Effect of annealing atmosphere on the mechanical property of free-cutting phosphor bronze alloy

The present work is focused on the influence of annealing atmosphere on the microstructure and mechanical property of free-cutting phosphor bronze alloy. The annealing of the alloy was conducted in the three kinds of annealing atmosphere such as air, vacuum and nitrogen. After annealing, a discernable difference in recystallized grain size and lead particle size was not appeared with different annealing atmosphere. The tensile strength of the alloy annealed in air or nitrogen atmosphere was higher than that of those annealed in vacuum atmosphere. In the case of the alloy annealed in vacuum atmosphere, the mechanical strength was reduced by vaporization of zinc. In the case of annealing in nitrogen and in air atmosphere, the sweating of lead was occurred. However, the inverse segregation of lead was suppressed by copper oxide layer on the surface annealed in air. This topper oxide layer leads to a decrease of the yield during fabrication process. Therefore, annealing of the alloy in nitrogen atmosphere is favorable in terms of the mechanical strength and yield.