New Results of the Heat-Treated CuZn39Pb3 Brass Behavior and Resistance to Cavitation Erosion

Abstract

The paper presents the results of the behavior and resistance to the erosion by vibrating cavitation of the CuZn39Pb3 brass, obtained by quenching the volume heat treatment from 800°C with water cooling, followed by the stress-relief to 250°C, with air cooling. Comparison with both the delivery status and the naval brass (used for ship propellers), based on the characteristic parameters values, recommended by the ASTM G32 standards and used in the Cavitation Laboratory of the Polytechnic University of Timisoara, shows that the hardness increase resulted from the heat treatment led to a significant increase of resistance to vibrating cavitation.