Process Design, Development and Mechanical Analysis of Cu-Zn Alloy Produced by Sand Casting Process

Abstract

Abstract In this study, the process design, development and mechanical analysis of Cu-Zn alloy produced by sand casting process were carried out. The process parameter optimization was carried out using the Response Surface Methodology (RSM) with the process conditions in the following range: temperature (300-500oC) and zinc content (5-25%) having the hardness and ultimate tensile strength as the response of the designed experiment. The raw materials were scraps of copper wire and zinc battery casing and 13 different compositions of the alloy were prepared having the total mass for each weight percentage weighing 1.5 kg. The results obtained indicated that the hardness and ultimate tensile strength increases with an increases in the zinc content but decreases with an increase in the temperature. The elongation was however found to increase with an in increase in temperature but with a decrease in the zinc content. It is envisaged that the findings of this work will assist the brass material developers and the end users in the development of products with excellent mechanical properties.