q.sup.-1 (.times.10.sup.-3) Kg/mm.sup.2,Composition 0.degree. C. 50.degree. C. 100.degree. C. 200.degree. C. 300.degree. C. 400.degree. C. 20.degree. C.__________________________________________________________________________ annealed condition by cooling at a rate of 100.degree. C./hr after heated at 1,000.degree. C. forFe(%) Mo(%) one hour99.0 1.0 6.7 6.7 6.7 6.7 6.7 6.9 4298.0 2.0 4.2 4.2 4.2 4.2 4.3 4.6 44 96% cold worked condition after annealed99.0 1.0 5.0 5.0 5.0 5.0 5.0 5.4 5098.0 2.0 3.2 3.2 3.2 3.2 3.4 3.8 52 Water quenched condition ater heated at 1,000.degree. C. for one hour99.0 1.0 5.5 5.5 5.5 5.5 5.6 5.9 4898.0 2.0 3.9 3.9 3.9 3.9 3.9 4.0 49__________________________________________________________________________ Table 6__________________________________________________________________________ Tensile strength Damping capacity Q.sup.-1 (.times.10.sup.-3) Kg/mm.sup.2,Composition 0.degree. C. 50.degree. C. 100.degree. C. 200.degree. C. 300.degree. C. 400.degree. C. 20.degree. C.__________________________________________________________________________ Added Annealed condition by cooling at a rateFe Mo elements of 100.degree. C./hr after heated at 1,000.degree. C. for(%) (%) (%) one hour__________________________________________________________________________84.0 1.0 Cr 15.0 30.0 30.0 30.0 30.0 30.1 31.3 5194.0 1.0 Al 5.0 15.4 15.4 15.4 15.4 16.0 16.3 4594.0 1.0 Ni 5.0 8.5 8.5 8.5 8.5 8.7 8.8 4994.0 1.0 Mn 5.0 7.4 7.4 7.4 7.5 7.6 7.8 4594.0 1.0 Sb 5.0 9.4 9.5 9.6 9.7 9.8 9.9 4494.0 1.0 Nb 5.0 8.3 8.4 8.4 8.4 8.5 8.7 5094.0 1.0 W 5.0 6.6 6.6 6.6 6.6 6.6 6.8 5094.0 1.0 Ti 5.0 8.4 8.5 8.5 8.5 8.6 8.7 5094.0 1.0 V 5.0 9.2 9.2 9.2 9.2 9.3 9.4 4994.0 1.0 Ta 5.0 8.7 8.7 8.8 8.9 9.0 9.2 4796.5 1.0 Si 2.5 5.3 5.3 5.3 5.3 5.4 5.5 4696.5 1.0 Sn 2.5 7.6 7.6 7.6 7.6 7.6 7.6 4596.5 1.0 Zn 2.5 6.4 6.4 6.4 6.4 6.5 6.7 4196.5 1.0 Zr 2.5 8.3 8.3 8.3 8.3 8.3 8.4 4498.5 1.0 Co 0.5 9.4 9.5 9.6 9.6 9.7 9.8 4598.5 1.0 Pb 0.5 8.6 8.6 8.8 8.9 9.0 9.2 4098.5 1.0 C 0.5 5.3 5.3 5.3 5.4 5.5 5.7 5198.5 1.0 Y 0.5 8.7 8.8 8.9 9.0 9.0 9.5 52__________________________________________________________________________ Table 7__________________________________________________________________________ Tensile strength Damping capacity Q.sup.-1 (.times.10.sup.-3) Kg/mm.sup.2,Composition 0.degree. C. 50.degree. C. 100.degree. C. 200.degree. C. 300.degree. C. 400.degree. C. 20.degree. C.