A. Mohammadzadeh, A. Sabahi Namini, M. Azadbeh,
Volume 11, Issue 3 (9-2014)
Abstract
The rapidly solidified prealloyed alpha brass powder with a size range of 40 to 100 μm produced by water
atomization process was consolidated using liquid phase sintering process. The relationships between sintering
temperature, physic-mechanical properties and microstructural characteristics were investigated. Maximum
densification was obtained at 930 °C, under 600 MPa compacting pressure, with 60 min holding time. The
microstructure of the sintered brass was influenced by dezincification and structural coarsening during supersolidus
liquid phase sintering. As a consequence of Kirkendall effect atomic motion between Cu and Zn atoms caused to
dezincification at the grain boundaries and formation of ZnO particles on the pore surfaces. It was concluded that
microstructural analysis is in a well agreement with obtained physical and mechanical properties. Also, the amount of
liquid phase, which depends on sintering temperature, results in different load bearing cross section areas, and it
affects the type of fracture morphologies.
