Bronze Stress Relief

[AidanMc]

Hi Everyone!
First off let me explain that I'm new, both here and in the workforce. I just graduated college and have started a career in heat treating and metallurgy. Anyway, my question is probably pretty elementary for someone who knows the answer, but my boss/mentor is out today and I was just reading stuff on here the other day so I thought I would ask.

I need to know what kind of temperature and soak time to use for stress relieving a some silicon bronze. I've looked through goggle searching and my ASM books/ web references and can't seem to find a straight answer. The best I get is that this bronze is frequently stress relieved, but nothing will tell me at what temp and how long to do it.

Thanks for the help!

 

[TVP]

Can you provide a few details like alloy composition and product form (casting, bar/rod/wire, cold formed spring, machined part, etc.)?

 

[AidanMc]

The composition is specified as AMS4616, so: 92%Cu 3.2%SI 2.8%Zn, 1.5Fe and its supposedly similar to C65620. Right now its just some bar stock that will have to be machined later on. The stock is about 3.75" in diameter and a few bars about 18-24" long.

Aidan McAllister
Metallurgical Engineer
Automotive Enthusiast

 

[TVP]

Silicon bronze alloys in rod form would typically be stress relieved at 300 C for 1 hour. Cold drawn spring wire and finished parts would typically be stress relieved at 275 C for 1 hour. Data courtesy of ASM HANDBOOK Volume 4 Heat Treating.

As a young professional in the heat treating profession I would encourage you to become a member of both ASM International and ASM's Heat Treating Society. As a member of HTS you automatically get free access to the ferrous and non-ferrous Heat Treater's Guides, which contain this type of information on a broad range of alloys.

 

[AidanMc]

I see thank you. I am a new member of both ASM and HTS. I looked through the online references on the ASM site, I did not realize that HTS gave me access to the online versions of the Heat Treater's Guide. I have the Ferrous copy on my desk, but did not know where to go for non-ferrous materials.

Thanks for the help!

Aidan McAllister
Metallurgical Engineer
Automotive Enthusiast