Microstructural refinement and performance improvement of Cu–36 wt% Zn alloy by Al2O3 nanoparticles coupling electromagnetic stirring

• Published in: Rare metals Vol. 41; no. 10; pp. 3560 - 3565
• Main Authors: Fu, Ya-Bo, Lu, Yi-Ping, Wang, Zhi-Jun, Cao, Zhi-Qiang, Xu, Ai-Jiao
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Beijing Nonferrous Metals Society of China 01.10.2022; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Aluminum oxide; Biomaterials; Chemistry and Materials Science; Copper; Coupling; Dezincification; Electromagnetic stirring; Elongation; Energy; Grain boundaries; Grain size; Materials Engineering; Materials Science; Metallic Materials; Microstructure; Nanoalloys; Nanoparticles; Nanoscale Science and Technology; Nucleation; Physical Chemistry; Tensile strength; Zinc base alloys; Rotating electromagnetic field; nanoparticles; Al; Mechanical performance; Microstructural refinement; O
• ISSN: 1001-0521; 1867-7185
• DOI: 10.1007/s12598-016-0723-6

Cu–36 wt% Zn alloy is widely used in valves of water and heating and auto parts, etc. Nevertheless, the structure is still coarse, and performances are much poor. The structure and performances of Cu–36 wt% Zn alloy were investigated by adding Al 2 O 3 nanoparticles and stirring. Results indicate that by Al 2 O 3 nanoparticles coupling electromagnetic stirring, the Cu–36 wt% Zn alloy with refined microstructure was successfully prepared. The average grain size is refined by 99 % compared with that without nanoparticles and stirring. The tensile strength ( R m ) and percentage elongation after fracture ( A 11.3 ) increase by 20.58 % and 19.40 %, respectively, compared with that without nanoparticles and stirring. Nanoparticles increase heterogeneous nucleation rate by 50 % compared with that without nanoparticles. The depth of dezincification layer decreases by 78.71 % compared with that without nanoparticles and stirring, as protective layer (Cu–Al 2 O 3 –Zn) is completely formed around the grain boundaries.