Claims
- 1. An alloy having a .beta.-brass type structure capable of being rendered heat recoverable and capable of being cooled from a temperature at which it exists in an austenitic state to a temperature at which it exists in a martensitic state comprising 70-82% by weight copper, 6-12% by weight aluminum, 0.1-12% by weight manganese and 0.1-24% by weight zinc.
- 2. An alloy according to claim 1 which is heat recoverable.
- 3. An alloy according to claim 2 that when deformed from an original configuration while in its martensitic state and caused to partially recover towards said original configuration upon being warmed to the temperature at which the alloy reverts to its austenitic state exhibits stress stability of at least 1,000 hours at 125.degree. C.
- 4. An alloy according to claim 3 which is heat recoverable.
- 5. An alloy according to claim 1, the components of which are present in an amount that corresponds to that for a eutectoid composition of copper, aluminum, manganese and zinc.
- 6. An alloy according to claim 5 which is heat recoverable.
- 7. An alloy according to claim 1 wherein the manganese content of the alloy deviates from the manganese content of the eutectoid composition by not more than about 3% by weight on the gamma-rich side of the eutectoid, said eutectoid being that of copper, aluminum, manganese and zinc.
- 8. An alloy according to claim 7 which is heat recoverable.
- 9. An alloy according to claim 7 wherein the manganese content of the alloy deviates from that of the eutectoid composition by not more than 1% by weight on the gamma-rich side of eutectoid.
- 10. An alloy according to claim 9 which is heat recoverable.
- 11. An alloy according to claim 1 wherein the manganese content of the alloy deviates from the manganese content of the eutectoid composition by not more than about 3% by weight on the alpha-rich side of the eutectoid, said eutectoid being that of copper, aluminum, manganese and zinc.
- 12. An alloy according to claim 11 which is heat recoverable.
- 13. An alloy according to claim 1 that when deformed from an original configuration while in its martensitic state and caused to partially recover towards said original configuration upon being warmed to the temperature at which the alloy reverts to its austenitic state exhibits stress stability of at least 1,000 hours at 125.degree. C.
- 14. An alloy according to claim 13 which is heat recoverable.
- 15. An alloy according to claim 5 that when deformed from an original configuration while in its martensitic state and caused to partially recover towards said original configuration upon being warmed to the temperature at which the alloy reverts to its austenitic state exhibits stress stability of at least 1,000 hours at 125.degree. C.
- 16. An alloy according to claim 15 which is heat recoverable.
Parent Case Info
This is a continuation of application Ser. No. 668,040, filed Mar. 18, 1976, abandoned.
US Referenced Citations (3)
Number |
Name |
Date |
Kind |
2085416 |
Corson |
Jun 1937 |
|
3783037 |
Brook et al. |
Jan 1974 |
|
4036669 |
Brook et al. |
Jul 1977 |
|
Continuations (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
668040 |
Mar 1976 |
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