Claims
- 1. A method for producing a metal alloy strip, comprising the steps of:
- (a) providing a melt of metal alloy consisting essentially of about 20 to 60% by weight of iron and the balance being a material selected from the group consisting of copper and alloys thereof, said material forming a matrix; and
- (b) rapidly solidifying said melt into said metallic strip having substantially fine, equiaxed particles of iron or iron alloy distributes substantially homogenously throughout said matrix, said equixed particles having a width between about 0.05 to about 0.5 microns.
- 2. The method of claim 1 wherein said step of providing a melt further includes the step of maintaining said melt at a temperature of not more than about 100.degree. C. above the liquidus point of the melt.
- 3. The method of claim 1 wherein said step of providing a melt further includes the step of providing an additional metal in the melt which partitions to the copper or copper alloy.
- 4. The method of claim 1 wherein said step of providing a melt further includes the step of providing transition metal additions in said melt to enhance the magnetic performance of the iron alloy particles.
- 5. The method of claim 3 wherein said step of providing a melt further includes the step of providing transition metal additions in said melt to enhance the magnetic performance of the iron alloy particles.
- 6. The method of claim 1 wherein said step of solidifying said strip includes the step of cooling said melt at a rate whereby the majority of said iron or iron alloy particles are in a size range of about 0.05 to about 0.5 microns.
- 7. The method of claim 6 wherein said step of cooling said melt occurs at a rate of about 10.sup.2 to about 10.sup.8 .degree. K./sec.
- 8. The method of claim 1 further including the step of rolling said strip to elongate the iron or iron alloy particles.
- 9. The method of claim 8 wherein said step of rolling said strip includes forming said iron or iron alloy particles with an aspect ratio of between about 4:1 to about 15:1.
- 10. The method of claim 9 wherein said step of rolling said strip includes forming said iron or iron alloy particles with as aspect ratio of between about 5:1 to about 7:1.
- 11. The method of claim 7 wherein said step of solidifying said strip includes the step of depositing said melt on a chill surface to form a continuous strip.
- 12. The method of claim 8 further including the step of annealing the rolled strip at a temperature in the range of about 200.degree. to 900.degree. C.
- 13. The method of claim 8 wherein the step of rolling said strip aligns a longitudinal axis of the elongated particles substantially with a longitudinal axis of said strip.
- 14. The method of claim 1 further including the step of plating said strip with a protective coating.
- 15. The method of claim 14 further including the step of providing said protective coating from primarily copper.
- 16. The method of claim 15 further including the step of coating said protective coating with a stain inhibitor to prevent tarnishing, corrosion, and improve lubricity.
Parent Case Info
This application is a division, of application Ser. No. 570,123, filed Jan. 12, 1984 which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. Ser. No. 499,008, filed May 27, 1983, now abandoned.
US Referenced Citations (13)
Foreign Referenced Citations (1)
Number |
Date |
Country |
76618 |
Apr 1983 |
EPX |
Divisions (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
570123 |
Jan 1984 |
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Continuation in Parts (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
499008 |
May 1983 |
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