Patent ID: 8257515

Claim:
A process for the manufacture of a copper-base alloy, comprising the sequential steps of: a). casting said copper-base alloy containing, by weight, from 0.5% to 5.0% nickel and 0.1% to 1.5% silicon; b). hot working said cast copper-base alloy to effect a first reduction in cross-sectional area; c). solutionizing said cast copper-base alloy at a solutionizing temperature and for a first time effective to substantially form a single phase alloy; d). without any intervening cold work following said solutionizing, first age annealing said substantially single phase alloy at a first age anneal temperature and for a second time effective to precipitate a second phase; e). cold working said multi-phase alloy to effect a second reduction in cross-sectional area; and f). second age annealing said multiphase alloy at a second age anneal temperature and for a third time effective to precipitate an additional amount of said second phase, wherein said second age anneal temperature is less than said first age anneal temperature.