Comparison of Mechanical Behavior and Microstructure of Continuous Cast and Hot Worked CuZn40Al1 Alloy (TECHNICAL NOTE)

The performance of components produced by conventional route of a thermo mechanical process and those produced by continuous casting is interesting from different aspects of economy and technology. The performance of products in their service depends on their properties which are strongly influenced by production routes. In the present work the hardness, tensile and tensile-impact behaviors of CuZn40Al1 alloys produced by continuous casting and extrusion were investigated. Micro structural features and fracture surfaces were studied by optical and scanning electron microscopy. Results showed that wrought samples exhibited higher absorbed energy than those of continuous cast samples. Reduction of impact velocity led to a higher absorbed energy in all samples. A systematic and meaningful relationship was observed between micro structural features and mechanical properties such as hardness, yield stress and ultimate tensile strength. Fractography investigations showed that fracture occurred with dimple formation in all cases.