__________________________________________________________________________Fe Mo Added ele- 96% cold worked(%) (%) ments (%) condition after annealed__________________________________________________________________________84.0 1.0 Cr 15.0 10.3 10.3 10.3 10.3 10.5 10.6 78.094.0 1.0 Al 5.0 8.6 8.6 8.6 8.6 8.7 8.8 66.094.0 1.0 Ni 5.0 6.5 6.5 6.5 6.6 6.7 6.8 68.094.0 1.0 Mn 5.0 4.3 4.3 4.3 4.3 4.4 4.5 65.094.0 1.0 Sb 5.0 5.6 5.6 5.6 5.6 5.6 5.6 63.294.0 1.0 Nb 5.0 4.4 4.4 4.4 4.4 4.5 4.6 71.394.0 1.0 W 5.0 4.0 4.0 4.0 4.0 4.1 4.2 70.194.0 1.0 Ti 5.0 5.3 5.3 5.3 5.3 5.3 5.3 70.294.0 1.0 V 5.0 6.1 6.1 6.1 6.1 6.1 6.1 68.594.0 1.0 Ta 5.0 5.5 5.5 5.5 5.5 5.5 5.6 67.596.5 1.0 Si 2.5 4.1 4.1 4.1 4.1 4.1 4.1 65.096.5 1.0 Sn 2.5 5.6 5.6 5.6 5.6 5.6 5.6 66.496.5 1.0 Zn 2.5 4.0 4.0 4.0 4.0 4.0 4.2 61.596.5 1.0 Zr 2.5 5.3 5.3 5.3 5.3 5.3 5.3 63.098.5 1.0 Co 0.5 7.2 7.2 7.2 7.2 7.2 7.2 65.698.5 1.0 Pb 0.5 6.1 6.1 6.1 6.1 6.2 6.4 60.098.5 1.0 C 0.5 3.7 3.7 3.7 3.7 3.7 3.7 70.098.5 1.0 Y 0.5 6.5 6.5 6.5 6.5 6.6 6.7 72.0__________________________________________________________________________ Table 8__________________________________________________________________________ Tensile strength Damping capacity Q.sup.-1 (.times.10.sup.-3) Kg/mm.sup.2,Composition 0.degree. C. 50.degree. C. 100.degree. C. 200.degree. C. 300.degree. C. 400.degree. C. 20.degree. C.__________________________________________________________________________Fe Mo Added Water quenched condition after heated(%) (%) elements (%) at 1,000.degree. C. for one hour__________________________________________________________________________84.0 1.0 Cr 15.0 20.4 20.4 20.4 20.4 20.4 20.5 56.094.0 1.0 Al 5.0 10.2 10.2 10.2 10.2 10.2 10.2 51.294.0 1.0 Ni 5.0 7.6 7.6 7.6 7.6 7.6 7.6 54.494.0 1.0 Mn 5.0 6.3 6.3 6.3 6.3 6.3 6.5 51.694.0 1.0 Sb 5.0 6.6 6.6 6.6 6.6 6.6 6.7 50.094.0 1.0 Nb 5.0 5.4 5.4 5.4 5.4 5.4 5.6 55.094.0 1.0 W 5.0 4.8 4.8 4.8 4.8 4.9 5.0 56.094.0 1.0 Ti 5.0 6.3 6.4 6.5 6.6 6.7 6.8 56.094.0 1.0 V 5.0 7.2 7.2 7.2 7.2 7.3 7.4 53.294.0 1.0 Ta 5.0 5.9 5.9 5.9 5.9 5.9 6.0 54.896.5 1.0 Si 2.5 4.3 4.3 4.3 4.3 4.4 4.5 52.296.5 1.0 Sn 2.5 6.6 6.6 6.6 6.7 6.8 6.8 50.796.5 1.0 Zn 2.5 4.3 4.3 4.3 4.3 4.3 4.4 46.696.5 1.0 Zr 2.5 6.4 6.4 6.4 6.4 6.4 6.5 50.098.5 1.0 Co 0.5 8.1 8.1 8.1 8.1 8.4 8.5 53.398.5 1.0 Pb 0.5 6.9 6.9 6.9 6.9 6.9 7.0 44.498.5 1.0 C 0.5 4.2 4.2 4.2 4.3 4.3 4.5 56.698.5 1.0 Y 0.5 7.7 7.7 7.7 7.8 7.9 8.0 57.0__________________________________________________________________________ Tensile strength Damping capacity Q.sup.