Author(s)

Edward E. Igelegbai, Oluwaseun A. Alo, Adefemi O. Adeodu, Ilesanmi A. Daniyan

Department of Mechanical and Mechatronics Engineering, Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti, Nigeria.

Cu-Zn alloy (Brass) is widely used as an industrial material because of its excellent characteristics such as high corrosion resistance, non-magnetism and good forging ability. This paper evaluates the mechanical and microstructure properties of α-brass alloy gotten from scrap copper and zinc metal, and compares the properties with normal α-brass billets. Five different compositions of the α-brass alloy (Cu-5%Zn, Cu-10%Zn, Cu-15%Zn, Cu-20%Zn, Cu-30%Zn) were produced from scraps of copper wire and zinc batteries casing respectively by method of sand casting. The parts of the cast rods were machined to a specification of 60 mm × 100 mm × 300 mm on a lathe to obtain tensile test specimens. After homogenization annealing, the samples were heated in an electric furnace at 500℃ for 3 hours. The samples were etched with ferric chloride solution for 20 seconds and sent for metallographic examination. The result of the hardness test shows variation in hardness of the cast Cu-Zn alloys with increasing zinc content. The ductility and elongation of the α-brass decrease with increasing zinc content. The colouration of the α-brass changed from red to yellow as the zinc content increases. In conclusion, hard brass can be obtained from recycled Cu and Zn as compared to normal brass billets.

Alloys, Alpha-Brass, Etching, Metallographic, Sand Casting

Igelegbai, E. , Alo, O. , Adeodu, A. and Daniyan, I. (2017) Evaluation of Mechanical and Microstructural Properties of α-Brass Alloy Produced from Scrap Copper and Zinc Metal through Sand Casting Process. Journal of Minerals and Materials Characterization and Engineering, 5, 18-28. doi: 10.4236/jmmce.2017.51002.