Aluminum bronze is a complex group of copper-based alloys that may include up to 14% aluminum, but lower amounts of nickel and iron are also added, as they differently affect alloy characteristics such as strength, ductility, and corrosion resistance. The phase transformations of nickel aluminum–bronze alloys have been the subject of many studies due to the formations of intermetallics promoted by slow cooling. In the present investigation, quaternary systems of aluminum bronze alloys, specifically Cu–10wt%Al–5wt%Ni–5wt%Fe (hypoeutectoid bronze) and Cu–14wt%Al–5wt%Ni–5wi%Fe (hypereutectoid bronze), were directionally solidified upward under transient heat flow conditions. The experimental parameters measured included solidification thermal parameters such as the tip growth rate (VL) and cooling rate (TR), optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis, hardness, and microhardness. We observed that the hardness and microhardness values vary according to the thermal parameters and solidification. We also observed that the Cu–14wt%Al–5wt%Ni–5wi%Fe alloy presented higher hardness values and a more refined structure than the Cu–10wt%Al–5wt%Ni–5wt%Fe alloy. SEM analysis proved the presence of specific intermetallics for each alloy.
Aluminium bronze alloys are special copper alloys that have a machinability rate from 20 to 40% compared to free cutting brasses, so the cutting parameters and type of tools suitable for machining of these materials may be very different for other copper alloys. Also, due to the relative high costs of the raw material, the absence of contamination of the chips by cutting fluids improve its intrinsic resales value and encourage the use of machining process without coolant. The aim of this work is to evaluate the tool wear mechanisms in the finishing machining of the Cu-10wt%Al-5wt%Ni-5wt%Fe aluminium-bronze alloy with carbide and cermet inserts at different cutting speeds under dry machining condition. The turning of material showed lower surface roughness in higher speed conditions and better dimensional stability at lower speeds. It was observed the formation of continuous chips, but of little volume occupied. The scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) analyses of tool wear show the adhesion as the main tool wear mechanism, followed by abrasion. At the lower cutting speed, the adhesion wears affected significantly the surface finish, reducing the tool life in comparison to the higher speeds.
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