-1 (.times.100.sup.-3) Kg/mm.sup.2,Composition 0.degree. C. 50.degree. C. 100.degree. C. 200.degree. C. 300.degree. C. 400.degree. C. 20.degree. C.__________________________________________________________________________ Added Annealed condition by cooling at a rateFe Cu Mo elements of 100.degree. C./hr after heated at 1,000.degree. C. for(%) (%) (%) (%) one hour__________________________________________________________________________98.7 0.3 1.0 -- -- 10.5 10.5 10.5 10.7 11.0 11.8 43.696.0 1.0 3.0 -- -- 12.5 12.5 12.5 12.8 13.2 13.7 55.183.7 0.3 1.0 Cr 15.0 -- 27.5 27.5 27.5 28.0 28.9 30.0 53.381.0 1.0 3.0 Cr 15.0 -- 26.4 26.4 26.7 27.4 28.0 29.0 55.093.7 0.3 3.0 Al 3.0 -- 27.5 27.5 27.5 27.5 27.7 28.0 44.093.7 0.3 3.0 Ni 3.0 -- 18.7 18.7 18.8 19.0 19.2 19.4 51.193.7 0.3 3.0 Mn 3.0 -- 16.8 16.8 17.0 17.1 17.2 17.5 46.693.7 0.3 3.0 Sb 3.0 -- 15.6 15.6 15.6 15.6 15.7 16.0 47.893.7 0.3 3.0 Nb 3.0 -- 13.4 13.4 13.4 13.5 13.6 13.7 49.993.7 0.3 3.0 W 3.0 -- 15.9 15.9 16.0 16.0 16.5 17.0 45.593.7 0.3 3.0 Ti 3.0 -- 23.4 23.4 23.4 23.5 23.7 24.0 42.293.7 0.3 3.0 V 3.0 -- 24.6 24.6 24.6 24.6 24.7 25.0 47.793.7 0.3 3.0 Ta 3.0 -- 22.7 22.7 22.7 22.8 23.0 23.1 46.694.7 0.3 3.0 Si 2.0 -- 20.1 20.1 20.1 20.2 20.3 20.5 48.895.7 0.3 3.0 Co 1.0 -- 25.4 25.4 25.6 25.7 25.8 26.0 46.696.2 0.3 3.0 Pb 0.5 -- 24.4 24.4 24.4 25.0 25.6 26.0 43.096.5 0.3 3.0 C 0.2 -- 10.1 10.1 10.1 10.1 10.2 10.3 45.778.0 1.0 3.0 Cr 15.0 Al 3.0 32.0 32.0 32.0 32.1 32.3 32.4 55.778.0 1.0 3.0 Cr 15.0 Nb 3.0 35.0 35.0 35.0 35.0 35.1 35.6 57.778.0 1.0 3.0 Cr 15.0 W 3.0 36.0 36.0 36.0 36.4 36.7 37.0 56.478.0 1.0 3.0 Cr 15.0 Ti 3.0 37.0 37.0 37.0 37.0 38.0 39.0 52.978.0 1.0 3.0 Cr 15.0 V 3.0 32.0 32.0 32.0 32.0 32.0 32.4 56.379.0 1.0 3.0 Cr 15.0 Si 2.0 38.0 38.0 38.0 38.0 38.5 38.4 55.480.0 1.0 3.0 Cr 15.0 Co 1.0 36.0 36.1 36.0 36.0 36.2 36.2 53.381.7 0.3 -- Cr 15.0 Al 3.0 26.9 26.9 26.9 27.0 27.4 28.0 50.683.0 1.0 -- Cr 15.0 Si 1.0 30.7 30.7 30.7 31.0 31.7 33.0 50.882.0 1.0 -- Cr 15.0 Ti 2.0 26.0 26.0 26.0 26.4 27.0 28.0 51.481.0 -- 1.0 Cr 15.0 Al 3.0 30.3 30.3 30.3 30.5 31.0 32.2 54.381.0 -- 1.0 Cr 15.0 W 3.0 31.5 31.5 31.5 31.5 32.7 34.0 53.182.0 -- 1.0 Cr 15.0 Ti 2.0 29.7 29.7 29.7 29.3 30.4 31.2 51.381.0 -- 3.0 Cr 15.0 Co 1.0 33.0 33.0 33.0 33.4 34.0 35.0 50.682.5 -- 3.0 Cr 15.0 Pb 0.5 32.4 32.4 32.4 32.4 33.0 34.0 50.8__________________________________________________________________________

