MASTER ALLOYS

 

 

History

With advances in technical progress, since the '50s copper alloys have acquired increasing significance in the manufacturing copper industry.

 

Characteristics

Copper alloys are usually homogeneously produced 2-substance alloys for alloy addition of certain alloy elements and for deoxidation. As a rule, they are made of clean, high-purity master alloys.

Copper master alloys are used in particular when the element being added

  • has a far lower density than copper (e.g. Mg, Si, B)

  • has a far higher melting point than copper (e.g. Cr, Ti, Zr)

  • has a low melting point and is volatile (e.g. Mg, Cd, Te)

  • has high affinity to oxygen (e.g. Ca, Mg, Zr)

 

Applications / Products

The most frequently used copper alloys are: CuP, CuNi, CuFe, CuMn, CuAl, CuMg, CuCr, CuZr.

Copper alloys are essentially used in three areas:

  • Consolidation of alloys (CuAs, CuCr, CuCo)

  • Deoxidation and desulphurisation (CuCa, CuMn, CuMg)

  • Grain refinement (CuB, CuZr, CuFe)

The products made using master alloys are used for example in the following applications:

  • high-strength brass

  • spot welding

  • overhead power lines for high-speed trains

The use of copper master alloys in metal foundries is comparable with the use of ferro-alloys in iron and steel casting foundries.