Microstructure and Hardness of Cu-Zn-Si-Al-Sn Brasses with Antimony Addition

Abstract

The objective of this work is to study the effect of antimony on as-cast microstructures and hardness of dual phase brassed. The studied compositions consisted of 56Cu-(42-X)Zn-1Si-0.5Al-0.5Sn-(X)Sb with varied antimony content in the range of 0.5-2.0 wt%. The alloys were prepared by melting pure elements using an induction furnace in graphite crucible at the temperature about 1,200 °C. The chemical composition of each alloy has been analyzed by X-ray fluorescence (XRF). Microstructures of the as-cast ingots were investigated by optical microscopy and scanning electron microscopy including the chemical analysis of the phase determined by X-ray energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS). The obtained results suggested that the microstructures of as-cast ingots exhibited the beta-gamma dual phases. The beta phase was the matrix and the gamma phase extended along the grain boundary. The increase in antimony content increased the gamma phase and enhanced the hardness. Moreover, the antimony addition 2 wt% created the intermetallic compound (IMC) phase like a needle shape. The EDS analysis of IMC displayed 12.35 wt% antimony.

Effect of Ge on oxidation behavior of 60% Cu – 40% Zn Muntz metal

“…Sample B1 (Cu-Zn-AL) structure was changed and became refined due to the addition of Al, which plays an essential parameter in increasing Zn concentration (Zn equivalent); increasing Zn % will refine the grains [26]. While Figure (8), which represented sample B2 (Cu-Zn-Al-Sn), the presence of Sn plays an essential role in changing the shape of microstructure; it prevents dendrite growth and increases refining; accordingly, the existence of an element (AI, Sn) will enhance solid solution strengthening, an increase in mechanical properties will be observed, for this reason, ductility of brass will decrease [27]. A change also occurs in the microstructure for specimen B3 (Cu-Zn-Al-Ge); the structure will change: equiaxed grain will appear due to the precipitation of free particles of Ge element on grain boundaries [28].…”

Machinable Leaded and Eco-Friendly Brass Alloys for High Performance Manufacturing Processes: A Critical Review

“…This could be attributed to an increased solid solution strengthening effect taking place due to the incorporation of Sb within the γ phase. Nonetheless, upon reaching 2.0 wt.% Sb content, a high-Sb intermetallic phase would form, reducing the hardness of the investigated alloying system by roughly 17% [73]. Chandra et al found that both the ductility as well as the flow stress of α-β brass is significantly affected by the addition of Cerium (Ce) [74].…”

The synthesis of a Cu0.8Zn0.2Sb2–polyacrylamide nanocomposite by frontal polymerization for moisture and photodetection performance

“…The zinc-antimony (Zn-Sb) binary system is one of the best thermoelectric materials due to its low lattice thermal conductivity which is stable at intermediate temperatures. 14,15 This alloy contains a higher degree of atomic disorder within the whole concentration. Doping of Cu in the Zn-Sb alloys enhances the whole concentration, and leads to the higher carrier concentration.…”