As can be seen from Tables 1-9, the damping capacity of the alloy according to the invention is very high irrespective of binary, ternary or multi-component alloy and the treatments. The damping capacity of the alloys is highest under the annealed condition, and decreases in the order of the water quenched and cold worked conditions. The values of the damping capacity are much higher by the factor of several tens than those of the normal metals.

FIG. 1a shows the relationship between the damping capacity and the amount of copper of the Fe-Cu alloy according to the invention under annealed condition, and FIG. 1b shows the relationship between the damping capacity and the amount of molybdenum of the Fe-Mo alloy according to the invention under annealed condition.

FIG. 2a illustrates the relationship between the damping capacity and the amount of chromium of the Fe-1% Cu-Cr alloy according to the invention under annealed condition, and FIG. 2b illustrates the relationship between the damping capacity and the amount of chromium of the Fe-1% Mo-Cr alloy according to the invention under annealed condition.

FIG. 3a shows the relationship between the heating temperature and the damping capacity in the 99.0% Fe-1.0% Cu alloy and the 84.0% Fe-1.0% Cu-15.0% Cr alloy according to the invention and the 88.0% Mn-12.0% Cu alloy of the prior art under annealed condition, and FIG. 3b shows the relationship between the heating temperature and the damping capacity in the 99.0% Fe-1.0% Mo alloy and the 84.0% Fe-1.0% Mo-15.0% Cr alloy according to the invention and the 88.0% Mn-12.0% Cu alloy of the prior art under annealed condition.

As seen from these graphs, the damping capacity of the alloy according to the invention is very high at room and high temperatures as compared with the Mn-Cu alloy. There is a tendency of the alloy according to the invention to increase the modulus of elasticity and tensile strength with the increase of the amount of the additional components.

As can be seen from the above description, the alloy according to the invention can be very effectively used as damping alloy elements for the precision instruments susceptible to vibrations and the machines such as aircraft, ships, vehicles, and the like causing vibrations and noises.

The reason for the limitation of composition of the alloy according to the invention is as follows.

The copper and/or molybdenum are limited to 0.01-5% and iron to the remainder of the binary alloy because the damping capacity higher than 2.times.10.sup.-3 aimed in the invention could not be obtained by alloys deviated from the limitation of the copper and/or molybdenum and iron.

When the amount of copper and/or molybdenum is less than 0.01%, the damping capacity is not substantially improved as compared with that of the prior art, while when the amount is more than 5%, the damping capacity lowers. In order to provide an optimum damping capacity, the amount of copper and/or molybdenum is preferable within a range of 0.5-1.5%.

The high damping capacity aimed in the present invention can be accomplished by replacing a part of copper and/or molybdenum and iron of the binary or ternary alloy within 0.01-40% with any one or more of Cr, Al, Ni, Mn, Sb, Nb, W, Ti, V, Ta, Si, Sn, Zn, Zr, Co, Pb, C and Y.

Among the additional components, the addition of the element selected from Cr, W, Ti, V, Si, Sn, Zn, Zr, Co and Pb particularly improves the damping capacity of the Fe-Cu and Fe-Mo binary alloys. Furthermore, the addition of the element selected from Cr, Ni, Mn, Nb, W, Ti, V, Ta, Si, Zr, C and Y especially improves the tensile strength of the Fe-Cu and Fe-Mo binary alloys.

In the ternary alloys of Fe-Cu-Cr, Fe-Mo-Cr, Fe-Cu-Ni, Fe-Mo-Ni, Fe-Cu-W, Fe-Mo-W, Fe-Cu-Ti, Fe-Mo-Ti, Fe-Cu-V, Fe-Mo-V, Fe-Cu-Ta, Fe-Mo-Ta, Fe-Cu-Si, Fe-Mo-Si, Fe-Cu-Sn, Fe-Mo-Sn, Fe-Cu-Zn, Fe-Mo-Zn, Fe-Cu-Zr and Fe-Mo-Zr according to the invention, Cr is limited to less than 40%, Ni, W, Ti, V or Ta to less than 10%, and Si, Sn, Zn, or Zr to less than 5% because alloys deviated from the above limitation could not accomplish the damping capacity higher than 2.times.10.sup.-3 aimed in the invention and did not exhibit the good cold workability.

Moreover, in the ternary alloys of Fe-Cu-Al, Fe-Mo-Al, Fe-Cu-Mn, Fe-Mo-Mn, Fe-Cu-Sb, Fe-Mo-Sb, Fe-Cu-Nb, Fe-Mo-Nb, Fe-Cu-Co, Fe-Mo-Co, Fe-Cu-Pb, Fe-Mo-Pb, Fe-Cu-C, Fe-Mo-C, Fe-Cu-Y and Fe-Mo-Y according to the invention, Al, Mn, Sb, or Nb is limited to less than 10% and Co, Pb, C or Y to less than 1%, because alloys deviated from the above limitation did not exhibit the damping capacity higher than 2.times.10.sup.-3 aimed in the present invention and the desired corrosion resistance.

