Swinburne College, Swinburne University of Technology

Experiments

For

MEE10002

Materials and Processes

Experiment MEE10002-E2

Cold work and annealing of Brass

for

The first year of Engineering

Experiment LMAPR-E2

Cold Work and Annealing of Brass

Experiments for MEE10002 Materials and Processes,

 Swinburne College, Swinburne University of Technology

Reference: . Callister, W.D. Jr., Materials Science and Engineering, Wiley N.Y. 8th Ed. 2010,
Chapters 7, 9.
Purpose: To demonstrate the phenomena of cold work and the effect of annealing on brass.
Keywords: cold work, recrystallization, annealing
Prerequisite Knowledge: Basic knowledge of microstructure; hardness testing; heat
treatment; precipitation hardening; annealing; grain size; etching of metals.
Save all your data on a USB data key for later analysis
Introduction
When a metal is deformed at a temperature below its recrystallization temperature (Cold Worked) a
number of properties are changed. In particular its "hardness" (resistance to local plastic deformation) is
increased. If a metal component is being shaped (formed) by cold work then after a certain amount of
cold work, it cannot be further deformed without fracture.

Before further deformation can be carried out the structure must be softened by annealing, which
consists of heating the metal to above its recrystallization temperature (Figure 1).

The cold work and anneal cycle is commonly used in the formation of rolled and drawn components
such as strip and wire.

Figure 1. Schematic illustration of

the effects of recovery,
recrystallization, and grain growth
on mechanical properties and
shape and size of grains. Note the
formation of small new grains
during recrystallization. Source: G.
Sachs in Kalpakjian,S.and Schmid
S.R., Manufacturing Engineering
and Technology, Pearson Prentice
Hall, NJ, 5th ed. 2006

Experiments for MEE10002 Materials and Processes,

 Swinburne College, Swinburne University of Technology

Materials 70/30 brass

Five small specimens of brass reduced in thickness (cold rolled) by 60%

are supplied.

Procedure Part A
Annealing

Heat four small brass specimens (cold-rolled by 60%) in the individual furnaces,
(Figure 1), (an annealing treatment)., as follows:

(i) one small brass piece at 200 C, for 20 minutes

(ii) one small brass piece at 400 C, for 20 minutes
(iii) one small brass piece at 540 C, for 20 minutes, and,
(iv) one small brass piece at 660 C for 20 minutes

Figure 2. Heat treatment furnaces Figure 3. Vickers hardness

tester

Experiments for MEE10002 Materials and Processes,

 Swinburne College, Swinburne University of Technology

Part B
Hardness testing of 70/30 brass
Five brass reference bars for hardness testing (Vickers Hardness Tester):
:-. One brass bar (no cold work done, as supplied fully annealed), ie no reduction,
-. one brass bar reduced in thickness (cold rolled) by 20%,
-. one brass bar reduced in thickness (cold rolled) by 40%,
-.one brass bar reduced in thickness (cold rolled) by 60%
-. one brass bar reduced in thickness (cold rolled) by 80%.

Hardness Testing Procedure

 Whilst the four brass samples from Part A are being annealed
measure the Vickers Hardness (HV (10)) of the five brass reference bars using the Vickers
hardness tester with a load of 10 kg.
 Remove the four small brass pieces from the furnaces and quench them in water to room
temperature. (This is known as solution treatment, and is to prevent precipitation hardening
from occurring).
 Place each quenched sample into a holding tray which is marked (for reference) at the annealing
temperatures, i.e. 200 C, 400 C, 540 C and 660 C.
 Grind both sides of the heat treated brass samples to #220 grit on the polishing machines.
Continue to grind one side only in stages using the #400, #800 and #1200 grit grinding pads.
 Clean samples by washing in water and polish the #1200 grit ground side using the diamond
paste polishing pad for 30 seconds. Clean with kerosene, and then wash the kerosene off with
alcohol.
 Blow-dry the samples using the hair dryer and place each one back into its holding tray.
 Measure the hardness HV (10) of all the heat treated brass samples using the Vickers hardness
tester with a load of 10 kg on the side opposite the polished side (i.e. on the ground side).
 Etch the four samples in 50% HNO for about 10-15 seconds each, Rinse in clean water, and
then blow-dry the samples.
 Place the dry samples back into their holding tray.
 Place each sample of brass (which has been polished and etched) onto the metallurgical
microscope.
 Take an image of the surface of each sample using the digital camera. Save your images to -
your USB key
 When all four samples have been imaged compare the images. Save your images to your USB
key.
 Estimate the grain size of theses brass samples using comparison ASTM charts supplied at 100
magnification.
 Compare the microstructures and note any changes in grain shape or appearance.

Experiments for MEE10002 Materials and Processes,

 Swinburne College, Swinburne University of Technology

EXPERIMENT LMAPR-E2: Cold Work and Annealing of Brass

Fill out the sections in the Tables:
 Percent cold reduction. vs. hardness (Table 1)
 annealing temperature vs. hardness ((Table 2)
 annealing temperature vs. gain size ((Table 3)

Table 1. Percent cold Reduction versus Hardness

Percent Cold Reduction Hardness HV (10kg)

HV(10)
Original sample

20 %

40 %

60 %

80 %

Percentage cold work versus hardness

Experiments for MEE10002 Materials and Processes,

 Swinburne College, Swinburne University of Technology

Table 2. Annealing Temperature versus Hardness (heat treated specimens)

Annealing Temperature (Celsius) Hardness HV (10kg)

200 C

400 C

540 C

660 C

Annealing Temperature versus hardness

Estimate the recrystallization temperature (degrees C) = ?

Experiments for MEE10002 Materials and Processes,

 Swinburne College, Swinburne University of Technology

Table 3. Annealing Temperature versus Grain Size

Annealing Grain Size (mm) Grain shape

Temperature (Celsius)

200 C

400 C

540 C

660 C

Annealing temperature versus grain size

Experiments for MEE10002 Materials and Processes,

 Swinburne College, Swinburne University of Technology

 Save your images to your USB key.

 Compare the four sample images.
 Sketch the heat treated brass microstructure as it appears in the microscope.

Brass microstructure Brass microstructure

Annealing Temperature Annealing Temperature

200°C 400°C

Brass microstructure Brass microstructure

Annealing Temperature Annealing Temperature

540°C 660°C

Experiments for MEE10002 Materials and Processes,

 Swinburne College, Swinburne University of Technology

1. Explain why increasing the amount of cold working increases the hardness of the brass
samples. In your discussion detail what happens to the number of dislocations and how this affects the
hardness.

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Experiments for MEE10002 Materials and Processes,

 Swinburne College, Swinburne University of Technology

2. Explain how heat treating (Annealing) can reverse the effects of cold working, in your
explanation detail the three stages of heat treatment

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Experiments for MEE10002 Materials and Processes,