Gold alloys of exceptional yellow color and reversible hardness

Abstract

A unique hardenable gold based alloy, especially a 14 karat gold alloy containing gold, silver, copper, zinc, cobalt and an alternative alloy additionally containing iridium. The alloy has a fine grained structure, a lower hardness in the soft condition, a nice yellow color and a capability to be hardened to an exceptional hardness value. The alloy contains approximately 58.3% gold (Au), between about 10% to about 14% silver (Ag), between about 2.5% to about 3.0% zinc (Zn), between about 0.2% to about 1.0% cobalt (Co) and the balance of the alloy being copper (Cu) with the special provision that the ratio of the weight percent amounts of copper to, the sum of the silver and two (2) times the zinc amount, [Cu/(Ag+2Zn)], has a value of between about 1.3 to about 2.5. The copper to silver weight percent ratio [Cu/Ag] of between about 2.0 to about 3.8, in combination with the ratio of copper to, silver+2.times.zinc, [Cu/(Ag+2Zn)] results in a gold alloy with a heretofor unachievable combination of a most desirable yellow color and an exceptional degree of reversible hardness. The alloy may also contain a weight percent amount of between about 0.003 to about 0.03 iridium (Ir) which results in a gold alloy with the above characteristics but also provides for an alloy having a very fine grained structure.