Effect of Tin Addition on the Mechanical Properties and Microstructure of Aluminium Bronze Alloyed with 4% Nickel

Abstract

The current study investigates the impact of adding tin to aluminium bronze alloyed with 4% nickel on its microstructure and mechanical properties. Sand casting was chosen as the most cost-effective and efficient method of preparing the aluminium bronze alloy. Following their melting points, six distinct samples of aluminium bronze alloyed with 0% to 10% tin were added into the crucible furnace. Nickel with the highest melting point of 1453°C was added into the crucible furnace first, while tin with the lowest melting of 231.9°C was added last into the crucible furnace. The alloying components were mixed well by manually mixing the liquid for around five minutes. After sand casting, the specimens were machined, sectioned, and grounded then tests were carried out to measure their hardness, tensile strength, and impact resistance. The results of the tests indicate that the tensile strength first increases and subsequently declines as the tin addition increases. The hardness of the aluminium bronze alloy increases as the proportion of tin addition increases. The results of the investigations also demonstrate that as the hardness of the specimens increases, their impact resistance decreases and the tensile stress of each specimen increases with strain.