Magnetic-Controlled Short Process Preparation Technique for Phosphor Bronze Based on Structure Refinement

Abstract

The conventional preparation process for Phosphor bronze typically involves high-temperature long-duration solid solution treatment to address the issue of decreased workability caused by the precipitation of brittle Sn-rich phases during solidification. However, this solid solution treatment consumes significant energy and lowers production efficiency, which should be avoided. Herein, we propose a magnetic-controlled short process preparation technique that eliminates the need for solid solution treatment. This technique utilizes electromagnetic stirring to refine the grains, dendrites, and brittle Sn-rich phases simultaneously, aiming to relax the stress concentration during plastic deformation and then greatly enhance its workability. This resulting structure refinement offers additional grain refinement strengthening and dislocation strengthening during subsequent thermomechanical processing, thereby compensating for the lack of solid solution strengthening caused by the absence of solid solution treatment. As a result, the samples prepared by the magnetic-controlled short process and conventional process have comparable strength. Furthermore, because of the absence of solid solution treatment in the magnetic-controlled short process, the electrical conductivity of the samples exceeds that of those prepared by the conventional process.