Effect of cold rolling and annealing temperature to the characteristics of α + β phases in Cu-29.5Zn-2.5Al alloy produced by gravity casting

Al-brass alloys (Cu29.5Zn2.5Al wt. %) were produced by gravity casting and homogenized at 800 °C for 2 h, resulting in a binary phase morphology identified as cubic α and martensitic β phases through X-ray diffraction (XRD). Samples were then subsequently cold rolled and annealed at 150, 300, 400, and 600 °C for 30 minutes. Visible traces of slip, intersecting slip bands, and shear bands were observed in microstructure images of the samples after each progressive deformation stage. Deformation-induced martensites were present after 20 % cold rolling. Higher thickness reduction resulted in simultaneous strain hardening of the phases. Low temperature annealing slightly increased microhardness, of both α and β, due to the formation of precipitates. SEM-EDX analysis showed that no solute segregation was found in annealed samples. Annealing at higher temperature resulted in conventional softening. Recrystallized equiaxed β phase grains were visible after annealing at 600 °C.