Olin Corporation

Richard P Vierod

Derek E Tyler

John F Breedis

Ronald N Caron

W Gary Watson

Dennis R Brauer

Harvey P Cheskis

William L Brenneman

Carl L Deppisch

There is provided a tin brass alloy having a grain structure that is refined by the addition of controlled amounts of both zinc and iron. Direct chill cast alloys containing from 1% to 4%, by weight of tin, from 0.8% to 4% of iron, from an amount effective to enhance iron initiated grain refinement to 35% of zinc and the remainder copper and inevitable impurities are readily hot worked. The zinc addition further increases the strength of the alloy and improves the bend formability in the 'good way', perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of a rolled strip. Certain of the grain refined brass alloys are useful as semisolid forming feedstock.

Iron modified tin brass

There is provided a phosphor bronze alloy having a grain structure that is refined by the addition of a controlled amount of iron. Direct chill cast alloys containing from 1.5% to 2.5%, by weight tin, from 1.65% to 2.65% iron, from 0.03% to 0.35% phosphorous and the remainder copper and inevitable impurities have an as-cast average crystalline grain size of less than 100 microns and are readily hot worked. When the iron content is too low, the average crystalline grain size increases and the alloy cracks during hot working. When the iron content is too high, iron stringers form, detrimentally impacting both the appearance and properties of a wrought strip.

Iron modified phosphor-bronze

A method of producing a grain refined copper base alloy containing iron in the amount of less than 2.3% by weight and which is cast into an ingot by conventional direct chill casting. Calcium is added to the melt before casting, preferably in the form of a copper-clad or iron-clad calcium feedwire.

Grain refinement of a copper base alloy

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Cheshire, CT, United States of America

Richard P Vierod