Synthesis and characterization of nano γ-brass alloys by mechanical milling and rapid solidification processing

The intermetallics constitute some of the most technologically prospective engineering materials. This stems from their novel attributes such as excellent high temperature strength and thermal stability. In the present investigation the Cu-Zn intermetallic γ-Cu₅Zn₈ known as the 'electron' phase was selected. The γ-phase evolving at about 21/13 electrons to atoms ratio is commonly considered the structurally most complex Hume-Rothery phases in brass like systems. It is having a complex crystal structure comprising of a cubic unit cell consisting of 27 unit cells (BCC lattice). The aim of the present investigation is to optimize the process parameters in order to obtain the nanocrystals of γ-brass phase and to understand the stability of this phase. In the present investigation, we have synthesized nanocrystalline phase with mechanical milling/alloying and rapid solidification technique from as-cast 7-brass phase through microstructural refinement