While several examples have been herein disclosed, it is obvious that various changes can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

Claims

1. A high damping capacity alloy consisting essentially of from 0.01 to 5% of either copper, molybdenum or mixtures of the two, with the balance being essentially iron, and at least one additional ingredient or ingredients in an amount of from 0.01 to 40 weight percent, which ingredients fall in at least one of the following groups (A) through (D):

(A) up to 40% chromium

(B) up to 10% aluminum, antimony, niobium, tungsten, titanium, vanadium or tantalum

(C) up to 5% silicon, tin, zinc or zirconium

(D) up to 1% cobalt, lead or yttrium,

said alloy having been formed into an article at a temperature lower than 1,300.degree. C. and thus formed article being subjected to a heat treatment according to the following schedule:

(a) heated to a temperature of not less than 500.degree. C. but below its melting point for one minute to 100 hours to effect solution treatment, followed by

(b) cooling at a rate of between 1.degree. C./sec and 1.degree. C./hour,

said treatment being effective to achieve a damping capacity of more than 2.times.10.sup.-3 against vibration.

2. A high damping capacity alloy as defined in claim 1, wherein the formed article made of said alloy is subjected to a heat treatment according to the following schedule:

(a) heated to a temperature of not less than 500.degree. C./hour below its melting point for one minute to 100 hours to effect solution treatment;

(b) cooled at a rate of between 1.degree. C./sec and 1.degree. C./hour to room temperature;

(c) effected cold working;

(d) reheated to a temperature higher than 100.degree. C. and then cooling the same

said treatment being effective to achieve a damping capacity of more than 2.times.10.sup.-3 against vibration.

3. A process for producing high damping capacity alloy having a damping capacity of more than 2 c 10.sup.-3 against vibration comprising, the steps of melting a starting material consisting essentially of from 0.01 to 5% of either copper, molybdenum or mixtures of the two, with the balance being essentially iron, and at least one additional ingredient or ingredients in an amount of from 0.01 to 40 weight percent, which ingredients fall in at least one of the following groups (A) through (D);

(A) up to 40% chronium

(B) up to 10% aluminum, antimony, niobium, tungsten, titanium, vanadium or tantalum

(C) up to 5% silicon, tin, zinc or zirconium and

(D) up to 1% cobalt, lead or yttrium,

shaping the starting material into an article at a temperature of 800.degree. C. to lower than 1,300.degree. C. and thus formed article being subjected to a heat treatment according to the following schedule:

(a) heating the article to a temperature of not less than 500.degree. C. but below 800.degree. C. for one minute to 100 hours to effect solution treatment, followed by at least one step selected from the following:

(b) cooling the article at a rate between 1.degree. C./sec and 1.degree. C./hour.

4. A process for producing high damping capacity alloy having a damping capacity of more than 2.times.10.sup.-3 against vibration comprising the steps of melting a starting material consisting essentially of from 0.01 to 5% of either copper, molybdenum or mixtures of the two, with the balance being essentially iron, and at least one additional ingredient or ingredients in an amount of from 0.01 to 40 weight percent, which ingredients fall in at least one of the following groups (A) through (D):

(A) up to 40% chronnium

(B) up to 10% aluminum, antimony, niobium, tungsten, titanium, vanadium or tantalum

(C) up to 5% silicon, tin, zinc or zincronium and

(D) up to 1% cobalt, lead or yttrium,

shaping the starting material into an article at a temperature of 800.degree. C.-1,300.degree. C. and thus formed article being subjected to a heat treatment according to the following schedule:

(a) heating the article to a temperature of not less than 500.degree. C. but below 800.degree. C. for one minute to 100 hours to effect solution treatment, followed by

(b) cooling the article at a rate between 1.degree. C./sec and 1.degree. C. hour;

(c) cold working the article;

(d) reheating it to a temperature between 100.degree. C. and 800.degree. C. and then cooling the same,

said treatment being effective to achieve a damping capacity of more than 2.times.10.sup.-3 against vibration.