Determination of the Effect of Nickel Content on Hardness, Optimum Aging Temperature and Aging Time for Spinodal Bronze Alloys Cast in Metal Mould

An investigation was conducted to find the optimum aging temperature and aging time for Cu-Sn-Ni spinodal bronze alloys with varying nickel wt% cast in metal mould. The specimens were subjected to solutionisation and were aged at 250°C, 300°C, 350°C, 400°C and 450°C to induce spinodal decomposition. The microstructural observation reveals that the dendritic structure of the as-cast alloy was completely eliminated after solutionisation and grain boundary precipitates were formed with increase in aging time. The peak hardness and the peak aging time increases with increase in nickel content. This implies that nickel contributes to spinodal decomposition process.