Preparation, mechanical properties and wear behaviours of novel aluminum bronze for dies

A modified single melt technique involving joint charign was developed for preparation of aluminium bronze, Cu-14%Al-X(mass fraction) alloy, which could be used as die materials. The mechanical properties and wear behaviour of the developed alloy under boundary-lubrication conditions was investigated. The results demonstrate that all the phases disperse homogenously in the bronze matrix with a significant amount of discrete and spherical brittle and hard γ2 phase, moreover, the dispersed κ phase are the dominant factor that improves the anti-deformation properties of the soft matrix, after a solution treatment at 920 °C for 2 h and followed by aging at 580 °C for 3 h, thus remarkably improves the mechanical roperties and wear resistance of the developed alloy. The Cu-14% Al-X alloy can be used as materials for static precise stretching and squeezing dies.