Hardness Evaluation of 88Cu-4Pb-4Sn-4Zn Alloy by Mechanical Alloying with Oxidizing Atmosphere

Abstract

The investigation of new materials that have properties such as resistance to high temperatures, wear resistance, rigidity, and low weight, involves the use of technological processes with more and more advantages. For this purpose, mechanical alloying is a widely used technique, which consist of high-energy impact between balls inside a container, where constant collisions deform and fracture the material, achieving the alloy of the particles in a solid state. This work focuses on the Vickers hardness evaluation of the copper matrix alloy with 4% Pb, 4% Sn and 4% Zn, in an oxidizing atmosphere, sintered at 800 °C and 900 °C, using milling times of 3 hours, 6 hours and 9 hours. The results show that there is a relationship between the hardness obtained, in the two groups of specimens at 800 ° C and 900 ° C, with the grinding time and the sintering temperature, among others used in the process. An average maximum hardness of 53.4 HV was obtained.